In 2005, PHANYC created a new public health policy and advocacy initiative – the Agenda for a Healthy New York. As our major program and advocacy function, the Agenda for a Healthy New York proposes specific goals to help make our city a healthier place. With initial funding in part by The New York Community Trust, the Agenda for a Healthy New York describes a vision of a city where all residents can realize their potential for health and identifies actions New Yorkers can take now to make this vision a reality. Its premise is that a healthy New York requires effective schools, adequate housing, employment opportunities, access to good health care, a clean environment, safe neighborhoods, and the potential for all residents to participate in the political process. This vision of a healthy city has been a basic goal of public health for more than 150 years; the Agenda translates this aim into a specific plan for today’s city.
To achieve these goals, the Agenda serves as the meeting point for the many organizations and individuals who are already working to improve the health of New York City. The Agenda seeks to educate the public health community, policy makers, advocates, New York City residents and others about the specific achievable changes in health and living conditions that can contribute to improved health in New York City. It convenes often disparate constituencies, including service providers, city agencies, advocates and researchers in developing objectives and targets. PHANYC will use the Agenda to develop standards and tools that can be used to evaluate policy proposals, government budgets and candidates running for public office on their contribution to a healthier New York. As a long-standing and independent public health association in New York City, PHANYC is able to bring its wealth of research, analytical, program development and advocacy expertise to propose and advocate for public health policies that can make great advances in public health.
What We're Doing
Since 2005, the Agenda for a Healthy New York has created Workgroups around several public health topics, held several educational forums, produced policy reports, undertook advocacy and voter education activities and conducted member professional development programs. For 2007, our policy development, advocacy and communication efforts implement the policy priorities of our 2006 Agenda for a Healthy New York [pdf] : 1) the prevention and management of diabetes, and 2) improving school health services and school completion rates in NYC in order to improve child and adolescent health.
Most recently, we cosponsored with CUNY Campaign Against Diabetes and other organizations to hold a highly successful forum on January 17th, “A Forum on Diabetes Policy for NYC: Comprehensive Approaches to Prevention and Management”. Diabetes policy recommendations from the forum have been presented to the Mayor and Governor, and our goal is to work with the city and state to implement them. In support of these efforts, the Agenda for a Healthy New York published a comprehensive list of policy recommendations for increasing opportunities for physical activity in New York City, Steps to Get New Yorkers Moving [pdf]
For our second priority, the Agenda for a Healthy New York has convened successful meetings of researchers and advocates to discuss how to improve school completion rates and child and adolescent health by strengthening school health services. From these discussions, recommendations for achieving these goals have been defined and presented to the Mayor and Governor, and we look forward to working with city and state officials to help enact these recommendations.
Workgroups Created:
- Diabetes Policy
- Education & Health
- Environment & Occupational Health
- Health Care
- Mental Health & Substance Abuse
- Nutrition & Physical Activity
- Reproductive & Sexual Health
- Student Workgroup
- Diabetes Policy Development 1/2007. Click here for reports and presentations [pdf]
- Community Food Assessment 4/2006
- Expanding Primary and Preventive Health Care 2/2006
- Nutrition and Physical Activity 6/2005
- Developing Health Goals for NYC 5/2005
- Sexual and Reproductive Health 5/2005
- Education and Health 3/2005
- Contrasting Strategies for Improving Health of New Yorkers 3/2005
- Making Healthy Public Policy: A Policy Agenda for a Healthier NYC: 2005 Fall Conference
- The Science, Politics and Economics of Developing an Agenda for a Healthy New York City: 2004 Fall Conference
Briefings & Testimonies:
- Testified before the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Public Hearing in support of proposed amendment to require restaurants to phase out trans fat and require restaurants to list the calorie content on menus (adding §81.50 to NYC Health Code). October 31, 2006 [pdf]
- Testified before City Council Education Committee Oversight Hearing, “Let Them Play: Access to Schoolyards Outside of School Hours”. Res. #134-A, 10/2006 [pdf]
- Public Health Legislative Briefings 7/2006
- Testified before City Council Health Committee Oversight Hearing, “New York City’s Response to the Obesity Epidemic”. 6/2006 [pdf]
- Testified before Regional Advisory Committee of the Commission on Healthcare Facilities in the 21st Century. 3/2006 [pdf]
Voter Education:
Surveyed all candidates for NYC office on public health priorities and posted results, 8/05 [pdf]
Publications:
- Nutrition and Physical Activity, Report #3 - June 2005 [pdf]
- Steps to Get New Yorkers Moving: Policy Recommendations for Increasing Opportunities for Physical Activity in New York City. 1/2007 [pdf]
- 2006 Agenda for a Healthy New York [pdf]
- 2005 Agenda for a Healthy New York [pdf]
- Reproductive and Sexual Health. 5/05 [pdf]
- Defining a Common Education and Health Policy Agenda. 3/05 [pdf]
Get Involve & Volunteer
To be able to achieve its goals of improving the public health and make NYC a healthier place to live, we need the active involvement of many different individuals and organizations who bring different perspectives to define policy objectives and strategies. Please join our effort to organize different constituencies to make a difference by becoming part of one of our current policy groups. Click here to become involved with the Agenda for a Healthy New York. If interested in volunteering for its programs and activities, contact PHANYC at info@phanyc.org.
