A. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Public Policy Agenda for Prevention is developed by ASHA’s Governmental and Social Policy Board and the Government Relations and Public Policy staff. Issues are assigned a category based on: a) importance to the Association’s members and b) immediacy and likelihood of federal or state action.

B. Public Health and the Professions of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. With the dramatic changes taking place in health care delivery, all health and health-related professions are re-assessing their role in prevention:

1. Selected Public Health Activities: The speech-language pathology and audiology professionals may participate in public health activities at the local, state, regional, national, and international levels. An example of a national public health activity is Healthy People 2000/2010, a blueprint for disease prevention and health promotion that grew out of a health strategy initiated in 1979 by the U.S. Surgeon General.

2. Politics of Prevention/Creation of Public Health Policy. There are a number of factors that explain why U.S. health policy is still struggling with the role and significance of prevention…1) crisis intervention as primary mode of intervention, 2) long period of time from prevention action to measurable reduction in incidence of disease and disability.