Keynote Address
Speakers: Donna Shalala (click here for biography)
Soap Summit 3

Transcript of Proceedings
October 17, 1997

SONNY FOX: Welcome. Last year those of you who were with us were treated to a very special event when the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Donna Shalala, came to speak with us as the keynote speaker. In the intervening years, some interesting things have happened regarding some of the issues that you have been dealing with in your soaps. We asked Secretary Shalala to talk to you directly about these developments. She has sent us this tape for us to watch tonight.

DONNA SHALALA: Hi, remember me, I want to thank Sonny, Population Communications International and all of you for giving me another opportunity to talk about how America's dream makers can help fulfill our children's dreams.

You remember I'm a big soap opera fan. But I want to appeal to you today not just as great communicators, but also as guardians of the public trust. When I addressed this conference last year I told you that believe it or not, you are part of the public health system. I challenge you to think about the public health consequences of each and every show you do, and to find creative ways to blend an accurate public health information with moving human drama. And I offered you my department as a resource. The naysayers said you would throw my card into the circular file, but they were wrong. Many of you did call. Many of you gave the American people story lines that dealt with critical issues like AIDS, teen pregnancy, substance abuse and mental health. You brought life to saving information into the homes and hearts of the American people.

So today I came to thank you for your creativity and commitment and to tell you about our nation's progress. We are finally seeing a glimmer of hope in our fight against teen drug abuse. For the first time since the beginning of the epidemic, we are seeing a decline in the number of new AIDS cases and AIDS deaths. Teen pregnancy rates are inching down and the number of girls and boys engaging in sexual activity has decreased for the first time in two decades. But this is no time for self congratulation. Not when there will be one million pregnancies among teenagers this year. Not when a growing number of young people are using heroin for the first time. Not when every day three thousand young people became regular smokers and twenty-five children becoming affected with HIV.

So I come here with a promise and a challenge. We will continue to fight the dangers facing our children. We will continue to serve as a resource for you and as a partner with you. We need your continued leadership. You have the power to reach our children with clear messages, messages that say smoking is not cool and heroin is not chic. Messages that make it clear that having sex doesn't buy you love and having a baby doesn't make you an adult. Messages that inspire kids to respect their minds and their bodies and put their health and their futures first. We must send our children messages that dare them to dream and challenge them to make those dreams come true. I know you're up to it. Thank you. I hope you have a great summit and here's a public health message for all of you. Get your flu shots. Good night.

AUDIENCE: [LAUGHTER] [CLAPPING]