The Aetna Foundation, American Public Health Association and National Association of Counties Announce Healthiest Cities & Counties Challenge Finalists

Despite spending more on health care than any other country in the world, Americans live shorter, less healthy lives than our counterparts in other high-income nations. While this is a national problem, our local communities are where we have the power to influence our health more than ever before.

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Healthiest cities & counties challenge: HealthyCommunity50.(Photo: Business Wire)

To help improve our health through our communities, the Aetna Foundation, the American Public Health Association (APHA) and the National Association of Counties (NACo) today recognized the HealthyCommunity50 that will move on to compete for the grand prize in the Healthiest Cities & Counties Challenge. These select cities and counties will receive a $10,000 community seed award to implement a program able to show measurable improvements around key social determinants of health.

“Approximately 90 percent of the factors affecting risk of premature death exist outside of a doctor’s office or hospital,” said Mark T. Bertolini, Aetna chairman and CEO. “The Healthiest Cities & Counties Challenge supports communities that are working to address and improve these factors and build a healthier world, community by community.”

The Challenge, a partnership between The Aetna Foundation, APHA and NACo, in collaboration with CEOs for Cities, is designed to create economically competitive, inclusive and equitable communities. The Challenge will award $1.5 million in prizes to small and mid-sized cities and counties that are able to show measurable improvements in health outcomes over the course of several years through cross-sector partnerships.

The Challenge is designed so that participants share successful health improvement strategies that can be scaled and replicated by other communities. HealthyCommunity50 members will share experiences and best practices throughout the competition via a learning network.

The HealthyCommunity50 were chosen out of hundreds of city governments, local municipalities, health departments, educational institutions and other entities. An expert advisory board selected these groups to continue to the next phase of the Challenge based on plans to improve the health of their communities. Improvements will be measured around at least one of five domains: healthy behaviors, community safety, built environment, social/economic factors and environmental exposures.

“We know that efforts to address these social determinants of health are necessary to create health equity, and that’s why we’re so excited for our 50 cities, counties and tribes,” said APHA executive director Georges C. Benjamin, MD. “Their innovative work is leading to better health in their own world and beyond.”

An expert panel will conduct site visits to all HealthyCommunity50 members to understand the community’s approach to the project first-hand and speak with the members of the cross-sector team and key stakeholders. At the conclusion of the Challenge, the programs most able to show measurable change will be eligible for prize awards from $25,000 - $500,000. Participants will be judged on their own progress and will not be competing against each other.

“Local governments drive health improvements, and counties have developed innovative approaches to transform the health of communities across the nation,” said NACo President Bryan Desloge. “County leaders are learning by example and putting best practices into action. We're excited about participating in the HealthyCommunity50 and look forward to applying the lessons learned to promote healthy communities in counties across the nation."

The HealthyCommunity50 are:

        Name of Lead Organization     State Served    

Program Goal

Anchorage Park Foundation     Alaska     Increase outdoor physical activity City of Avondale     Arizona     Increase access to recreational programs County of San Diego     California     Increase health equity City of Perris     California     Increase access to healthy foods Greater Bridgeport Opportunities Industrialization Center Inc.     Connecticut     Increase health equity New Haven Health Department     Connecticut     Decrease childhood asthma City of Miami     Florida     Increase health care access Florida Department of Health     Florida     Decrease food inequality City of St. Petersburg     Florida     Increase access, availability and procurement of healthy foods Hillsborough County MPO     Florida     Increase access to healthy foods Healthy Savannah     Georgia     Increase healthy eating and health equity Polk County Housing Trust Fund     Iowa     Decrease childhood asthma DeKalb County Community Gardens     Illinois     Increase access to healthy foods Kane County Health Department     Illinois     Increase community engagement Building a Thriving Compassionate Community (BTCC)     Indiana     Increase children’s health conditions Jump IN for Healthy Kids     Indiana     Decrease childhood obesity Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Government     Kentucky     Increase mental wellness and healthy behaviors Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City     Kansas     Increase walkability Metropolitan Area Planning Council     Massachusetts     Increase walkability and bikeability Baltimore City Health Department     Maryland     Increase physical activity Ingham County Health Department     Michigan     Increase smoke-free living Independence Health Department     Missouri     Decrease tobacco exposure in housing units City of Kansas City Missouri Health Department     Missouri     Decrease youth and domestic violence rates Mississippi State University: Gulfport     Mississippi     Increase healthy food choices in youth Chatham County Public Health Department     North Carolina     Decrease obesity Davidson County     North Carolina     Increase healthy eating and physical activity Duke University: Durham and Cabarrus Counties     North Carolina     Increase health equity Mecklenburg County Health Department     North Carolina     Decrease heart disease University of Nebraska Board of Regents: Dodge, Saunders and Washington Counties     Nebraska     Increase healthy eating and health equity City of Jersey City     New Jersey     Increase healthy behaviors to decrease violence Coopers Ferry Partnership     New Jersey     Increase water quality Sandoval Health Collaborative     New Mexico     Increase family nutrition and physical activity Dutchess County Government     New York     Increase healthy living and employment opportunities Union Community Health Center     New York     Decrease obesity Cleveland Department of Public Health     Ohio     Decrease tobacco use in youth and adults Franklin County Public Health     Ohio     Increase comprehensive healthy living Tulsa City-County Health Department     Oklahoma     Increase access to healthy foods Chester County     Pennsylvania     Increasing walking Crispus Attucks Association, York County     Pennsylvania     Increase healthy housing Allentown Health Bureau     Pennsylvania     Increase physical activity Blair County Planning Commission     Pennsylvania     Increase community development Center for Prisoner Health and Human Rights at the Miriam Hospital     Rhode Island     Decrease prison re-entry Mary Black Foundation, Inc.     South Carolina     Decrease obesity in schools and the community City of Brownsville     Texas     Increase access to community gardens Waco-McLennan County Public Health District     Texas     Increase access to, and consumption of, fresh foods Wichita County Public Health District     Texas     Decrease childhood obesity Danville Pittsylvania County United Fund     Virginia     Increase healthy living Lenowisco Health District     Virginia     Increase healthy living Thurston County Public Health & Social Services     Washington     Increase walkability West Virginia University, Morgantown     West Virginia     Increase mental wellness  

For more information, visit www.healthiestcities.org and join the conversation at #HealthiestCitiesChallenge.

The Aetna Foundation is the independent charitable and philanthropic arm of Aetna (NYSE: AET). Since 1980, Aetna and the Aetna Foundation have contributed more than $465 million in grants and sponsorships. As a national health foundation, we promote wellness, health, and access to high-quality health care for everyone. This work is enhanced by the time and commitment of Aetna employees, who have volunteered 3.8 million hours since 2003. For more information, visit www.aetnafoundation.org.

The American Public Health Association champions the health of all people and all communities. We strengthen the profession of public health, share the latest research and information, promote best practices and advocate for public health issues and policies grounded in research. We are the only organization that combines a 140-plus year perspective, a broad-based member community and the ability to influence federal policy to improve the public’s health. Visit us at www.apha.org.

The National Association of Counties (NACo) unites America’s 3,069 county governments. Founded in 1935, NACo brings county officials together to advocate with a collective voice on national policy, exchange ideas and build new leadership skills, pursue transformational county solutions, enrich the public’s understanding of county government and exercise exemplary leadership in public service. For more information, visit www.naco.org.

American Public Health AssociationDaniel Greenberg, 202-777-3913daniel.greenberg@apha.orgorBRG CommunicationsMaureen Salazar, 703-736-8366msalazar@brgcommunications.com

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