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...

Where everyone chips in to improve health: How United Way of Greater Lafayette helps channel community assets

February 17, 2015

Fundraising can certainly be a challenge for community health improvement efforts, but in Tippecanoe County, IN, an interconnection of resources has proven to be...

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...

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...

Building a Business Case for Better Health: Allen County, OH

March 11, 2013

In Lima, OH, located in Allen County, community leaders are discovering the economic benefits of building a healthy, attractive community for residents to live...

Part II: Moving Into Action in Clare County/Central Michigan

October 12, 2012

As a result of the 2010 Public Health Summit, the Central Michigan District Health Department created the Together We Can Health Improvement Council, which...

Working Together Creatively to Make the Healthy Choice the Easy Choice

September 4, 2012

Twenty years ago George Sedlacek, the Director of Community Health inMarquette County, MI, was lambasted in the local news as a “health Nazi.” Now...

In San Bernardino, CA, County Health Department Takes Lead to Improve Area’s Poor Health Ranking

April 4, 2012

The 2011 County Health Rankings ranked San Bernardino County—which spans more than 20,000 square miles and a population of more than 2 million—50th out...

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...

Nashville Eyes Economic Benefits of Healthy Communities

November 15, 2011

In Davidson County, Mayor Karl Dean and public health officials are moving forward to make Nashville a healthier, more livable city by improving opportunities...