National Convening Program Books 2014 YEO National Convening Program Book | Page 11

Ensuring a Sustainable Future

Building a Healthy and Inclusive Society
While we celebrate the successes of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and landmark insurance
enrollment, state and local governments continue to face a number of threats to public health
and well-being. Elected officials now undertake the complex challenge of implementing and
funding the ACA’s reforms, while addressing continued health disparities and inequalities from
food deserts to lack of health care access for certain immigrant communities. We also continue
to grapple with health crises such as unchecked gun violence and unprecedented threats to
women’s health and reproductive rights. However, there are also new possibilities for preventative
and comprehensive care through wellness incentives and more holistic models to well-being
that take into account social, mental, and educational patient needs.

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ISSUE AREAS

Elected officials today face the critical and interconnected challenges of ensuring a sustainable
future, spurring green innovation and job creation, and protecting the environment in both our
rural lands and our dense cities. We also face continued threats to the natural environment and
public health through reliance on the often unregulated fossil fuel industries and the expansion of
natural gas drilling and production. However, we also face unlimited opportunities for innovation,
increased efficiency, and smart growth that preserve our resources for the next generation.