Healthy People 2020 Essay

The United States Department of Health and Human Resources developed a campaign called Healthy People 2020, to create awareness about different ways people can improve their health. “Healthy People provides science-based, national goals and objectives with 10-year targets designed to guide national health promotion and disease prevention efforts to improve the health of all people in the United States” (CDC, 2015). The overall goal is to improve the health of all people by providing better education, setting achievable goals, and tools. The Healthy 2020 also provides information about health issues and resources to address these issues. Individuals and organizations should take the lead in improving the health and decreasing health disparities

in their communities. I did a research about our community to summarize the key indicators that I view as problems, and find ways to address these issues to improve the health of the individuals.
I live in Melrose Park, Illinois, and the estimated population as of 2015 is 25,411.

More than half of the population is Hispanic of origin. 26.2% of individuals less than 65 years have no health insurance and 15.9% persons in poverty. Our community has a higher rate of individuals with no health insurance less than 65 years when I compared the statistics from our neighbor communities. Although the poverty rate of our community is lower than Maywood Park, I believe this issue needs to be addressed to improve access to health care and increase community-based resources. Out of 1,364 communities in Illinois, Melrose Park is ranked number 19 in Average Family size which is 4.11. I noticed that the number of fast food chains in our community is increasing that could also increase the rate of adult and childhood obesity. “Obesity affects our quality of life and is linked with increased risk of diabetes, hypertension, cancer, and heart disease” (CCDPH,

n.d).
Based on my data and observations, the three key indicators that I view as a problem in our community are access to health services; proper nutrition, physical activity, and obesity; and lastly reproductive health services. People who live in poverty are more vulnerable and more likely needed assistance to access affordable health care. Individuals with no health insurance have poor access to health care and poor health outcomes. For this issue, my proposal is to increase community-based clinics that provide free health services and programs to underserved individuals. Health services that provide health education on health promotion to enhance the health status of individuals, improve health and quality of life, and reduce premature deaths. The second community problem is nutrition, obesity, and physical activity. Obesity will surpass the tobacco as the leading cause of death. My proposal to this issue is for nurses to provide effective health education to individuals in schools, work sites, clinics, communities, and hospitals. Nurses who are working at these areas play a major role in educating them on healthy living choices to prevent obesity. I believe that this strategy could increase the success of health promotion that allows individuals practice healthy habits in different areas in the community to decrease the rate of obesity. The third health issue that needs to be addressed is the reproductive health services, because of the alarming increase in the average family size of our community. Poverty could lead to a lack of adequate access to reproductive health services. My propose approach for this issue is to increase reproductive health education and reproductive health services to reduce teen pregnancy rate, improve adolescent sexual health, reduce the number of sexually transmitted diseases, and improve population control.
The U.S Department of Health, local governments, schools, organizations involvement, is important in achieving the goals of Healthy People 2020. I believe that three community leaders that will support and help me achieve my proposed interventions would be Mayor Ronald Serpico; Veronica Bonilla-Lopez, District 89 Board of Education President; and Lori Price, President of Gottlieb Memorial Hospital. These leaders could health support and empower residents by giving knowledge on healthy choices, and offer opportunities to practice healthy lifestyle in different areas in the community. The Board of Education President could help encourage schools to provide healthy meals for children and provide enjoyable physical activities to keep them active and healthy. The Mayor plays a significant role in providing accessible health services for all residents in the community. Lastly, the President of the Hospital could help provide accessible health care and increase education on health promotion and disease prevention in the community.
I hope that my proposed interventions would have positive consequences to help improve the health of all residents in the community.

First, I am hoping that to see more community health services that provide education and screenings in the community by 2017. Second, I am hoping that schools, home, and work sites will provide accessible healthy snacks and meals; and obesity rate will decrease by next year. Furthermore, worksites and the community will provide move programs and encourage residents to participate by summer of 2016. Third, parents will have increased resources and training to help them communicate effectively about sex by the next school year. Also, age-appropriate comprehensive reproductive health education will be provided in school and community-based clinics by next school

year.
In conclusion, we must take of our health to improve and have a quality life. In today’s society, people seem to have inadequate knowledge about healthy lifestyle choices which lead to negative health consequences, poor health outcomes, and financial burden. As nurses, we play an important in achieving and implementing the goals of Healthy People 2020. We can make a change to keep our community healthy. I hope that my proposed interventions and goals could help the residents of my community, because I believe that health is our health.