Each month, we highlight select National Health Observances (NHOs) that align with our mission to improve health in the United States. In August, we are raising awareness about breastfeeding, immunizations, and children’s eye health and safety.We’ve listed some resources below that you can use to promote these NHOs.National Breastfeeding MonthIn August, we celebrate National Breastfeeding Month to support babies and families. This year’s theme — Nourish, Sustain, Thrive — highlights why protecting, promoting, and supporting lactation is…

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The President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition previously announced the nomination period for the 2024 Council Awards. These awards recognize individuals or organizations that have contributed in various ways to the advancement or promotion of physical activity, fitness, sports, or nutrition. The window for submitting a nomination will be closing tomorrow. Don’t miss your opportunity to send in a nomination before the deadline!Three award categories are open in 2024. Find more information on each award and submit a nomination: Community…

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This blog post is part of a spotlight series featuring examples of programs and community design changes that get older adults moving. The posts were first published as part of the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans Midcourse Report: Implementation Strategies for Older Adults and highlight ways to apply strategies from the report in different settings.

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On Wednesday, June 12 the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP) hosted its latest Healthy People 2030 webinar: Air Quality Matters: Improving Health and Lung Function with Healthy People 2030 Objectives.During this one-hour event, ODPHP presented on the webinar’s three featured objectives related to indoor and outdoor air quality and health. The webinar also featured a presentation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics on the latest data for the three featured objectives and a…

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Registration is now open for the 2024 National Healthy Aging Symposium! Join the HHS Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion and Trust for America’s Health to hear from speakers from across the federal government, states, tribes, territories and local communities, as well as philanthropy and academia, who will share their perspectives on successful innovations developed to improve the health and well-being of older adults. Register now.The Symposium will build upon the successful and ongoing collaborations between aging services and public…

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Registration is now open for the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP) and American Public Health Association (APHA) webinar, Community-Based Violence Prevention and Firearm Safety. This webinar will take place on Tuesday, July 16 from 2:00 to 3:00 pm ET. To register, please visit the Community-Based Violence Prevention and Firearm Safety Registration page.During this one-hour event, ODPHP will present on two Healthy People 2030 featured objectives related to violence prevention and firearm safety. The webinar will also feature a…

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The Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking (ICCPUD) has announced a request for public comment on the proposed methodology it will use to complete its Alcohol Intake and Health (AIH) study. Public comments will help ensure the broadest evidence base and available data are considered in this study and that the methodology is scientifically rigorous. Learn more about the request for comment and the full AIH methodology. Those interested in submitting written comments must do so by Friday, August 2, 2024, by sending an…

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“Twelve years ago, we asked ourselves the question, ‘Can a community be healthy if its seniors are not?’ That led us to our first spotlight report, and several have come since then.” - Dr. Rhonda Randall, Senior Medical Advisor to America’s Health Rankings & United Health Foundation Board MemberI am happy to introduce another entry in our quarterly vlog series, where we engage with partners in the public and private sectors to discuss the ways in which we can collaborate to advance our collective mission to promote greater health equity and…

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The President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition (Council) has extended the deadline to submit nominations for the 2024 Council Awards. The 2024 Council Awards recognize individuals or organizations that have made contributions to the advancement or promotion of physical activity, fitness, sports, or nutrition. Three award categories are open in 2024: Lifetime Impact Award, Community Leadership Award, and PCSFN Hero Award. Nominations are being accepted through July 12, 2024.

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Each month, we feature select National Health Observances (NHOs) that align with our priorities for improving health across the United States. In July, we are raising awareness about HIV stigma and viral hepatitis. Below, you’ll find links to resources to help you promote these NHOs. Zero HIV Stigma Day (7/21)Zero HIV Stigma Day is observed each year on July 21 to raise awareness about HIV stigma. Check out this resource from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) — and use their social media toolkit to challenge HIV stigma in your…

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The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion and Trust for America’s Health are excited to announce the National Healthy Aging Symposium: Innovation Across the Age-Friendly Ecosystem. In observance of Healthy Aging Month, this no-cost virtual event will take place on September 26, 2024. The Symposium will explore successful innovations developed to improve older adult health and well-being. It will build upon the successful and ongoing collaborations between aging services and public health that began at the first National Healthy Aging Summit…

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This blog post is part of our quarterly series highlighting the work of Healthy People 2030 Champion organizations. Healthy People 2030 Champions are organizations recognized for their work to improve the health and well-being of people in their communities and to help achieve Healthy People 2030’s goals. The Southern Nevada Health District (SNHD) serves more than 2.3 million people — including residents of Las Vegas. Within SNHD, the Office of Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (OCDPHP) takes a data-driven approach to assess the…

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The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP) has joined a coalition of government and private-sector health partners led by American’s Health Insurance Plans, Inc. (known as AHIP) to launch a campaign to promote increased uptake of clinical preventive services (CPS). "Rates of access to preventive health services and primary care visits, which were already well below ideal levels prior to the pandemic, have yet to rebound fully,” explained RDML Paul Reed, MD, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health and ODPHP Director. “This is…

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This blog post is part of a spotlight series featuring examples of programs and community design changes that get older adults moving. The posts were first published as part of the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans Midcourse Report: Implementation Strategies for Older Adults and highlight ways to apply strategies from the report in different settings.

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ICYMI: A few weeks ago, the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee held its fifth public meeting. The meeting was livestreamed, and recordings of Day 1 and Day 2 are now available on DietaryGuidelines.gov. The meeting’s first day featured engaging discussions of the Committee’s approach to incorporating health equity into its work and the Committee’s review of the evidence on diet quality and weight management. The Committee also gave an overview of progress made on food pattern modeling since the last public meeting in January.The meeting’s…

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Preventive services — like screening tests, checkups, and vaccines — have always been at the heart of MyHealthfinder and its mission. That’s why we’re happy to announce that MyHealthfinder now features Find and Access Preventive Services — a new resource that highlights the benefits of clinical preventive services and offers actionable tips to help people find free or low-cost preventive care, regardless of their health insurance status. Share this resource today and help your audiences protect their health!

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With the month of May behind us, we are reflecting on another wonderful and successful observance of National Physical Fitness and Sports Month and Older Americans Month. This year, ODPHP and its partners used these observances to highlight the integral role of physical activity in preserving our mental health and maintaining good overall health as we age.In case you missed any of it, here’s a recap of some of last month’s highlights:The President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition (PCSFN), which champions the importance of physical…

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On Tuesday, May 28th, the U.S. Department of Health, and Human Services (HHS) Assistant Secretary for Health, along with members of the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition (Council), discussed the challenges and opportunities for improving the mental health and well-being of Americans through physical activity.The meeting opened with remarks from Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, who highlighted the significant role that physical activity and sports play in enhancing and maintaining the well-being of the nation’s youth. Emhoff…

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On June 28, ODPHP will be removing the Eat Healthy, Be Active Community Workshops page from health.gov since this content is no longer up to date. The 6 community workshops are based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2015–2020 and the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. We appreciate your support in implementing the workshop series and promoting healthy eating and physical activity in your community. To learn more about the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans, visit DietaryGuidelines.gov. You can also check out the Physical…

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Health and Well-Being Matter is the monthly blog of the Director of the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. People need people. We connect with one another as family and friends, through the communities within which we live, in our workplaces, across support networks that stretch beyond our geographic location, and in many other ways that — whether we intend them to or not — help fulfill our fundamental human need to socialize and interact. These connections can be mundane, simple experiences of everyday life (like a few polite words…

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