Healthy Alaskans releases scorecards assessing Alaska’s health progress for 2020 and a health improvement plan for 2030 that sets goals for the next decade

In an assessment of how well Alaska has done over the past year to improve the statewide health of all Alaskans, Healthy Alaskans has released data showing that Alaska has met the target for or improved on 12 of its 25 health goals. The updated all Alaska scorecard for 2020 can be viewed on the website here.

In addition, in an ongoing equal partnership between the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) and the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC), Healthy Alaskans is pleased to announce that the state health improvement plan, Healthy Alaskans 2030 (HA2030), is now finalized and published on the website here.

Healthy Alaskans 2020 Scorecards

Here are a few highlights of the progress made, as indicated by the HA2020 all Alaskan Scorecard (using the most current data available). Overall, Alaska has:

• Reduced the cancer mortality rate.
• Increased the percentage of adolescents (high school students in grades 9-12) who have not used tobacco products in the last 30 days.
• Reduced the rate of unique substantiated child maltreatment (age 0-17 years).

In addition to the all Alaskan Scorecard, we are also continuing to see progress on the Alaska Native Scorecard. Nine of the 25 goals listed on the Alaska Native Scorecard have either improved or have met their target.

Kirsten Kolb, Chief of Administrative Services for the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium and a Healthy Alaskans Steering Committee Member says, “We are pleased to see progress in reducing binge drinking and tobacco use rates for both youth and adults as well as increases in the number of youth who feel comfortable seeking help from trusted adults. The Healthy Alaskans initiative is built on a solid framework for health improvement which will guide us through the next decade.”

“The data tell us we are making progress toward achieving certain health goals such as reducing cancer deaths, reducing use of tobacco products among adolescents, and reducing child maltreatment” said Dr. Anne Zink, MD, the State Chief Medical Officer.

“However, the data also show a downward trend on many of our goals, which is concerning,” added Dr. Zink. “As we make the transition to the next iteration of Healthy Alaskans, in the midst of a global pandemic, we must find new ways to work together to help improve the overall health of Alaskans. We cannot lose sight of the pervasive health issues that will still be present after the current crises are resolved. There is still much work to be done to achieve the goals of Healthy Alaskans but with strong partnerships and shared goals, we can do it.”

Alaska’s State Health Improvement Plan, Healthy Alaskans 2030

The plan sets health goals and serves as a guide to help improve the health of all Alaskans over the next 10 years.

The plan is composed of 15 priority health topics containing 30 health objectives. Each objective has an established target to reach by 2030. Within each objective, there are evidence-based strategies and actions that are recommended to move the state closer to achieving the target.

HA2030 is aimed at improving the health of all Alaskans and has a vision of Healthy Alaskans in Healthy Communities. To support this vision, HA2030 provides a framework for partners and stakeholders who are actively engaged in improving the health of Alaskans. This group engaged in a multiyear planning process to agree upon health objectives and targets to achieve in the next decade. This collaborative planning process fosters shared ownership and responsibility for the plan’s implementation.

“The Healthy Alaskans 2030 plan presents a new set of data-driven, 10-year objectives which serve as an outline for improving health for all Alaskans. It is our hope that all Alaskans will find the plan useful, relevant, and inspirational. The plan will be our guiding north star as we work together to achieve these shared goals” said Dr. Anne Zink, MD, the State Chief Medical Officer and Healthy Alaskans Steering Team member.

Healthy Alaskans is a joint initiative of the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services and the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, and is modeled after the national Healthy People project to provide science-based, 10-year national objectives for ambitious — yet achievable — goals for improving the health of all Americans.