The Aetna Foundation, American Public Health
Association and National Association of Counties Announce
Healthiest Cities & Counties Challenge Finalists
Despite spending more on health care than any other country in
the world, Americans live shorter, less healthy lives than our
counterparts in other high-income nations. While this is a national
problem, our local communities are where we have the power to
influence our health more than ever before.
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Healthiest cities & counties
challenge: HealthyCommunity50.(Photo: Business Wire)
To help improve our health through our communities, the Aetna
Foundation, the American Public Health Association (APHA) and the
National Association of Counties (NACo) today recognized the
HealthyCommunity50 that will move on to compete for the grand prize
in the Healthiest Cities & Counties Challenge. These select
cities and counties will receive a $10,000 community seed award to
implement a program able to show measurable improvements around key
social determinants of health.
“Approximately 90 percent of the factors affecting risk of
premature death exist outside of a doctor’s office or hospital,”
said Mark T. Bertolini, Aetna chairman and CEO. “The Healthiest
Cities & Counties Challenge supports communities that are
working to address and improve these factors and build a healthier
world, community by community.”
The Challenge, a partnership between The Aetna Foundation, APHA
and NACo, in collaboration with CEOs for Cities, is designed to
create economically competitive, inclusive and equitable
communities. The Challenge will award $1.5 million in prizes to
small and mid-sized cities and counties that are able to show
measurable improvements in health outcomes over the course of
several years through cross-sector partnerships.
The Challenge is designed so that participants share successful
health improvement strategies that can be scaled and replicated by
other communities. HealthyCommunity50 members will share
experiences and best practices throughout the competition via a
learning network.
The HealthyCommunity50 were chosen out of hundreds of city
governments, local municipalities, health departments, educational
institutions and other entities. An expert advisory board selected
these groups to continue to the next phase of the Challenge based
on plans to improve the health of their communities. Improvements
will be measured around at least one of five domains: healthy
behaviors, community safety, built environment, social/economic
factors and environmental exposures.
“We know that efforts to address these social determinants of
health are necessary to create health equity, and that’s why we’re
so excited for our 50 cities, counties and tribes,” said APHA
executive director Georges C. Benjamin, MD. “Their innovative work
is leading to better health in their own world and beyond.”
An expert panel will conduct site visits to all
HealthyCommunity50 members to understand the community’s approach
to the project first-hand and speak with the members of the
cross-sector team and key stakeholders. At the conclusion of the
Challenge, the programs most able to show measurable change will be
eligible for prize awards from $25,000 - $500,000. Participants
will be judged on their own progress and will not be competing
against each other.
“Local governments drive health improvements, and counties have
developed innovative approaches to transform the health of
communities across the nation,” said NACo President Bryan Desloge.
“County leaders are learning by example and putting best
practices into action. We're excited about participating
in the HealthyCommunity50 and look forward to applying the lessons
learned to promote healthy communities in counties across the
nation."
The HealthyCommunity50
are:
Name of Lead Organization
State Served
Program Goal
Anchorage Park Foundation Alaska
Increase outdoor physical activity City of Avondale
Arizona Increase access to recreational programs
County of San Diego California Increase
health equity City of Perris California
Increase access to healthy foods Greater Bridgeport Opportunities
Industrialization Center Inc. Connecticut
Increase health equity New Haven Health Department
Connecticut Decrease childhood asthma City of
Miami Florida Increase health care
access Florida Department of Health Florida
Decrease food inequality City of St. Petersburg
Florida Increase access, availability and
procurement of healthy foods Hillsborough County MPO
Florida Increase access to healthy foods Healthy
Savannah Georgia Increase healthy
eating and health equity Polk County Housing Trust Fund
Iowa Decrease childhood asthma DeKalb County
Community Gardens Illinois Increase
access to healthy foods Kane County Health Department
Illinois Increase community engagement Building a
Thriving Compassionate Community (BTCC) Indiana
Increase children’s health conditions Jump IN for
Healthy Kids Indiana Decrease childhood
obesity Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Government
Kentucky Increase mental wellness and healthy
behaviors Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City
Kansas Increase walkability Metropolitan Area
Planning Council Massachusetts Increase
walkability and bikeability Baltimore City Health Department
Maryland Increase physical activity Ingham
County Health Department Michigan
Increase smoke-free living Independence Health Department
Missouri Decrease tobacco exposure in housing
units City of Kansas City Missouri Health Department
Missouri Decrease youth and domestic violence rates
Mississippi State University: Gulfport Mississippi
Increase healthy food choices in youth Chatham County
Public Health Department North Carolina
Decrease obesity Davidson County North Carolina
Increase healthy eating and physical activity Duke
University: Durham and Cabarrus Counties North
Carolina Increase health equity Mecklenburg County
Health Department North Carolina
Decrease heart disease University of Nebraska Board of Regents:
Dodge, Saunders and Washington Counties Nebraska
Increase healthy eating and health equity City of
Jersey City New Jersey Increase healthy
behaviors to decrease violence Coopers Ferry Partnership
New Jersey Increase water quality Sandoval
Health Collaborative New Mexico
Increase family nutrition and physical activity Dutchess County
Government New York Increase healthy
living and employment opportunities Union Community Health Center
New York Decrease obesity Cleveland
Department of Public Health Ohio
Decrease tobacco use in youth and adults Franklin County Public
Health Ohio Increase comprehensive
healthy living Tulsa City-County Health Department
Oklahoma Increase access to healthy foods Chester
County Pennsylvania Increasing walking
Crispus Attucks Association, York County Pennsylvania
Increase healthy housing Allentown Health Bureau
Pennsylvania Increase physical activity
Blair County Planning Commission Pennsylvania
Increase community development Center for Prisoner Health
and Human Rights at the Miriam Hospital Rhode Island
Decrease prison re-entry Mary Black Foundation, Inc.
South Carolina Decrease obesity in
schools and the community City of Brownsville Texas
Increase access to community gardens Waco-McLennan
County Public Health District Texas
Increase access to, and consumption of, fresh foods Wichita County
Public Health District Texas Decrease
childhood obesity Danville Pittsylvania County United Fund
Virginia Increase healthy living Lenowisco
Health District Virginia Increase
healthy living Thurston County Public Health & Social Services
Washington Increase walkability West
Virginia University, Morgantown West Virginia
Increase mental wellness
For more information, visit www.healthiestcities.org and join
the conversation at #HealthiestCitiesChallenge.
The Aetna Foundation is the independent charitable and
philanthropic arm of Aetna (NYSE: AET). Since 1980, Aetna and the
Aetna Foundation have contributed more than $465 million in grants
and sponsorships. 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 have volunteered 3.8
million hours since 2003. For more information, visit
www.aetnafoundation.org.
The American Public Health Association champions the health of
all people and all communities. We strengthen the profession of
public health, share the latest research and information, promote
best practices and advocate for public health issues and policies
grounded in research. We are the only organization that combines a
140-plus 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.
The National Association of Counties (NACo) unites America’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 government and exercise exemplary
leadership in public service. For more information, visit
www.naco.org.
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American Public Health AssociationDaniel Greenberg,
202-777-3913daniel.greenberg@apha.orgorBRG CommunicationsMaureen
Salazar, 703-736-8366msalazar@brgcommunications.com
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