The County Health Rankings show us that where we live matters to our health. The health of a community depends on many different factors - ranging from health behaviors, education and jobs, to quality of health care, to the environment.

 

Our Approach

Programs and Policies

  • Our County Health Rankings model is grounded in the belief that programs and policies implemented at the local, state, and federal levels have an impact on the variety of factors that, in turn, determine the health outcomes for communities across the nation.

Health Factors

  • A number of different health factors shape a community’s health outcomes. Our County Health Rankings model includes four types of health factors: health behaviors, clinical care, social and economic, and the physical environment.

Health Outcomes

  • We measure two types of health outcomes to represent how healthy each county is: how long people live (mortality) and how healthy people feel (morbidity). These outcomes are the result of a collection of health factors and are influenced by programs and policies at the local, state, and federal levels.

In the Spotlight

  • News
    January 25, 2012

    Join us on January 31, 2012, at 2:00 pm CST (3:00 pm EST) for this special topics webinar featuring guest speakers from the American heart Association. Click here to register.

  • News
    January 10, 2012

    Leading a healthy lifestyle is easier if you live in a healthy community. Unfortunately, there are location-based disparities throughout the nation and many people live in communities where leading a healthy lifestyle is difficult.

  • News
    December 19, 2011

    The goal of the County Health Rankings project, which has given Wyandotte County low marks for health but high praise for its commitment to change, is to bring these hidden health factors to light.

  • News
    November 16, 2011

    When you think about improving the health of people in your community, what comes to mind? Improving access to and the quality of medical services? Yes. Increasing access to recreation opportunities or nutritious food? For sure. Cleaning the air or water? Absolutely. These all are critical ways to improve the health of community members.

  • News
    November 9, 2011

    Twelve coalitions across the United States have been awarded Roadmaps to Health Community Grants of up to $200,000 by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) to improve the health of people living in those communities.

  • News
    November 7, 2011

    series of articles published today in the policy journal Health Affairs examines the burgeoning collaboration between the community development and health sectors to build healthy communities. 

  • News
    October 26, 2011

    The 139th annual American Public Health Association (APHA) meeting is coming up (October 29-November 2) in Washington, D.C. and the County Health Rankings will be there! Find out more about the many sessions we’ll be participating in.

  • Story

    West Virginia has one of the highest obesity rates in the country and McDowell County is no exception, where more than a third of adults are obese. Here in this Appalachian coal-mining enclave in the southernmost tip of the state, a local community health center called the Tug River Health Association took an unusual step to combat this problem by offering its patients gym memberships.

  • News
    October 5, 2011

    Today is Walk to School Day, and children, parents, teachers and community leaders in all 50 states are dusting off their sneakers, getting out their bikes and taking part.

  • News
    September 8, 2011

    Many people think of the city lifestyle as unhealthy, associating it with noise, pollution, crime, dense populations, a fast pace, and high stress levels. But cities once infamous for pollution, crime, crowding and infectious diseases have cleaned up their act.

  • News
    September 23, 2011

    On October 30, 2011, the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation will be offering an internet-based Learning Institute on the County Health Rankings at the American Public Health Association conference. Scholarships are available to cover the $200 fee for this Learning Institute.

  • News
    August 24, 2011

    One of the earliest indicators of a child’s future health and wellbeing is whether he or she lives in poverty. That’s why it it’s a key health factor measured by the County Health Rankings.

  • News
    September 16, 2011

    Want to learn more about the County Health Rankings in action? View our archive of past webinars at http://match.wisc.edu/countyhealthrankings/webinars/.

  • News
    August 17, 2011

    Like the County Health Rankings, the National Prevention Strategy, which was released in June 2011, recognizes that good health is shaped by more than just access to quality care. Health also depends on many other influences, including health behaviors, the environment, education and neighborhood safety—things that can help prevent people from getting sick or injured in the first place.

  • News
    August 16, 2011

    The second year of the County Health Rankings is well underway. Already counties are taking proactive steps to address local health concerns through new programs, awareness campaigns and, increasingly, through laws and policy initiatives.