Sacramento Head Start Alumni Association

SURGEON GENERAL ISSUES REPORT ON MENTAL RETARDATION

Feb 16, 2002

February 12- The Surgeon General has issued "Closing the Gap: A National Blueprint to Improve
the Health of Persons with Mental Retardation." This report takes a closer look at health disparities
and the issues concerning mental retardation.

"Closing the Gap" is an outline of ideas, suggestions, and solutions from a variety of forums -an
interactive website, Listening Sessions, and the Conference on Health Disparities and Mental
Retardation. Throughout the "Blueprint", goals and action steps are highlighted. Six goals are
outlined to help those with mental retardation:

*Goal 1: Integrate Health Promotion into community Environments
*Goal 2: Increase Knowledge and Understanding
*Goal 3: Improve Quality of Health Care
*Goal 4: Train Health Care Providers
*Goal 5: Ensure Effective Health Care Financing
*Goal 6: Increase Sources of Health Care

To read "Closing the Gap: A National Blueprint", go to www.surgeongeneral.gov and click on
"mental retardation"

Source: Surgeon General of the United States www.surgeongeneral.gov February 12, 2002