"While every community faces unique health issues, we know a lot can be accomplished when cities and counties join forces," said APHA executive director Georges C. Benjamin. "It is our hope that these two programs, along with the rest of the Challenge participants, will inspire others and serve as models of success and progress for communities around the country who face similar health issues."
The first cohort of Challenge participants were chosen out of hundreds of city governments, local municipalities, health departments, educational institutions and other entities that applied to enter the competition. Improvements were measured around at least one of five domains: healthy behaviors, community safety, built environment, social/economic factors and environmental exposures. The Challenge winners and runners up were selected with assistance from an Advisory Council of public health leaders including elected officials, professors and physicians. RAND Corporation was tapped to evaluate the improvements in social determinants of health achieved and identify the most promising practices with potential for replication.
"Our winners and runners up have demonstrated the ability of counties to transform the communities they support," said NACo president Greg Cox. "Organizations and leaders at the county level are in a unique position to champion the needs of local residents and join community partners in the effort to improve health outcomes for all residents to make a positive health impact."
Winners
Lead Entity
|
Program
|
Program Goal
|
State Served
|
Greater Bridgeport Opportunities
Industrialization Center Inc.
|
Bridgeport Coalition
United to Reach Equity
|
Increase health equity
|
Connecticut
|
Mecklenburg County Health
Department
|
Village HeartBEAT
|
Decrease rates of
heart disease
|
North Carolina
|
Runners Up
Lead Entity
|
Program
|
Program Goal
|
State Served
|
Hillsborough County
|
Garden Steps
|
Increase access to healthy
foods through enhanced walkability
|
Florida
|
City of Miami
|
Live Healthy Little Havana
|
Increase health care access
|
Florida
|
United Government of
Wyandotte County/Kansas City
|
The 20/20/20 Movement
|
Increase walkability
|
Kansas
|
Louisville/Jefferson County
Metro Government
|
West Louisville
Outdoor Recreation
Initiative
|
Increase mental wellness
and healthy behaviors
|
Kentucky
|
Coopers Ferry Partnership
|
The SMART Initiative
|
Increase water quality
|
New Jersey
|
Chatham County Public
Health Department
|
Chatham Health
Alliance
|
Decrease obesity
|
North Carolina
|
Waco-McLennan County
Public Health District
|
The Heart of Texas
Urban Gardening Coalition
|
Increase access to, and
consumption of, fresh foods
|
Texas
|
Danville Pittsylvania County
United Fund
|
Health Collaborative
|
Increase healthy living
|
Virginia
|
For more information on the winners, visit www.healthiestcities.org and join the conversation at #HealthiestCitiesChallenge.
About the Aetna Foundation
The Aetna Foundation is an independent charitable and philanthropic affiliate of CVS Health (NYSE:CVS). As a national health foundation, we promote wellness, health, and access to high-quality health care for everyone. This work is enhanced by the time and commitment of Aetna employees, who volunteered 670,000 hours in 2018 alone. For more information, visit www.aetnafoundation.org.
About the American Public Health Association
APHA champions the health of all people and all communities. We strengthen the public health profession. We speak out for public health issues and policies backed by science. We are the only organization that combines a nearly 150-year perspective, a broad-based member community and the ability to influence federal policy to improve the public's health. Visit us at www.apha.org.
About the National Association of Counties
The National Association of Counties (NACo) unites American's 3,069 county governments. Founded in 1935, NACo brings county officials together to advocate with a collective voice on national policy, exchange ideas and build new leadership skills, pursue transformational county solutions, enrich the public's understanding of county governments and exercise exemplary leadership in public service.
Media Contacts
Ethan Slavin
860-273-6095
slavine@aetna.com
Katy Frame
703-739-8358
kframe@brgcommunications.com