American Public Health Association Will Urge Americans to
Build Healthier Communities and Raise Healthier Kids During
National Public Health Week 2006

Annual Nationwide Health Event Will Be Held April 3-9, 2006

The American Public Health Association and hundreds of partner organizations will explore ways that Americans can build healthier communities and healthier kids during National Public Health Week, April 3-9, 2006.

As part of the weeklong observance, communities across the country will consider how buildings, roads, sidewalks and neighborhood design are affecting the health of children. For example, children who live close enough to school to walk often do not because they have no sidewalks to walk on. Air pollution has contributed to higher rates of childhood asthma, and the lack of access to fresh foods and avenues for activity in some neighborhoods has contributed to rising rates of childhood obesity.

During the eleventh annual event, APHA will reach out to policy-makers, public health officials and partner groups across the country to empower them to assess the status of the built environment and children’s health in their communities, identify areas for improvement and implement model programs. APHA will work with select partners to develop a Community Report Card that may be used to evaluate the current state and impact of the built environment on children. The report card will include evaluation of the built environment as it relates to the specific issues of access and equity, physical activity, injury prevention and asthma.

Last year’s National Public Health Week focused on identifying and reducing the barriers that keep older Americans from getting the health care and information they need. More information on National Public Health Week 2005 may be found at www.nphw.org.

Founded in 1872, the APHA is the oldest, largest and most diverse organization of public health professionals in the world. The association aims to protect all Americans and their communities from preventable, serious health threats and strives to assure community-based health promotion and disease prevention activities and preventive health services are universally accessible in the United States. APHA represents a broad array of health providers, educators, environmentalists, policy-makers and health officials at all levels working both within and outside governmental organizations and educational institutions.

More information is available at www.apha.org.