Health programs aim to address the underlying influences that lead to ill health. These influencers are usually outside of the control of an individual and include social, environmental, and economic factors. Governmental health programs seek to reduce or eliminate barriers to good health through a variety of means, including policy and education. These programs are often targeted at the community or organizational level and can produce substantial benefits, such as lower healthcare costs, greater productivity, improved recruiting and retention, reduced absenteeism and presenteeism, and healthier employees.
Governmental health programs are typically funded by the federal, state, and local governments. These programs may be aimed at specific populations, such as pregnant women, children, or the elderly. They are also aimed at reducing the burden of illness, injury, and disability through prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation. In the United States, governmental health programs include Medicare, Medicaid, and other supplemental insurance coverage, as well as research grants and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Workplace health and wellness programs are often designed to improve employee wellbeing by encouraging them to change their unhealthy behaviors, such as smoking or poor eating habits. These programs are typically offered through the employer, although some insurance plans offer them directly to their enrollees. Incentives to participate in these programs can include premium discounts, cash rewards, gym memberships, or other health-related prizes.
Health and wellness programs are also aimed at increasing the health literacy of the population through various initiatives, such as public service announcements or the use of educational materials. The development of health and wellness programs is often guided by specific objectives and influenced by various socio-cultural issues, such as poverty and access to healthcare.
In the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, school health programs focused on teaching students about diseases and their causes, as well as how to prevent them. This was often accompanied by a temperance movement that stressed the harmful effects of alcohol and tobacco on the body. The responsibilities of school health personnel also became more defined during this time, with many having both medical and education backgrounds.
Today, societal issues have replaced infectious diseases as the main focus of school health programs. These issues have a more profound impact on health and wellbeing, and are not as easily defined as the problems of yesterday, such as disease, physical defects, poor sanitation, and inadequate nutrition. As a result, the challenges that face school health programs today are more complex and difficult to resolve than those of 100 years ago. However, some of the same basic issues remain: educating students about good hygiene and personal health; providing immunizations and other preventive measures; promoting healthy lifestyles; educating students about the dangers of drugs and alcohol; and establishing safe school environments.