Chronic Disease Prevention

The Bureau of Chronic Disease Prevention works toward a healthy Florida with the goal of reducing chronic conditions and diseases such as asthma, diabetes, disability, epilepsy, heart disease and stroke.

The Bureau of Chronic Disease Prevention works with clinical and community partners to prevent diseases from occurring by promoting and supporting healthy behaviors and environments across the lifespan. The Bureau uses evidence‐based health system strategies to improve chronic disease education, prevention, treatment and management.

Six out of ten American adults have at least one chronic disease, and four in ten adults have more than one chronic disease. Chronic diseases are those that go on for a long time and often don’t go away completely. They are among the most common and costly health problems; however, we often know how to prevent them. Chronic diseases affect people of all ages, races, socioeconomic statuses and ethnicities.

Risk factors are anything that increases the chance a person or group of people will get sick, hurt or die. An individual's beliefs and attitudes, what they do and don’t do, where they live and work, their age and family health history are some of the reasons people may develop health problems. You can lower your chances of getting a chronic disease by keeping a healthy weight, eating healthy food, getting enough exercise and not using tobacco or drinking too much alcohol.

Source: cdc.gov/chronicdisease

The Bureau manages the following chronic disease prevention programs: 

Asthma
The Florida Asthma Program (FAP) coordinates statewide efforts to reduce asthma disparities and hospitalization rates, as well as increase the number of people with asthma receiving self-management education.

Diabetes
The Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) works to help Floridians prevent and manage diabetes and its complications, resulting in a healthier population, more productive workforce, and reduced burden on the health care system. The DPP focuses on increasing awareness of, referral to, participation in and coverage of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-recognized Diabetes Prevention Programs and American Diabetes Association-recognized and American Association of Diabetes Educators-accredited Diabetes Self-Management Education Support Programs. The DPP increases engagement and use of pharmacists and community health workers in diabetes prevention and management. The DPP also facilitates the statutorily mandated Diabetes Advisory Council and provides oversight for the safety-net Insulin Distribution Program.

Disability and Health Program
The Disability and Health Program (DHP) works to improve the health of persons with mobility limitations and intellectual or developmental disabilities through evidence-based public health interventions to reduce the disability burden and improve access to care for persons with disabilities.

Epilepsy
The Epilepsy Services Program (ESP) provides case management, diagnosis, care and treatment services for individuals with epilepsy in addition to increasing the provision of education for individuals with epilepsy and their families, physicians, hospitals, county health departments and the public to reduce stigma related to epilepsy and raise awareness of local health services and community resources. The ESP provides oversight of the safety-net Epilepsy Medication Program.

Healthiest Weight Florida
Healthiest Weight Florida brings together state agencies, not for profit organizations, businesses and entire communities to help Florida’s children and adults make consistent, informed choices about healthy eating and active living.

Heart Disease
The Heart Disease Prevention Program works with a variety of partners, including county health departments, health systems, universities, national and statewide organizations and community organizations to implement evidence-based strategies to reduce the morbidity and mortality due to heart disease by addressing interventions to improve hypertension and cholesterol identification, management and control.

Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant (PHHSBG)
Federal funding received from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that aids the state of Florida in addressing its unique public health needs and challenges with innovative and community-driven methods. Program activities are centered around achieving health objectives outlined by the Healthy People initiative.

SNAP-Ed
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) offers nutrition education to teach families how to make healthy food choices on a limited budget and to be physically active for good health.

Stroke | Florida Stroke Registry
The Florida Stroke Registry (FSR) conducts ongoing surveillance of hospital stroke performance metrics, accessible through data use agreements with stroke centers, to track, measure and analyze stroke performance to identify improvements or gaps in stroke care. In addition, the FSR works with stroke centers and other partners to help Floridians learn to recognize the warning signs and symptoms of a stroke and call 9-1-1 right away if someone is suspected of having a stroke.