This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Hann, N. E. Articles by Sterling, T. D. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Hann, N. E. Articles by Sterling, T. D. Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Policy and Environmental Change: New Directions for Public Health

Oklahoma Department of Health in Oklahoma City.

Thomas J. Kean, MPH

Englewood, Colorado.

Rose Marie Matulionis, MSPH

Directors of Health Promotion and Education in Washington, D.C.

Carol M. Russell, MPH

Destin, Florida.

Terrie D. Sterling, PhD

Site Activities Branch, Division of Health Education and Promotion, at the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry in Atlanta, Georgia.

Solving major, persistent public health problems requires new policies and more aggressive, sweeping interventions that affect large populations. We need well-conceived health policies and effective interventions for environmental change, but are we likely to get them? To find out, the Directors of Health Promotion and Education and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention initiated a study of state and local public health agencies in the United States from 1996 through 1999. Data were collected by peer- and non-peer-reviewed literature searches, key informant interviews, reviews of Internet sites, and a nationwide survey. Study conclusions found confusion about the legitimacy of advocacy, lack of priority and funding for interventions that take more time versus quick fixes, variable leadership, reluctance to take risks, and a political climate that often discourages government agencies to take on these interventions. There are successes, yet more can be done.

Key Words: health policy • environmental change • public health education

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. Emery, C. Crump, and M. Hawkins Formative Evaluation of AARP's Active for Life(R) Campaign to Improve Walking and Bicycling Environments in Two Cities Health Promot Pract, October 1, 2007; 8(4): 403 - 414. [Abstract] [PDF]