A Healthy Connection for UCC Congregations
Introduction and History
Healthy People 2010 outlines a comprehensive, nationwide health promotion and disease prevention agenda. It is designed to serve as roadmap for improving health of all people in the United States during the first decade of the 21st century. Healthy People 2010 builds on initiatives pursued over the past two decades. In 1979, Healthy People: The Surgeon General's Report on Health Promotion and Disease Prevention provided national goals for reducing premature deaths and preserving independence for older adults. In 1980, another report, Promoting Health/Preventing Disease: Objectives for the Nation, outlined over 200 targeted health objectives for the Nation to achieve over the next 10 years. Healthy People 2000: National Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Objectives, released in 1990, identified health improvement goals and objectives to be reached by the year 2000. The Healthy People 2010 initiative continues this tradition as an instrument to improve health for the first decade of the 21st century.
Goals of Healthy People 2010
Healthy People 2010 is designed to achieve two overarching goals:
Increase quality and years of healthy life
Quality of life reflects a general sense of happiness and satisfaction without lives and environment. It encompasses all aspects of life, including health, recreation, culture, rights, values, beliefs, aspirations, and the conditions that support a life containing these elements.
Eliminate health disparities
The elimination of health disparities among different segments of the population is a major policy shift from the "reduction of health disparities" in Healthy People 2000. This goal includes differences that occur by gender, race or ethnicity, education or income, disability, living in rural localities, or sexual orientation.
Inequalities in income and education underlie many health disparities in the United States. Overall, those with higher incomes tend to fare better than those with lower incomes. Increases in education usually translate into more years of life. Further, higher levels of education may also increase the likelihood of obtaining or understanding health-related information needed to develop health-promoting behaviors and beliefs in prevention.
The Healthy People 2010 is dedicated to the principle that—regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, income, education, geographic location, disability, and sexual orientation—every person in every community across the Nation deserves equal access to comprehensive, culturally competent, community-based heath care systems that are committed to serving the needs of the individual and promoting community health.
Improving the Health of the Nation Takes Everyone
Over the years, it has become clear that individual health is closely linked to community health—the health of the community and environment in which individuals live, work and play. Therefore, community health is affected by the collective behaviors, attitudes, and beliefs of everyone who lives in the community. One of the key ways for improving health in communities is through the development of community partnerships. The church is a key player in reducing disability and death.
The church today still represents a natural point of reference for many communities. It is because it is a natural reference point that focusing health promotion and disease prevention strategies and activities should be given careful thought. How can the church in partnership with local health and human service organizations participate most effectively in improving the Nation's health? As an individual, perhaps you will recognize the need to be a more active participant in decisions affecting your own health and the health of your children or loved ones. Perhaps you will assume a leadership role in promoting healthier behaviors in your congregation, neighborhood and/or community. Perhaps you will advocate for and assist in implementing policies and programs that can dramatically improve the health of many.
Leading Health Indicators
The Leading Health Indicators reflect the major public health concerns in the United States and were chosen based on their ability to motivate action, the availability of data to measure their progress, and their relevance as broad public health issues. These Indicators highlight individual behaviors, physical and social environmental factors, and important health system issues that affect the health of individuals and communities. The Leading Indicators are intended to help everyone more easily understand the importance of health promotion and disease prevention and to encourage wide participation in improving health.
Physical activity
Overweight and obesity
Tobacco use
Substance abuse
Responsible sexual behavior
Mental health
Injury and violence
Environmental quality
Immunization Access to health care
Healthy People 2010 and the UCC Mission Statement on Health and Human Service Partnership
The UCC Mission Statement in Health and Human Service reminds us that this mission belongs to all who have been called by God in Christ. Where the church is there is mission. Where the church is there are those who have been called to live for the sake of the other.
Good health is part of God's intention for all people. Health involves the whole person, body, mind, and spirit. Health is a concern of the whole community and healing and health care are valid ways of proclaiming the gospel and ministering in the name of Jesus Christ. Our Mission Statement is a mandate for action. The Mission Statement in partnership with Healthy People 2010 can create a dynamic partnership for developing strategies and action plans to address one or more of these indicators. The outcome would have a profound effect on increasing the quality of life and eliminating health disparities—creating healthy people in healthy communities and healthy congregations.
Actions/Resources
1. Encourage the formation of health ministries or health task force to assist members in understanding health and welfare issues, nationally and locally. Involve members of the congregation who are in health and human service fields in setting up your ministry.
2. Order the UCC Faith Community Nurse (Parish Nurse) Ministry packet for starting your Parish Nurse Ministry.
3. Find out about the "Healthy Connection's Certified Lay Minister of Health Training Program" (training lay persons as ministers of health)
4. Create a health and health care section in your church library.
5. Review and discuss the UCC Mission Statement on Health and Welfare during Sunday School or Bible Study.
6. Review, discuss, and implement the General Synod 21 Resolution—"Reclaiming the Church's Ministry of Health and Healing."
7. Contact your local public health department, hospital or other health care organizations in your community for possible partnerships to work on the Leading Health Indicators.
8. Order Educating and Organizing Health Ministries, Volume 1: Toward An Accessible Universal Health Care System. This resource has been developed to facilitate local churches and their members' response to the goal of the "Health Care For All" Priority, " to enlist all members of the United Church of Christ and its constituent parts, in study and action so that they may be knowledgeable and empowered to work for the establishment of Health Care For All". To obtain a copy call Barbara Baylor, 216-736-3708.
9. Urge your congregation to form study circles for learning more about the health care issue. Seek out persons in your church or community who may be experienced in facilitating and who are willing to participate in study and dialogue around the universal health care debates. Use Volume 1 as a guide for these discussions.
10. Call the Universal Health Care Action Network and request the Guide - "Seeking Justice: A Guide for Health Care Advocates in the Faith Community", Rev. Linda Walling, Coordinator—216-736-3272.
11. Be an advocate for health care legislation by writing and calling your legislature. Encourage "Letter-Writing Sunday" and have members write letters which will be mailed collectively. Call Pat Conover, 202-543-1517 for advocacy and policy information.
12. For more information about Healthy People 2010 or to access Healthy People 2010 documents online, visit 
www.health.gov/healthypeople/ or call 800-367-4725
