American Heart Association and Nonprofit Advocacy: Past, Present, and Future

A Policy Recommendation From the American Heart Association
Larry B. Goldstein, MD, FAHA, Chair; Laurie P. Whitsel, PhD; Neil Meltzer; Mark Schoeberl; Jill Birnbaum, JD; Sue Nelson; Timothy J. Gardner, MD, FAHA; Clyde W. Yancy, MD, FAHA; Raymond J. Gibbons, MD, FAHA; Ralph L. Sacco, MD, FAHA; Loren Hiratzka, MD, FAHA; on behalf of the American Heart Association Advocacy Coordinating Committee, Council on Cardiovascular Nursing, Council on the Kidney in Cardiovascular Disease, Council on Cardiovascular Radiology and Intervention, Council on Cardiovascular Surgery and Anesthesia, Council on Clinical Cardiology, Council on Cardiovascular Disease in the Young, Council on Cardiopulmonary, Critical Care, Perioperative, and Resuscitation, Council on Peripheral Vascular Disease, Council on Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology, Council on Epidemiology and Prevention, Council on Nutrition, Physical Activity and 
Metabolism, and Interdisciplinary Council on Functional Genomics and Translational Biology

Excerpt:

If the AHA is to achieve its 2020 goals to reduce death and disability resulting from cardiovascular disease and stroke by 20% and to improve the cardiovascular health of all Americans by 20%, the association has to prioritize opportunities to address social inequities, issues specific to vulnerable populations (ethnic and racial minorities, those with low income or less education, children, blue collar workers), and the importance of removing barriers and obstacles for risk reduction and behavior change. Often the most disadvantaged members of the population have the greatest need for preventive screenings, health promotion, or programming and have the least access to or are the most reluctant to participate in these opportunities. The fundamental causes of vulnerability are rooted in issues of daily life, most often beyond the scope of
traditional public health, so it will be important for the AHA to consider engaging with nontraditional partners to consider ways to reduce health disparities in communities.
The following list is a summary of some of the specific ways AHA advocacy addresses issues around health disparities and vulnerable populations.