Salt Lake City Joins Eighteen Communities that Embark on Road to Better Health

New Grants Target Local Health Factors Such as Education, Community Safety

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) has awarded $3.6 million in Roadmaps to Health Community Grants of up to $200,000 each to 18 coalitions across the United States to create healthier places to live, learn, work, and play. The Roadmaps to Health grants are part of the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps program, a collaboration of RWJF and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute (UWPHI).

In their second year, the Community Grants now support a total of 30 state and local coalitions made up of leaders from government, business, education, health care, public health, and community organizations. The 18 new grantees will be funded for two years as they create policy and systems changes that address the factors we know are connected to health. A number will focus on improving educational opportunity and attainment, which research has shown can lead to better health. Among the projects are:

•              An initiative in Salt Lake City, Utah, that will create a comprehensive early learning system for children from birth to five years old, and advocate for statewide adoption of early education standards and school readiness programs.

•              A project in Manchester, New Hampshire, to expand the focus of three public schools from educating students to hosting other organizations that will provide a range of social supports to children and families in those communities.

•              Efforts in Colorado Springs, Colorado, that will establish a coordinated system of care for service members, veterans, and their families.

•              A grantee in New York City that will strengthen a campaign to enact a city ordinance that mandates employers provide a minimum number of sick days to employees.

The grants will be managed by Community Catalyst, a national consumer health advocacy organization.

In addition to the Community Grants, the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps program includes other efforts to mobilize local communities, national partners, and leaders, including: the County Health Rankings, an annual check-up that highlights the healthiest and least healthy counties in every state, and those factors that influence health outside of the doctor’s office; a prize competition to recognize communities taking action that leads to better health; and tools and resources to help groups working to improve the health of their communities.

RWJF December 13, 2012