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The Florida Department of Health works to protect, promote, and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county, and community efforts.
Statewide County Health Rankings Released
March 20, 2013
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 20, 2013
Contact: Communications Office
(850) 245-4111
TALLAHASSEE—The Florida Department of Health recognizes the value in measuring health outcomes and acknowledges the University of Wisconsin and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation for the fourth annual County Health Rankings & Roadmaps tool released today. This study uses traditional, common data, much of which was obtained from the Department and is available at www.floridacharts.com. These rankings serve as a snapshot of the health of people across counties in each state.
Florida’s State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP) is the established roadmap with milestones that are consistent with the data behind these rankings. The Florida Department of Health (DOH), through its statewide system of county health departments, works with other state agencies and local stakeholders to improve the health of all Floridians. Health outcomes result from the combination of economic, social, behavioral, environmental, and clinical care factors.
“The Florida Department of Health works every day to bring together community partners around shared goals that improve health,” said Dr. John Armstrong, Surgeon General and Secretary of Health. “As we track our progress, we are reminded that there is no finish line in our efforts for better health across all counties. Our vision is clear: Florida will be the healthiest state in the nation.”
“Each of Florida's 67 counties is unique and special to the people that live in them. The local officials in these counties are committed to utilizing all the resources and services available to improve the well-being and health of all of their residents,” commented Bryan Desloge, Florida Association of Counties President and Leon County Commissioner.
“The Community Health Assessment process gives each of Florida's counties the opportunity to address health improvement based on reliable data. The public health system is very broad, with many stakeholders, and it takes all of them working together to improve the health of the community,” commented Dean Donna Petersen, MHS, ScD, College of Public Health, University of South Florida.
The Rankings include a snapshot of each county in Florida with a color-coded map comparing each county’s overall health ranking. There are also new county-level trend graphs detailing change over time for several of the measurements including children living in poverty, unemployment, and quality of care. The entire report can be found at www.countyhealthrankings.org.
The Department works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.
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