National Prevention Council 2013 Annual Status Report now available

The National Prevention, Health Promotion, and Public Health Council (the National Prevention Council) 2013 Annual Status Report is now available.   

The Report shows how each of the departments and agencies that make up the National Prevention Council are making the federal government a leader in prevention.  Highlights include the Department of Defense’s Healthy Base Initiative, new work from the VA improving access to healthy food, and a multidepartment collaboration to prevent heart attacks and strokes.  Additionally, the Report shows positive trends in some leading health indicators, including decreases in the number of youth ages 3 to 11 exposed to second-hand smoke and decreases in stroke and overall cancer deaths.

The Report also includes several major new announcements, including:

o   A new Uniform and Appearance policy from the USPHS Commissioned Corps, making it the first Uniformed Service to prohibit tobacco use while in uniform

o   The addition of three new departments to the National Prevention Council, creating new opportunities for prevention

o   The availability of new toolkits developed from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials and the National Association of City and County Health Officials to support state and local implementation of the National Prevention Strategy

We encourage you to read and share the Council’s 2013 Annual Status Report, as well as the following related materials:

·         Blog post from Dr. Frieden on Progress in Prevention Since 2010

·         Blog post from Secretary Sebelius on The Health Care Law and Progress in Prevention

·         State implementation toolkit from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials

·         Local implementation toolkit from the National Association of City and County Health Officials