Healthy Communities, Healthy People Legislation

The Healthy Communities, Healthy People Program is a statewide network of community projects working to prevent chronic disease by making the healthy choice the easy choice.

Chronic diseases - such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes - are the leading causes of death and disability in Florida. Although these diseases are among the most common and costly health problems, they are also among the most preventable. Adopting healthy behaviors such as eating nutritious foods, being physically active, and avoiding tobacco use can prevent or control the devastating effects of these chronic diseases.

The Healthy Communities, Healthy People Program works at both the local and statewide levels to improve Florida's health and quality of life by promoting policy and environmental strategies that complement and support individual and family efforts to make healthy choices. Examples of this include, but are not limited to the following:

• Increasing access to and use of attractive and safe locations for physical activity in the built environment;
• Increasing healthy food choices in restaurants, grocery stores, work sites, and schools;
• Increasing farmers markets and community gardens to provide affordable, fresh fruits and vegetables for Floridians;
• Increasing availability and reimbursement of chronic disease preventative health services across health systems; and
• Increasing the availability of tobacco prevention and cessation education opportunities in schools and work sites.

Critical to the success of these efforts are partnerships with state and local health and education agencies, voluntary associations, faith-based settings, and other organizations. Together, the Department of Health and its partners are working to create a healthy Florida.

Fact Sheet

• Healthy Communities, Healthy People Fact Sheet (PDF 124 KB)

Success Stories

The following success stories record accomplishments that can be attributed to the Healthy Communities, Healthy People Program and the concerted efforts of public and private organizations.

• Florida Communities Lead the Way to a Healthy Future (PDF 11 KB)
• Passport to a Healthy Future in Citrus County (PDF 9 KB)
• Traveling the Rural Roads to Provide Health Services - Jefferson and Madison Counties (PDF 9 KB)
• Helping Residents Breathe Easier in Duval County (PDF 9 KB)

*Note: Some files are in the Portable Document Format (PDF). You may need to download the free Adobe Reader to view the files.