Take Steps To...
Government Officials
State and local officials should look at the Rankings, identify the barriers to good health in their communities, and mobilize community leaders to take action -- investing in programs and policy changes that help residents lead healthier lives.
High-level support from state and local leaders is needed to bring about lasting improvement in health. There are a number of strategies and tools that government officials might wish to consider to improve community health:
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Beyond Health Care: New Directions to a Healthier America--Recommendations from the RWJF Commission to Build a Healthier America
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Health Impact Assessment--analyses that systematically judge the potential and sometimes unintended effects of a policy program or project on the health of a communitye
- Health Impact Project--a collaboration of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and The Pew Charitable Trusts, this project is a national initiative designed to promote the use of health impact assessments (HIAs) as a decision-making tool for policymakers.
- Health Impact Assessment Clearinghouse and Learning Information Center (HIA-CLIC)--from the UCLA School of Public Health.
- Action Communities for Health, Innovation, and Environmental Change (ACHIEVE)--fosters collaborative partnerships between city and county health officials, city and county government, tribal programs, parks and recreation departments, local YMCAs, local health-related coalitions, and other representatives from the school, business, health, and community sectors to implement improvements.
- Smart Growth Online--The Smart Growth Network works to encourage development that serves the economy, community and the environment.
- Healthy People Healthy Places: Transportation and Health Toolkit (from the Convergence Partnership)
- Action Strategies Toolkit: A guide for local and state leaders working to create healthy communities and prevent childhood obesity.
- State Coverage Initiatives: information and assistance to state leaders in order to help them move health care reform forward at the state level.
Here are some other ways you can help:
- Use the report to respond to the problems your constituents tell you about every day. Mobilize other community leaders by convening a meeting of important groups -- education leaders, public health leaders, and others -- to identify what to tackle and set an agenda for action.
- Host or sponsor a hearing and/or town hall meeting about the Rankings and how to make your state or community healthier.
- Seize on the findings to push for policy changes that can improve health, such as supporting better early childhood education, providing more walking paths, or enacting smoke-free laws.
- Be an advocate. Step out as a spokesperson for the Rankings and rally other community leaders to take action.
- Contact your local and state health departments to find out and participate in their current in response to the Rankings. For example, participate in a local task force or, if none exists, organize one to tackle these pressing issues in your community.
- See which counties have the greatest needs and take action to secure resources and other support for those areas.
- Write an op-ed about the Rankings and what needs to be done in your community to bring about solutions.
Policymaker Toolkit: Incorporate information about the Rankings and what your state/district is doing in response in your e-mail newsletter, on your blog/Twitter feed or on your website. The communications toolkit below includes template language and social media ideas to help you in this effort.
