The nonprofit organization that ranks the nation’s healthiest communities each year is turning its attention to the gains being made in west Georgia.
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) announced that Carrollton is among the 12 American communities chosen as finalists for the RWJF Culture of Health Prize.
The prize recognizes communities that are bringing partners together around a shared commitment to health, opportunity and equity.
“These communities have set themselves apart by recognizing that health is about opportunity. It is connected to every element of our lives — good schools, safe and affordable housing, high-quality jobs that pay a fair wage and so much more,” said RWJF president and CEO Richard Besser, MD. “In the coming months, we look forward to visiting each community to learn more about how it is working with local leaders and residents to shape solutions in all these areas that impact health.”
Tanner Health System’s Get Healthy,Live Well and the city of Carrollton partnered to apply for the award on behalf of the community.
“Over the past seven years — through innovative strategies, strong leadership and broad participation — our community has made substantial progress in overcoming barriers that prevent people from achieving optimal health,” said Denise Taylor, senior vice president and chief community health and brand officer for Tanner Health System.
According to Taylor, to create a true culture of health, the medical community could not go it alone; it required civic engagement, partnerships with the area’s leading employers, faith-based work through local organizations and a broad understanding of the obstacles people in the community face to living a healthy life.
“The successes we have seen could not have been achieved without the collaborative efforts of local businesses, educational institutions, community groups, government officials and faith-based organizations,” Taylor said. “We are proud of the work our partners and volunteers have done and continue to do to make Carrollton a healthier place to live.”
Local successes include the completion of the 18-mile Carrollton GreenBelt trail system, which connects the existing neighborhoods with the city schools’ campus, the University of West Georgia, city parks and several commercial shopping areas. With an increase in population and the health risks of sedentary lifestyles, the Carrollton GreenBelt provides an opportunity to integrate recreation with transportation, combating negative health trends impacting Carrollton, such as physical inactivity.
“We are thrilled that the Carrollton GreenBelt has made and continues to make a tremendous impact in not only improving the community’s health but helping make Carrollton a more walk- and bike-friendly city,” said Erica Studdard, community development director for the city of Carrollton.
While the trail is mostly used for recreation and exercise, it also provides a safe alternative to automobile travel.
The city’s bike-share program, which is also tied to the GreenBelt, has also made a significant impact on the community. A partnership by Tanner, Southwire and the University of West Georgia, this wide-reaching program was launched in 2017 to provide residents and visitors with an affordable, convenient and healthy way to get around town. With more than 50 cruiser bikes and 11 stations, Carrollton’s bike-share program is one of the more robust programs in the Southeast. More than 10,000 unique users have made over 26,000 trips since the program launched. Carrollton City Schools’ Safe Routes to School program is also augmented by the GreenBelt and bike-share program.
According to Studdard, completion of the Carrollton GreenBelt, the bike-share program and the city schools’ utilization of the GreenBelt are just some of the examples of the ways the city and its partners have worked together to make the region healthier. Tanner’s work in expanding free, community-based health programs has also been vital.
“It’s innovative strategies like these, combined with strong leadership and community collaboration, that has helped Carrollton not only achieve results, but sustain them,” Studdard said. “I cannot stress enough how big of a role our partners and volunteers have played in helping improve the health of our community.”
Selected from nearly 200 applicant communities, the other 11 finalist communities include:
- Greenville County, South Carolina
- Broward County, Florida
- Del Norte County and Tribal Lands, California
- Fishers, Indiana
- Gonzales, California
- Jersey City, New Jersey
- Lake County, Colorado
- Lake Village, Arkansas
- Perth Amboy, New Jersey
- Sitka, Alaska
- Vista, California
Judges from the Robert Wood Foundation will be making a two-day site visit to Carrollton and the 2019 winners will be announced this fall. The RWJF Culture of Health Prize is a collaboration between the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute. Visit rwjf.org for more information.