County Health Rankings & Roadmaps

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The County Health Rankings & Roadmaps is a program that provides a comprehensive overview of the health of counties across the United States. It is a collaboration between the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute. The program aims to improve health outcomes and reduce health disparities by providing data, tools, and resources to communities.

Overview

The County Health Rankings & Roadmaps program was established in 2010. It ranks the health of nearly every county in the United States based on a variety of health factors and outcomes. The rankings are designed to help communities understand what influences the health of residents and how long they will live.

Methodology

The rankings are based on a model of population health that emphasizes the many factors that, if improved, can help make communities healthier places to live, learn, work, and play. The model includes four main categories:

• Health Behaviors: This includes factors such as tobacco use, diet and exercise, alcohol and drug use, and sexual activity.
• Clinical Care: This includes access to care and quality of care.
• Social and Economic Factors: This includes education, employment, income, family and social support, and community safety.
• Physical Environment: This includes air and water quality, housing, and transit.

Each of these categories is weighted differently in the overall ranking, with social and economic factors having the largest impact.

Data Sources

The data used in the County Health Rankings comes from a variety of national and state sources. These include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Center for Health Statistics, the American Community Survey, and others. The data is updated annually to reflect the most current information available.

Roadmaps to Health

In addition to the rankings, the program provides "Roadmaps to Health," which are tools and resources to help communities take action to improve health. These roadmaps include guidance on how to build partnerships, choose effective policies and programs, and implement changes that can lead to improved health outcomes.

Impact

The County Health Rankings & Roadmaps program has been influential in raising awareness about the social determinants of health and the importance of addressing them to improve community health. It has been used by policymakers, public health officials, and community leaders to prioritize health issues and allocate resources effectively.

Criticism

While the program is widely used, it has faced criticism for its reliance on certain data sources and the potential for misinterpretation of the rankings. Critics argue that the rankings may oversimplify complex health issues and that the data may not fully capture the nuances of local health challenges.

Also see

• Social determinants of health
• Public health
• Health equity
• Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
• University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute