Where we live shouldn’t determine how long or how well we live. In our communities, we all should be surrounded by conditions that enable us to live the healthiest life possible, such as access to healthy food, quality schools, stable housing, good jobs with fair pay, and safe places to exercise and play. Unfortunately, in many communities, there are persistent barriers to health and opportunity to thrive.
Changing community environments in ways that make it easier for people to get and stay healthy.
Advancing policies and systems aimed at preventing illness and increasing opportunity for better health for all.
Identifying root causes of different types of health disparities, and removing barriers to better health.
Addressing the wide range of factors which shape health in the places where we live, learn, work, and play.
Across the nation, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is collaborating with a wide array of partners to remove these barriers, and create communities where healthy choices are easy and available to all. From large cities to small towns, from urban to rural environments, we support efforts to create or expand on the types of systems that many of the healthiest, most equitable communities have in common. For instance:
Bringing about these kinds of changes requires the engagement of all sectors of a community—from government and policymakers, to business owners and civic groups, to parents and volunteers. It takes a lot of hard work. But across America, these changes are happening, and communities are transforming in ways that help put better health within everyone’s reach.