Ingham County was chosen as a finalist for the fifth annual RWJF Culture of Health Prize given by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. As a finalist, Ingham County is one step closer to the national Prize which honors communities that understand health is a shared value and everyone has a role to play in driving change.
Selected from more than 200 communities across the country, Ingham County joins 10 other finalist communities. Winners will be announced this fall.
“We are pleased to advance as a RWJF Culture of Health Prize finalist community. Ingham County has a decades-long history of not only advancing access to health care, but also cultivating infrastructure and resources that promote health at a fundamental level,” said Ingham County Health Officer Linda S. Vail. “Our community stands out with its smart commuting network, educational programming and green spaces. These programs benefit our collective health and exist largely because of partnerships, collaborations and grassroots action.”
The Prize is guided by the principle that every community has the potential to improve and be a healthier place to live and thrive. To earn finalist status, Ingham County had to demonstrate how it excelled in the six Prize criteria:
· Defining health in the broadest possible terms.
· Committing to sustainable systems changes and policy-oriented long-term solutions.
· Cultivating a shared and deeply-held belief in the importance of equal opportunity for health.
· Harnessing the collective power of leaders, partners, and community members.
· Securing and making the most of available resources.
· Measuring and sharing progress and results.
“The RWJF Culture of Health Prize finalists continue to show what’s possible when communities make health a high priority and bring diverse partners together,” said Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, RWJF president and CEO. “Our team looks forward to visiting these communities to learn more about how they are leveraging their unique strengths to build a Culture of Health.”
If selected as a Prize winner, Ingham County will be given a cash prize and opportunities to share their story and lessons learned with the country. They will also join a national network of past winning communities.
To learn about the work of the 27 previous Prize winners, visit www.rwjf.org/prize
SOURCE: PRESS RELEASE
