The New York State Department of Health has announced the launch of its 2025-2030 Prevention Agenda, a statewide health improvement plan aimed at reducing health disparities and promoting prevention.
State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald stated, “Health is shaped by many factors beyond traditional medical care, and improving the health of our communities requires addressing those broader determinants. The goal of New York’s Prevention Agenda is to improve population health and reduce health disparities by preventing problems before they start and tackling the root causes that impact well-being — in partnership with local governments, health care providers, and community organizations across the state.”
The new agenda was developed through a collaborative process involving stakeholder engagement and data-driven decision-making. A cross-disciplinary team contributed to shaping priorities that align with principles of health equity. The plan is intended for use by both state and local organizations, including hospital systems and public health departments.
Jo Ivey Boufford, M.D., Vice Chair of the New York State Public Health and Health Planning Council, said, “The Public Health Committee has been deeply involved in the development of the new Prevention Agenda on behalf of the NYS Public Health and Health Planning Council which has endorsed the plan. The Committee has also worked with NYSDOH to convene a statewide group of over 120 representatives from 48 agencies to provide input on the new plan through its Ad Hoc Committee on the Prevention Agenda. We look forward to overseeing the progress on the Agenda and are enthusiastic about the potential for other State agencies to join NYSDOH in addressing the broader determinants of health.”
The agenda emphasizes evidence-informed interventions that address racial/ethnic, socioeconomic, geographic, and other disparities. Its success depends on partnerships among various sectors as well as innovative resource use.
Heidi Bond, President of New York State Association of County Health Officials (NYSACHO), commented, “Developed with input from local health departments, the New York State Prevention Agenda is vital to ensuring that our public health work reflects the voices and needs of all community members. Investing now to prevent disease and illness will not only save lives but also reduce long-term costs. By addressing the health of our communities before people get sick, we can create healthier, more economically resilient communities, ensuring that our efforts have lasting, positive impacts for all.”
Bea Grause, RN, JD, President of Healthcare Association of New York State (HANYS), added: “HANYS thanks the New York State Department of Health for its continued commitment to improving community health. The 2025-2030 Prevention Agenda recognizes the many factors that drive health and health outcomes and understands that collaboration within our communities is essential to reducing disparities and improving New Yorkers’ health and well-being. HANYS and our member hospitals and health systems look forward to continued engagement with DOH and local partners as we collectively work to address these new Prevention Agenda priorities.”
Lloyd Bishop, Senior Vice President for Community Health at Greater New York Hospital Association stated: “The 2025-2030 Prevention Agenda reflects the State’s critically important public health goals, with key new partners as stakeholders to address the social determinants of health. Greater New York Hospital Association will continue to work closely with the State and provide technical assistance to our member hospitals to help them achieve Prevention Agenda goals.”
Tina Kim, Deputy Commissioner for Office of Health Equity and Human Rights at NYSDOH said: “The 2025-2030 Prevention Agenda embodies the New York State Department of Health’s mission of public health work on a foundation of health equity. The Department is eager to advance the next six-year cycle of this evidence-based, community-informed framework for how the State and its partners will address the root causes and the intersecting factors that impact all New Yorkers’ health and well-being.”
To support these objectives further, an interagency Social Determinants of Health Workgroup was formed earlier this year. This group brings together experts in relevant fields such as economics or vulnerable populations who meet quarterly to coordinate strategies aimed at advancing equity throughout state initiatives.
Additional details about this initiative are available on [the department’s website](https://www.health.ny.gov/prevention/prevention_agenda/2025-2030/).
