Our vision and framework for improving health, equity and well-being in America
Our health is greatly influenced by complex factors such as where we live, and the strength of our families and communities. But despite knowing this, positive change is not occurring at a promising pace.
To accelerate progress, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has proposed a vision for a national Culture of Health where everyone has the opportunity to live a healthier life.
Developed in collaboration with the RAND Corporation, our Culture of Health Action Framework sets a national agenda to improve health, well-being, and equity. It contains three core elements:
The Action Framework is informed by rigorous research on the multiple factors which affect health. It recognizes there are many ways to build a Culture of Health, and provides numerous entry points for all types of organizations to get involved.
What does 'health equity' really mean, and what can you do to help ensure that everyone has the basics to be healthy?
A critical aspect of a Culture of Health is health equity, which in essence means we all have the basics to be as healthy as possible. Yet at present, for too many, prospects for good health are limited by where we live, how much money we make, or discrimination we face.
To achieve health equity, we need to address these barriers and shift values so seeking to be healthy is a part of everything we do... so much so that we don’t even think about it.
At the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the vision of a Culture of Health – with health equity at the center – is our north star. It guides every aspect of our work—from our grantmaking focus areas, to the types of research and initiatives we fund, to how we assess the effectiveness of our grant programs.
At the same time, we realize that building a Culture of Health will take unprecedented collaboration. Across our work, we welcome new partnerships and ideas from all sectors that can help advance the common cause of better health for all.