Ozaukee County ranks healthiest in Wisconsin and Menominee County is the least healthy county in the state, according to the ninth annual County Health Rankings, released today by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute (UWPHI).
The Rankings are available at http://www.countyhealthrankings.org
An easy-to-use snapshot that compares counties within states, the Rankings show that where you live influences how well and how long you live. The local-level data make it clear that good health is influenced by many factors beyond medical care including housing, education, and jobs.
This year’s new Rankings State Reports show meaningful gaps in health persist not only by place, but also by race and ethnicity. Looking at differences by place and race offers a more complete picture of health. This year’s analyses show that lack of opportunity, such as education, jobs, and affordable housing, disproportionately affects people of color across the nation and within Wisconsin.
The new Rankings State Reports call attention to key drivers of health, such as children in poverty. They are less likely to have access to well-resourced and quality schools, and have fewer chances to be prepared for living-wage jobs. The Wisconsin State Report reveals that in Wisconsin, 16 percent of children live in poverty, compared to the U.S. rate of 20 percent. Among racial and ethnic groups in Wisconsin, rates of children in poverty range from 11 percent to 44 percent with American Indian/Alaskan Native children faring the worst and white children faring the best. Read the full story here.
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