Local City State Agencies Select a Target

¶ … local city state agencies select a target population. Examples target populations poor, unemployed, children, elderly, people disabilities, persons mental illness, substance abusers, criminals, homeless, persons living HIV / AIDS.

Instructions:

Review the list of local city and state agencies and select a target population. Examples of target populations are the poor, unemployed, children, elderly, people with disabilities, persons with mental illness, substance abusers, criminals, homeless, and persons living with HIV / AIDS. Once you have selected a group, research a current issue or problem affecting this target population.

Identify the current and unmet needs of your chosen target population, and describe the possible obstacles that are preventing resolution of the problems. What human service programs addressing the problem currently exist, and how are they helping or hindering the problem?

Write a 700- to 1,050-word paper in APA format, with references, summarizing your findings. Use Appendixes C & G. And have at least two references.

GvtEntity

Obesity in America seems to be an ever-increasing problem. The problem is heavily weighted to causing a number of medical problems that add to the cost and expense at the least affordable time, and it is not just adults who are feeling the effects of this problem; children and youth are experiencing it as well. The problem is not limited to the citizens of America; it is a worldwide problem and one that should be addressed in an effective manner. A recent study determined that childhood obesity is a problem that demands consistent and comprehensive research and evaluation (Ness, Leary, Mattocks, Blair, Reilly, 2007). Another study found that the "financial burden to the public health system of childhood overweight and obesity occurs even during the first five years of primary school" (Au, 2012, p. 655).

There are a number of organizations throughout America (and around the globe) that are addressing the problem of obesity. Some organizations are accomplishing great things with limited resources, while others leave much to be desired in their approach to helping fight obesity and its influences. The organizations come in a variety of sizes, and much like their purported clientele, many are bloated and living high on the hog; these organizations are the ones that are most often not as effective as they could be. Some organizations sponsor the research and study of obesity and its costs, others provide nutritional expertise and data, while others approach the problem using a hands-on format.

One of these organizations is the Center for Disease Control (CDC). According to the CDC's website "obesity now affects 17% of all children and adolescents in the United States - triple the rate from just one generation ago" (CDC, 2011).

The CDC is an ardent supporter and promoter of healthy living, especially as it concerns children and youth; it provides not only information to individuals but it also provides advice and programs to states and state agencies. The organization also assists by providing information to the general public concerning a variety of programs, projects, history, data, statistics, and how to address the issues of obesity. Many governmental organizations have garnered reputations that less than stellar, but the CDC seems to be meeting many of the needs of the national community that it serves. The organizations is especially helpful in assisting states by providing funding for and establishing programs that address the obesity issue for both adults and children across America.

One of the programs initiated and/or implemented by the CDC that addresses obesity includes the "Nutrition and Physical Activity Program to Prevent Obesity and Other Chronic Diseases." According to the CDC website the programs' focus is to "improve the health of Americans by changing environments where people live, work, play and learn" (CDC, 2011). The CDC also states that the program also works to build lasting and comprehensive efforts to address obesity and other chronic diseases through a variety of evidence-based nutrition and implementing strategies of good physical activities. In other words, the CDC would like to see the children of America eating healthier diets and working out a bit more than they currently do.

Additionally, the CDC has awarded over $119 million to states to ensure that there are continuing efforts to address and reduce obesity through programs that help individuals to stop (or decrease) smoking which also contributes to obesity.

In other words, the CDC sees the problem as a massive undertaking and has developed a source for states, entities and individuals to approach for information, funding and data to combat the problem.

The needs of America (at least regarding obesity) are being addressed by the CDC in an efficient and effective manner. The needs of a society that is searching for the answers to such a weighty problem are provided by the CDC. The CDC wishes to create an impact through three primary areas. Those areas include 1) increasing the number, reach, and quality of evidence-based strategies to support healthful eating and physical activities in various settings, 2) increasing access and use of environments to support healthy eating and physical activity in various settings, and 3) increase the number, reach and quality of social and behavioral approaches to promote healthful eating and physical activity" (CDC, 2011). The CDC hopes to create this impact assisting states in developing strategies and programs that promote healthy eating and physical activities specifically through "increasing the consumption of fruits and vegetables, decreasing the consumption of sugar sweetened beverages, increasing breastfeeding, reductions in the consumption of high energy dense foods, and decreasing television viewing" (CDC, 2011).