Focusing on South Carolina
February 2010
Focus:
County Health Rankings
In mid-February the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute will release county health rankings for every state in the nation. Each state will have the opportunity to see which counties in their state rank highest and lowest in measures of health outcomes (length and quality of life) and health factors (health behaviors, access to and quality of clinical care, social and economic factors and the physical environment).
Rather than simply providing data, this project is meant to be a call to action for local communities. The goals for this effort include:
- Increasing awareness of the many factors that contribute to the health of communities, including clinical care access and quality, healthy behaviors, social and economic factors and the physical environment.
- Fostering engagement among public and private leaders in efforts to improve community health.
- Developing incentives to encourage coordination across sectors for community health improvement.
The project builds on the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute's experience in producing the Wisconsin County Health Rankings annually since 2003 and is being supported through a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
The National Network of Public Health Institutes (NNPHI) is collaborating with the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to assist in disseminating the rankings, build relationships among stakeholders to foster discussions about the rankings, and assist counties in developing action plans to address the determinants and outcomes of health. As an NNPHI member, SCPHI is working with the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control and the Allendale County “It’s All About You!” Community Health Team to sponsor a community-wide forum to coordinate findings with community assessments to engage community partners towards action to improve health determinants and outcomes.
Please visit http://www.countyhealthrankings.org for more information.
UPDATE: The South Carolina Summary Report is available. An interactive map and other information regarding South Carolina's rankings may be found here.
Who are SCPHI’s key partners in this effort?
National Network of Public Health Institutes
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute
South Carolina Department of Health & Environmental Control
