Children are one-quarter of Florida's population. Florida is the fourth largest state in the nation. It is also a “bell weather” state with large numbers of families from other states and nations who have chosen to make Florida their home. While great progress has been made in child health and most children in Florida are healthy, there is much that can be done to reduce child morbidity, mortality and disparities in child health outcomes. New information on brain development, mental health, smoking, asthma, obesity, and diabetes have provided greater understanding of how maternal and child health is critical to health and success in later life. Child health greatly affects adult health, well-being and future ability to contribute to society.

The Health of Florida's Children and Youth: Atlas of Key Status Indicators, Goals, and Objectives for Strategic Planning was developed to identify the potential for improved child health through data-driven systematic planning, organizing, monitoring, and focus. As part of an ongoing agency-wide planning effort to involve partner health agencies, stakeholders and Florida citizens in improving child health, it does not replace what is currently working but seeks to focus on areas of health that can be improved through attention, organization, resources and measurement.

The major child health policy concerns in Florida today are presented with objectives for measuring progress. A CD-ROM is available with more complete text. The data-driven project presents a new picture of children. Mortality and morbidity threats are analyzed by age and compared with adult causes of mortality. By breaking down the scope of mortality and morbidity factors by age, it becomes easier to analyze and design interventions for children and youth in Florida. The goal is to create awareness, action and consensus among child health stakeholders in order to improve upon and maintain the great amount of progress that has been made. The workgroups who prioritized areas for analysis were guided by the nation's Healthy People 2010 effort that identifies leading indicators and focus area objectives for persons of all ages in America.^(1-3)    The Health of Florida's Children and Youth utilizes this structure for addressing child and youth health in Florida, adding functions for public health.

Three Overall Goals Help All Children Reach Their Full Potential Reduce Mortality and Morbidity in Children and Youth Reduce Child Health Disparities

Four Strategic Public Health Core Functions for Florida's Children and Youth Education, Public Awareness, and Prevention Access and Utilization of Quality Health Services Services for Children with Special Health Care Needs Child Health Data and Surveillance

Ten Healthy People 2010⁽¹⁾ indicators were increased by six and the wording of four indicators was changed to highlight issues specific to children and youth in Florida. Lead Indicators are priority health indicators for action and monitoring. Healthy People 2010 describes “Leading Indicators” as areas “chosen based on their ability to motivate action, the availability of data to measure their progress and their relevance.” ⁽¹⁾
(Note: Bold text identifies an additional indicator. Italicized text indicates a change in wording from Healthy People 2010.)

In order to coordinate closely with Healthy People 2010 ⁽¹⁾ , 28 focus areas covering health issues for persons of all ages were expanded to 35 to highlight the major causes of morbidity, death and promising health programs for infants, children and youth in Florida. The intent is to monitor child and youth health issues identified in Healthy People 2010 and to add Florida objectives as needed.