Write an original response of 250 words and make sure to support your comments for your main post with at least two scholarly sources (your textbook can be one of them). For original threads and replies, use current APA style citations in-text and for references at the end. You must respond to at least two of your classmates with 75-word responses.

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Public health initiatives executed by the federal government can certainly make a difference in prevention, awareness, and cessation of various health issues. These initiatives can range from public education campaigns and preventive screening programs to regulatory measures such as laws and policies.

One example of a successful public health initiative is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) “Tips from Former Smokers” campaign, which aimed to reduce tobacco use by featuring real people living with smoking-related illnesses and disabilities (CDC, 2012). Evaluation of the campaign found that it led to a significant increase in the number of smokers who attempted to quit and a decrease in the number of smokers overall (CDC, 2013).

Another example is the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) expansion of Medicaid coverage, which has been found to improve access to preventive services such as cancer screenings and vaccines, as well as improve self-reported health outcomes (Shi & Singh, 2018).

However, it is important to note that the effectiveness of public health initiatives can depend on a variety of factors, including the targeted health issue, the specific intervention being implemented, and the population being served (Kreps et al., 2017).

References:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2012). Tips from former smokers. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/index.html
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2013). Evaluation of the 2012 Tips from former smokers national tobacco education campaign. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/evaluations/tips/2012/index.html
• Kreps, G. L., DeJoy, D. M., Wilson, M. G., & Stepleman, L. M. (2017). Public health interventions and their effectiveness. American Journal of Health Promotion, 32(1), 20-27.
• Shi, L., & Singh, D. A. (2018). Access to care, health outcomes, and health disparities under the Affordable Care Act. The New England Journal of Medicine, 379(3), 185-194.