Health of Children and Communities - Public Health Awareness Week 2006

This week Americans are being urged to consider the impact of community infrastructure on the health and future of children. April 3-9 is the 11th annual Public Health Awareness Week, sponsored by the American Public Health Association. Last year’s campaign centered on health care access for senior citizens. The mission of the APHA is to:

• Protect all American communities from serious, preventable health threats.
• To work with communities to develop activities geared toward health promotion and disease prevention.
• To promote accessible preventative health services in the US.1

For 2006, the APHA will reach out to the people who have the power to influence physical and social infrastructure, namely policymakers and public health officials. The APHA is joining with communities to take a stand for children. Here are some of the issues they are emphasizing.