Health Equity Council New Guide--Public Health Call to Action: Decreasing High School Dropout Rates

Some of us may say - what high school dropout has to do with public health?  Well, it does relates very closely.  By taking action in looking at the different factors of why young people dropout of high school, the better we can understand and take action in preventing negative ripple effect later in life.  The more poverty, lack of education, poor healthy life styles, the more public health problems will arise.


The National Association of Chronic Disease Directors has just released a new Community Action Guide--A Public Health Call to Action: Decreasing High School Dropout Rates (attached). The new guide produced by the Association's Health Equity Council explores the impact of education on health and offers guidance to communities and state health departments on effective ways to increase the number of students graduating high school.


A publication by Reimer and Smink (2005) indicates that the U.S. death rate for those with fewer than 12 years of education is 2.5 times higher than the rate of those with 13 or more years. Graduation rates and therefore health impact vary by socioeconomic class, race, gender, disability status and geographic location. The Guide provides resources to understanding dropout rates, steps for action, and current promising practices. 


Please feel free to share this guide and refer to the NACDD Health Equity Council website for more great resources and tools. 


If you have questions about this guide or would like more information on the Council please contact Gail Brandt at gbrandt@chronicdisease.org