County Health Rankings Show There is More to Health Than Health Care

Annual Health Check-Up Highlights Healthiest and Least Healthy Counties in Every State


How healthy is your county? A new set of reports released today rank the overall health of nearly every county in the nation, confirming for the second year the critical role that factors such as education, jobs, income, environment and access to health care play in how healthy people are and how long they live. Rankings include obesity rates, access to health foods, and access to recreational facilities.


How will your coalition use the County Health Rankings to talk about the work you're doing to prevent obesity in your community?


Update:
Outagamie, Calumet counties early high marks in health assessments

April 2, 2011Appleton Post-Crescent 

Sharon Cekada/Appleton Post-Crescent

Outagamie County: "We're really focused on environmental and policy changes that make the healthy choice the easy choice," Melody Bockenfeld, Outagamie County health officer.


Waupaca County: The county's health department and the Extension now lead a NuAct (Nutrition and Activity) Coalition that has received grants to benefit the entire county.
"We wouldn't have been able to do that alone as a health department," said Gail Yest, Waupaca County health officer.

The Waupaca Community Garden — which raises produce for food pantries, senior centers and other outlets — used a federal grant to expand to Weyauwega and Clintonville.

Yest is pleased that access to healthy foods increased from 40 percent to 60 percent this year in Waupaca County, and that access to clinical care — another priority goal — is ranked 10th this year, up significantly from 37 in 2010.

Remember to "Keep it Local" When Planning for JFCs

Guest post written by Spencer Straub, Media & Communications Coordinator for the Wisconsin Tobacco Prevention and Control Program.

This season of Joint Finance Committee hearings is sure to be unlike any other. People from all walks of life throughout all parts of the state will be prepared to discuss a variety of issues, and it's important to be part of that discussion. However, while you're recruiting speakers, writing testimony, and planning JFC trips, don't forget the important role earned media can play in your communications efforts.

With the number of issues sure to be discussed at JFC, don't ignore the impact that a well-written letter to the editor in a legislator's home town paper can have. While many people will be reaching for the microphone at the hearings, not everyone will think to tell their story to the local media.

Letters are just one strategy--try holding an event on your issue and invite your local media to cover it. When effectively planned, local media outreach can effectively complement your JFC strategy.

The best part is, if you're planning your JFC presence, chances are you've already written testimony that can be re-purposed into a letter to the editor. Good letters, just like solid testimony, tell a human story of your issue's impact--or your program's success. Take advantage of your existing resources to maximize your impact.

Sometimes just getting started is the hardest part of writing testimony or letters to the editor. Luckily there are tools to help you get your feet wet. Click here for letter to the editor resources and here for testimony preparation tips to help you get started.

Active Early featured in Wausau Daily Herald

"I already changed my whole program. I'm buying a lot more fruits and veggies. And we are doing more exercise."

Maichao Lor, MC Care Child Care, Wausau

Read the full story on Active Early in the Wausau Daily Herald

Photo credit: Wausau Daily Herald

Day care provider Maichao Lor and Evangelin Her swing the jump rope for Hailey Vang to jump during one of their exercises Tuesday at MC Care on South Fifth Avenue in Wausau.