Health Department Biweekly Reports Folder 0066, 2000-2001

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

NOTEWORTHY ITEMS

Joint Conference with Academy of Medicine✓ On January 8, the Department and the New York Academy of Medicine co- sponsored a conference that focused on the role of social and behavioral science in public health practice. The conference brought together over 300 professionals from government, academia, and the community to discuss strategies to strengthen the coordination between the public health and behavioral health systems. The conference was held at the Academy of Medicine.

As more than 50% of mortality in the United States is behaviorally-based, impacted by factors such as smoking, diet, alcohol use, sedentary lifestyle, and other high-risk behaviors, the Department sponsored the conference to demonstrate its firm commitment to find new ways to bridge the gap between behavioral and social science research and public health practice.

The day-long conference featured national and local experts on behavioral science, social i #ice, and public neairn. Concurrent wor s ops and panel iscussions were lead by speakers he City Health and Mental Health Departments, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Columbia University School of Public Health, Harvard University School of Public Health, and representatives from research institutes and community-based organizations that focus on public health issues.

Publication of Vital Statistics for 1999 On January 5, the Department announced the publication of the New York City Health Department's annual Summary of Vital Statistics for 1999. The Summary, published annually since 1932 is an extensive compilation of 1999 data concerning births and causes of death in New York City

The Summary Vital Statistics 1999 makes a broad array of fundamental public of

health-related data available to the public. It is made up of a compilation of information from birth and death certificates -- which is individually confidential under law -- computed and analyzed by the Health Department's Office of Vital Statistics. Aggregate data through 1999 is now available in the formats most frequently requested by researchers, policymakers, members of the media, and other interested parties. The Summary serves as an important document that allows the Department to evaluate the progress and chart the course of several city-wide health trends.

With its emphasis on births and causes of death in New York City, the 1999 Summary contains fifty-five tables, figures, and graphs. Data are presented by variables such as borough of residence, age, race, and ethnicity, while several tables show historical trends. The Health Department releases 1999 information at the end of 2000 because of the lag time in the reporting of data, and because of the time required

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