Beginning in the year 2000, the Department of Health and Human Services has produced Healthy People reports that establish national goals and objectives for policies, programs, and activities to address the major health challenges that face the United States. The framework used to produce Healthy People 2020 was based on the premise that individual-level and population-level interventions are complementary elements of an integrated approach for disease prevention and health promotion.1 The goals and objectives addressing the social determinants of health were included in Healthy People 2020 with the intent to move beyond and exclusive focus on controlling diseases to addressing the social, economic, and educational factors that undergird diseases.1 The inclusion of the social determinants of health in Healthy People 2020 is considered to be historic and a major victory for the nation and for those who have long recognized the importance of these factors.
This issue of Family & Community Health presents a historic view of public health nurses who recognized and addressed the social, economic, and medical aspects of caring for the sick, particularly those who were disadvantaged. The term "public health nursing" was coined in 1893 by Lillian Wald, founder of the Henry Street settlement in New York City.2 This term placed an emphasis on the value of nursing work built upon a comprehensive understanding of the totality of problems that face the community, the social determinants of health. The articles in this issue serve as an important reminder about the importance of history in the effort to improve the health of families and communities. History teaches us valuable lessons that must be recalled, understood, and passed on the next generations of health care professionals. Congratulations to the editors and contributors to this issue for helping us look back to see our preferred future more clearly.
In closing, let me take this opportunity to thank Dr Jeanette Lancaster who has served as the Editor-in-Chief of Family & Community Health since 1984. Under her leadership, she has increased the visibility of this journal from a national to an international presence and readership. These are big shoes to fill as the new Editor-in-Chief of this journal. I thank Dr Lancaster for her service and support and to the Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins publishing family for the opportunity to assume leadership of this scholarly vehicle.
-Bettina M. Beech, DrPH, MPH
Editor
University of Mississippi Medical Center
Jackson, Mississippi
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