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Healthy Communities, Healthy People is a comprehensive and community-based health promotion and wellness initiative designed to reduce major behavioral risk factors associated with chronic diseases. The initiative is aimed to enhance the skills, knowledge, motivation, and opportunities for individuals, organizations, health care providers, small businesses, health insurers, and communities to develop and maintain healthy lifestyles. Chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes are among the most prevalent, costly, and preventable of all health problems. Chronic diseases have a long course of illness. They rarely resolve spontaneously and they are generally not cured by medication or prevented by vaccine. Chronic diseases are the leading causes of death and disability in Florida and the Nation. However, consideration of deaths alone severely understates the burden of chronic disease. The prolonged course of illness and disability from chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and arthritis results in extended pain and suffering as well as in decreased quality of life for thousands of Floridians. The Department of Health strives to be a leader in developing a unified statewide system to prevent, detect, and reduce complications of chronic diseases. Toward that end, the department collaborates with public, private, and voluntary organizations; establishes and participates in councils and partnerships; and obtains funding for planning and program development to address:
Although chronic diseases are among the most common and costly health problems, they are also among the most preventable. The department's Healthy Communities, Healthy People efforts focus on assessing behaviors and outcomes, changing modifiable risk behaviors, promoting early detection through awareness of symptoms, and supporting policy and environmental change at both the state and community level. Modifiable risk factors are behaviors that can be changed, including physical inactivity, unhealthy nutrition, tobacco use, excess weight, and unprotected sun exposure. Activities are directed toward both consumers and health professionals. Programs and services for mental and emotional health are facilitated by the Florida Department of Children and Families. To learn more about health status indicators:
To learn more about health services and resources in your county:
To learn more about the symptoms of chronic diseases, how to prevent them, and the services Florida's Department of Health programs provide:
Florida Department of Health Reports
Other Florida Government Programs
Department of Children and Families: Department of Education/Department of Health: Department of Environmental Protection: Department of Transportation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Resources for Smart Growth and the Built Environment
*Note: Materials are in the Portable Document Format (PDF). You will need to download the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the files. |
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