Healthy Communities

The nation’s approach to health is undergoing a dramatic transformation where community leaders, health professionals and business leaders are recognizing that where you live, learn, work and play is just as important to how healthy you are as whether or not you have access to a doctor. And that healthy, vibrant communities can increase a child’s opportunities to pursue health and thrive.

Burness has spent the past decade working to grow public awareness of the importance of ALL the factors—from education to income level to safe homes—that affect health. We worked alongside the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) Commission to Build a Healthier America to spark a national movement to approach health differently. These efforts continue through the Healthy Communities Initiative, a four-year joint effort led by the Federal Reserve System and RWJF to bring together community development, finance and health leaders to identify areas for collaboration. And our continued partnership with the Low Income Investment Fund is bringing to life stories of “what works” to create vibrant communities.

Since 2009, we have collaborated with RWJF and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute to develop and carry out multiple facets of a broad communications strategy around the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps (CHR&R) program and the RWJF Culture of Health Prize. Our efforts are helping communities across the nation better determine what is making their residents sick or healthy; create more inclusive plans to improve health; and learn about proven successes and important lessons from those already implementing successful strategies.