This supplement provides a rich and timely description of 8 programs that are influencing the level of health disparities in their communities. The articles describe successful programs that are part of the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) initiative that has just celebrated its 10th anniversary. REACH programs across the United States aim to influence policy, system, and environmental changes in their communities. Some of the key components of each of the programs discussed is that they are community-based, represent coalitions working to develop ways to help people improve their health and have better access to healthy food, clean air, health education as well as to early intervention when a problem arises. The programs may also seek to advocate for policy change when this is needed.
A major goal in the United States is to improve the health of our citizens. We have become a nation noted for obesity, lack of effective exercise, and one with unimpressive measures of mortality and morbidity. It is noted that many of the major health conditions in the United States, especially the rapidly growing incidence of chronic disease, could be altered by lifestyle changes. Following on that concept is the notion that healthy communities can support people who are working to achieve a healthy lifestyle. There are also indicators, as discussed in this supplement, that some ethnic groups are at increased risk for specific diseases due to factors other than lifestyle.
As is discussed in this supplement, a broad definition of health goes beyond the absence of disease to address the root causes of health problems in communities that include the economy, education, availability of recreational and exercise venues as well as affordable healthy food, safety, support for mental health, knowledge about taking care of oneself, and a sense of community spirit and pride. In addition to the REACH program, which is the focus of this issue, the CDC has a robust healthy communities program which includes Communities Putting Prevention to Work (CPPW), Strategic Alliance for Health, and ACHIEVE (Action Communities for health, Innovation, and EnVironmental change) that are well worth investigating on their Web site: http://www.cdc.gov/CommunitiesPuttingPreventiontoWork/index.htm and http://www.cdc.gov/healthycommunitiesprogram. I hope you will enjoy each of these articles and will also take time to examine the other programs sponsored by the CDC that are designed to help support a healthier population.
Jeanette Lancaster