SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - Zero Population Growth (ZPG) has identified the City of Seattle as the "Most Kid Friendly City in America" and presented City Officials with an award today commemorating this designation.  ZPG rated Seattle particularly high in the health categories.  The City received an A+ in each of the following areas:

• Infant mortality rate;
• Low birth weight rate; and
• Teen birth rate.

"These high ratings represent a public health system success that reflects the work of many community partnerships," said Dr. Alonzo Plough, Director, Public Health - Seattle & King County.  "It is also the result of a supportive political leadership that allows Public Health to maintain the capacity to assess and address the issues facing our children.

"Prevention efforts have been and will continue to be at the heart of all that we do for children," he added.  "Even though we have received an A+ in all of these categories, we have more prevention work ahead of us in order to assure that all children grow healthily and safely into adulthood."

Public Health's mission is to assure "Healthy People and Health Communities."  In order to achieve that mission, Public Health serves as a primary catalyst, monitor, and (for selected problems and populations) direct service provider.  All Public Health activities are prevention oriented, seeking to identify and prevent problems at the earliest opportunity.  This includes preventing illness and injury before they occur; resolving health problems early, thus preventing serious consequences or spread of an infection; and treating people with advanced disease in order to prevent disability and early death.