FOCUSED HEALTH INITIATIVES

An examination of all information including the findings from the community forum, health indicator data analysis, and multiple targeted focus groups resulted in several issues from which initiatives could be formulated. These initiatives are cross-cutting to ensure the greatest advantage in three main areas: physical health, mental health, and substance abuse.

Health initiatives that have the greatest potential to improve individual and community quality of life, productivity, and efficient use of resources in central Texas include:

• Understanding and reducing the significant disparities in mental health, physical health, and substance abuse that exist;
• Focusing sufficient resources for effective efforts in preventing illness and injury and maintaining a healthy lifestyle;
• Improving access to health care and services, especially for the indigent and working poor, to ensure detection and treatment of illness and injury at the earliest possible time; and
• Reducing substance abuse and its impact on the community.

Cross-cutting and essential to achieving these goals are:

• Expanding awareness of health issues and choice by individuals and communities and their impact on health, including the important barrier of stigma;
• Facilitating positive family function, structure, values and supports - a crucial underpinning of mental and physical health; and
• Exploring and implementing health system structural and collaborative opportunities that serve the developing central Texas community with an emphasis on advocacy and public policy.