Healthy People 2010 is the most recent iteration of a project that has been operating since the Surgeon General's Report on Promotion and Disease Prevention was published in 1979. With the overall goal to increase the quality and years of life of each individual and eliminate health disparities among Americans, the program consists of 28 areas of focus to be significantly improved by the year 2010. These goals are established by a consortium of health professionals. The goals are intended to serve as a guide for government entities, non-government organizations, and individuals to use to improve health conditions in the United States. The purpose of this project was to measure the awareness and utilization of Healthy People 2010 in non-government, health-related agencies in southern California. The primary research question was, “Has the Healthy People 2010 document reached community-based, health-related organizations?” The answer to this question is critical to the successful dissemination and implementation of Healthy People 2010's goals. Survey participants were administrators of community-based, health-related organizations in southern California. Participants responded to oral surveys conducted in person or on the telephone. The instrument included 10 items related to Healthy People 2010. In addition four questions regarding healthy behaviors of those living in southern California were included. Results indicated that less than 20% of administrators of non-governmental/private organizations in southern California were familiar with the Healthy People 2010 document. This suggests that Healthy People leadership may need to expend additional efforts to more effectively get their message to those at the grass roots level. Further studies are planned in Washington, D.C. and Atlanta to gain additional insights into this seeming “disconnect” between the planners of Healthy People 2010 and those providers at the grass-roots levels. Repeating this study in other regions will help to indicate whether this lack of awareness of Healthy People 2010 goals is a phenomenon specific to southern California, or is a broader-scale issue. Healthy People 2010 has excellent information and goals, but in order to have these goals realized it is crucial that there is alignment of national public health goals with local organization's efforts. Keyword(s): disease prevention/wellness, health promotion