HHS Secretary Sebelius to Speak at SOPHE Annual Meeting Oct. 28th
Secretary Sebelius to highlight grassroots organizations making a difference with Healthy Living Innovation Awards
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September
21, 2011
WASHINGTON –Our nation continues its epic fight to get Americans to pursue healthier lifestyles as obesity rates soar and health problems multiply. Real-life solutions can be found through health promotion efforts and the National Prevention Strategy, says the Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE).
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen
Sebelius will discuss prevention strategies and the role prevention plays in
public health.The Secretary’s speech will be attended by hundreds
of health education specialists. Working throughout the country, these
professionals are the frontline soldiers in a battle to help Americans make
healthier decisions and live healthier lives.
“We are honored to have Secretary Sebelius attend the SOPHE annual meeting to
inspire our members who are working to modify policies, systems and
organizations to make the healthy choice, the easy choice, where people live,
work, learn and play,” said Elaine Auld, chief executive officer for SOPHE.
Following her remarks, Secretary Sebelius will recognize 8 outstanding organizations with the first ever Healthy Living Innovation Awards from HHS. The award winners represent innovative business and grassroots organizations working across the country to promote healthy weight, physical activity, and nutrition among children, adolescents, adults, seniors and diverse populations.
The Healthy Living Innovation Awards are a new HHS initiative designed to identify and acknowledge innovative health promotion projects within the last 3 years that have demonstrated a significant impact on the health status of a community.
The inaugural awards presentation and the Secretary’s remarks for health educators will be on October 28, 2011, 9:15 a.m. – 10:05 a.m.
Unveiled in June 2011, the National Prevention Strategy includes actions that public and private partners can take to help Americans stay healthy and fit and improve our nation’s prosperity. The strategy builds healthy and safe community environments, expands quality preventive services in both clinical and community settings, empowers people to make healthy choices, and eliminates health disparities.
More information about the Healthy Living Innovation Awards can be found at: http://healthylivinginnovation.challenge.gov/
More information about the National Prevention
Strategy can be found at:
http://www.healthcare.gov/news/factsheets/prevention06162011a.html
About SOPHE
The Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) is a non-profit professional
organization founded in 1950 to provide global leadership to the profession of
health education and health promotion and to promote the health of society.
SOPHE’s 4,000 international and chapter members work in various public and
private organizations to advance health education theory and research, develop
disease prevention and health promotion programs, and promote public policies
conducive to health. For more information, go to www.sophe.org.
Media contact for SOPHE: Ami Neiberger-Miller, 703.887.4877, news@sophe.org
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