Media Release

For Immediate Release
Date: October 30, 2003
Contact: Robert J. Marshall Jr., Ph.D. 401-222-1017

Health Department Releases Healthier Rhode Islanders 2010 Plan; Conference Sets Public Health Agenda for the Decade

Providence, RI – What is the current status of the health of Rhode Islanders? How does health vary between people of different ages, ethnicities, races, social and economic groups? And what strategies can we use to improve the health of Rhode Islanders over the next decade.

Bringing together organizations from across the state, the RI Department of Health (HEALTH) hosted a working conference today to establish the State’s public health agenda for the decade. Called "A Healthier Rhode Island by 2010: Your Challenge," the conference is part of a collaborative process to increase the quality and years of healthy life and eliminate health disparities for all Rhode Islanders.

"This conference marks a watershed event in our effort to reach Healthy Rhode Island 2010 goals," said Patricia A. Nolan, MD, MPH, Director of Health. "We want to lead and inspire workplaces, communities, schools and health care organizations to implement best practices for health promotion and disease prevention. By working together, we can make a real difference in the health of all Rhode Islanders for years to come."

Healthy Rhode Islanders 2010 identifies ten key indicators of the population’s health: physical activity, overweight and obesity, tobacco use, substance abuse, responsible sexual behavior, mental health, injury and violence, environmental quality, immunization and access to health care. HEALTH, along with guidance and input from community partners, previously released a series of reports on the current status of the state’s health, targets for improvement, and strategies for getting there.

Today’s conference takes another step toward completion of one of the final documents in the planning process—a roadmap for improving the State’s health, called A Healthier Rhode Island by 2010: A Plan for Action (1.47MB). The document reviews objectives, targets and best practices for a healthier Rhode Island and can be used to guide programming decisions, fundraising, advocacy, policy-making, research and a range of other activities that promote health.

In addition to presenting the report, HEALTH invited attendees to offer feedback on a draft version of the Plan for Action. Attendees also heard from conference speakers who are working to improve the health of Rhode Islanders. Speakers included:

• Patricia A. Nolan, MD, MPH, RI Director of Health
• William J. Waters, PhD, Deputy Director of Health
• Kerrie Jones Clark, Executive Director, RI Health Center Association
• Dennis Langley, Executive Director, Urban League of RI
• Barbara Morse, Health Reporter, WJAR NBC-10Marie Ganim, Policy Director for Health/Human Services, RI Senate
• Patricia Martinez, Director of Community Relations, Governor’s Office
• Michael Samuelson, Executive Lead for Wellness, RI Blue Cross
• Kathleen Hittner, MD, President & CEO, Miriam Hospital
• Jeffrey Johnson, Chair, Worksite Wellness Council of RI

All the Healthier Rhode Island 2010 reports are available on the HEALTH website at: www.health.ri.gov/chic/healthypeople/home.htm.