Community Stories

Health improvement efforts from around the country

United Way of Greater Atlanta: Data-Driven Partnerships to Increase Access to Health Care

February 27, 2015

In a community as large and diverse as Atlanta, the County Health Rankings are a valuable source of data that helps to inform the...

Changing the Trajectory of High-needs Families: United Way of Central Ohio

February 5, 2015

The County Health Rankings are based on a model of population health that emphasizes the many factors that, if improved, can help make communities...

PBS Documentary Tells Violence Interrupters’ Story

February 21, 2014

In 1995, epidemiologist Gary Slutkin founded Cure Violence, formerly called Ceasefire. Dr. Slutkin believes that violence should be treated like an epidemic, and can...

Making Changes by Focusing on What Works

November 26, 2013

For county health officers, sometimes raising awareness isn’t enough. To make lasting change, focusing on programs and initiatives that are proven to be successful...

Connecting the Dots in Fulton County, GA: Working Together to Save Lives

May 10, 2013

According to the 2013 County Health Rankings, Fulton County, Georgia ranks 29 out of 156 on overall health, yet 55,000 adults and 25,000 children...

Just Waiting to Be Asked: The Beaverton Clinic Story

April 30, 2013

Adolph Presidio is a tough, resilient 93 year old with ongoing health concerns. His 20 mile monthly drive to the clinic in Harrison, MI...

Health Department Engages Its Neighbors to Improve Health

March 8, 2013

In Atlanta, one of the many places staff at the Fulton County Department of Health and Wellness looked to improve health was in their...

Never Giving Up: Addressing Drug Addiction in Scott County, Indiana

September 4, 2012

What would you do if the county you’d lived in and loved for many decades was ranked the least healthy county in your state...

Detroit, MI: Joy-Southfield Neighborhood Unites to Tackle Chronic Disease, Poverty and Other Barriers to Health

April 3, 2012

Detroit, MI, is one of the most racially segregated cities in the country, with high crime, poverty and unemployment; poor public transportation; and vast...

Fostering a Culture of Health and Wellness in Hernando, Miss.

April 3, 2012

The 2011 County Health Rankings classified Desoto County as the healthiest county in Mississippi for health outcomes and the fifth-healthiest county for health factors...