The Westside Gazette

County health rankings highlight community partnerships in Broward County

Florida Health Broward County

County health rankings highlight community partnerships in Broward County

Submitted by Candy Sims

Public Information Officer

      BROWARD COUNTY, FL – The Florida Department of Health in Broward County recognizes the value in measuring health outcomes and expresses appreciation to 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, established data, much of which was obtained from the Department and is available to the people of Florida at www.floridacharts.com.

     These rankings serve as a snapshot of the health of individuals across counties in each state. The report highlights that health is a combined work in progress across a variety of community partners. The Florida Department of Health (DOH), through its county health departments, works together to improve the health of all Floridians. The data used in these rankings are available in each state and include information related to physical environment, social and economic factors, health behaviors, education, crime rate/law enforcement and clinical care.

     “The Florida Department of Health works every day to bring together community partners around shared goals to improve health,” said Dr. John Armstrong, Surgeon General and Secretary of Health. “As we track our progress, we are reminded there is no finish line in our efforts for better health.”

     In Broward County, there are areas of progress and continuing opportunity. For example, the rate of cardiovascular disease has decreased over the past seven years due in part to groups working to increase healthy nutrition and physical activity such as the Nutrition and Fitness Taskforce of Broward County led by the Florida Department of Health in Broward County.   Challenges remain for the larger Broward community such as the number of new HIV and AIDS cases; although deaths due to AIDS have decreased.

     “The Children’s Services Council of Broward County applauds these results and remain committed to working with the Health Department and our many other partners to continue to improve the quality of life of Broward’s Children,“ said Cindy Arenberg Seltzer, President and CEO, Children’s Services Council of Broward County.

     “Broward County is ranked among the top 10 counties for both Health Outcomes and Health Factors,” said Dr. Paula Thaqi, Director of the Florida Department of Health in Broward County.  “The local public health system in Broward County comprised of all of the agencies across many sectors that affect the public’s health, continue to partner and collaborate effectively to maintain our strengths and address our opportunities for improvement.”

     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.

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