The National Academy of Public Administration

Addendum to Fifth Social Equity Leadership Conference Proceedings

Results from Health Disparities Breakout Groups
Friday, February 3, 2006

Obesity/Diabetes Breakout Group Results:
Maryann Troanovitch, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Wayne Houston, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Facilitators, Jerry England, UNO MPA Student, Recorder

The group looked at ways to address income disparity among individuals with obesity and/or diabetes. They agreed that the traditional methods need to be assessed.
Not enough people from the Omaha community are recognizing the need for action. It isn’t always about money. There is also a need for more training on actions that can be taken and on strategic planning for sustainability.
It’s hard to sustain programs with soft funding.
An elementary school in the Omaha area has an obesity training program for adults. The program is run by a military volunteer from Offutt Air Force Base as part of that individual’s community service. Perhaps others who want to volunteer could be encouraged to do something similar.
Omaha has a community outreach program that is working to put exercise back into the schools
Children can influence their families about nutrition and exercise if they have the training and knowledge.
Programs should be tailored to communities and ethnic groups. Cookie cutter approaches are not likely to be as successful.
Data sources: disease registries across the nation that show what groups are at risk; a study of genetics done in Iceland
In Omaha there is a need for collaboration with communities and community agencies to develop maps of risk areas. Such collaboration requires time to build rapport and trust between agencies and communities.
The food choices in most schools today are not healthy, but they generate a lot of money for the schools. Schools are beginning to change the choices they provide and should be supported in so doing. Schools also have to be aware that healthy choices that are traditional for different ethnic groups should be part of their decision-making process when they make changes.

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Academy Experts Recommend Strategies for Managing Effectively in Post-9/11 World

“The events of September 11, 2001 revealed serious deficiencies in government organization, systems and management. National Academy of Public Administration Fellows recommend strategies to manage effectively in a post-9/11 world in Meeting the Challenge of 9/11: Blueprints for More Effective Government, published this month.

The book, edited by Fellow Thomas H. Stanton, tackles a wide range of issues, including designing an organization that provides a strong government capacity to deliver services citizens need and deserve; making the Undersecretary for Management a key linchpin in bringing DHS functions together; restoring the President’s capacity to manage effectively; using the imperative of national security to improve federal, state and local relations especially with critical services like police, fire and health; capitalizing on tested and proven management strategies to surmount new and upcoming challenges for our nation; sorting through constitutional alternatives for holding government contractors accountable for the work they perform; and transforming military personnel system policies to avoid staffing crises during the War on Terror.

“This book provides invaluable insights and recommendations on how to improve government organization and performance as our nation faces new and imposing threats here and abroad,” Academy President Howard Messner said.

Buy “Meeting the Challenge of 9/11: Blueprints for More Effective Government”

The views expressed in this book are those of the Fellow. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the Academy as an institution.