Take Care New York

Take Care New York: A Policy for a Healthier New York City

Take Care New York is a comprehensive health policy that serves as the organizing principle for the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's plans to help all New Yorkers live longer and healthier lives. First launched in 2004, Take Care New York identified 10 steps New Yorkers could take to improve their health, and set ambitious goals for 2008 in each of the 10 priority areas and progress has been measured annually. Since 2002, much progress has been made, and by 2007, DOHMH had reached or surpassed 2008 goals in four areas.
Take Care New York: Fourth Year Progress Report (December 2008)

Take Care New York 2012  builds upon this progress and sets an action plan for individuals and families, health care providers, community organizations, businesses and government to make New York City healthier. New aspects of the Take Care New York 2012 plan focus on: 

• Ways for organizations and public policies to improve health, in addition to what can be done by individuals and medical providers.
• Children's health-because of children's unique and important health needs and our opportunity to promote life-long healthy behaviors.
• Neighborhood conditions that impact health-such as access to healthy, affordable foods and safe homes, aiming for all New Yorkers to live in healthy and safe places.
• Health disparities in among New Yorkers of different races, ethnicities and income levels, setting ambitious goals to reduce them by 2012.

Take Care New York 2012 establishes ambitious objectives to achieve the greatest improvements in the health of New Yorkers. Objectives and activities are categorized in three areas:

Policies: Developing laws, regulations, and other policies that will improve environmental, economic, and social conditions impacting health.

Prevention, Quality and Access: Improving the quality of health care, emphasizing preventive care, and expanding access to care.

Health Promotion: Informing, educating, and engaging New Yorkers to improve their health and the health of their communities.

Working together, New York City aims to:

1. Promote Quality Health Care for All 
2. Be Tobacco Free 
3. Promote Physical Activity and Healthy Eating
4. Be Heart Healthy 
5. Stop the Spread of HIV and Other Sexually Transmitted Infections 
6. Recognize and Treat Depression 
7. Reduce Risky Alcohol Use and Drug Dependence 
8. Prevent and Detect Cancer 
9. Raise Healthy Children 
10. Make All Neighborhoods Healthy Places 

Join the growing community of organizations working together to improve the health of New Yorkers - become a Take Care New York Partner.

• Sign Up! Become a Take Care New York Partner 
• How will partnership benefit my organization? 
• Current Take Care New York Partners 

Related Publications and Information

• Take Care New York 2012 Policy Document  (PDF)
• City Health Information: Take Care New York: A Policy for a Healthier New York City  (PDF)
• Health Bulletin: Take Care New York  (PDF)