Prevention Programs in Action

Foreword

Nothing inspires like success. This reference describes exemplary prevention programs from states and communities across the United States—showing us that prevention is possible in every corner of our country and for all of our citizens. I know you will find something here that inspires your leadership.

To support the President's HealthierUS initiative, I am leading a new department-wide effort—Steps to a HealthierUS. The heart of this program is personal responsibility for the choices Americans make and social responsibility to ensure that policy makers support the programs that foster healthy behaviors and prevention.

Steps envisions a healthy, strong United States—where diseases are prevented when possible, controlled when necessary, and treated when appropriate. Steps is a bold shift in our approach to the health of our citizens, moving us from a disease care system to a health care system. We can no longer sustain the skyrocketing health care costs that over-reliance on treatment has created, nor can Americans sustain the suffering that preventable diseases cause.

We have initially focused the Steps initiative on reducing the major health burden created by obesity, asthma, diabetes, heart disease and stroke, and cancer. Steps will also address the related lifestyle choices of poor nutrition, physical inactivity, tobacco use, and risky youth behavior. The examples of successful state prevention programs presented in this document show that we can prevent or control these conditions and the risk factors that cause them.

As American leaders, we are fortunate to have a rich diversity of communities to guide us. I hope this volume moves you to follow others' good examples, or to find your own steps to a healthier US.

Tommy G. Thompson
Secretary of Health and Human Services
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

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