Community Stories

Health improvement efforts from around the country

United Way-Led Initiative in Chittenden County, Vermont Strengthens Local Workforce

June 15, 2015

The County Health Rankings shows us that there are a web of factors that influence health including education, housing, the environment, and the availability...

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...

In Utah, United Way Makes Strong Link Between Education and Health

February 10, 2015

Education is a key component to health – we know that better educated individuals live longer, healthier lives than those with less education, and...

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...

United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey: Multiple Approaches to Building a Culture of Health

February 2, 2015

According to the 2014 County Health Rankings, Camden County ranked 17th out of 21 counties in New Jersey. United Way of Greater Philadelphia and...

New River Valley: Healthy by Design Transforms and Empowers Youth Participants

December 13, 2013

The New River Valley Region, nestled in the foothills and valleys of the Blue Ridge Mountains, is in the mid-Appalachian Region. It includes Montgomery...

A Farmers Market on the Move in North Carolina

November 26, 2013

Many people in Rowan County, N.C., don’t have access to healthy foods – so Jon Barber, a local food advocate and farmers market owner...

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...

Mason County, WA: Building a Roadmap to Better Health by Investing in Education

March 17, 2013

In Mason County, WA—which ranked 35 out of 39 counties in the state in the 2012 County Health Rankings—a diverse group of partners has...

The Power of Relationships: Rapid Response to a Youth Suicide Cluster

March 13, 2013

Known as Washington State's gateway to the Pacific Islands and the Olympic Peninsula, Grays Harbor County, a mostly rural community, is grappling with effects...