Klamath County Wins Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Culture of Health Prize

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore., Oct. 31, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) has awarded Klamath County, Oregon, the prestigious Culture of Health Prize. The honor recognizes U.S. communities that are making great strides in their journey toward better health. RWJF is the nation's largest philanthropy dedicated solely to health.

The award marks a significant turnaround for Klamath County, which historically places at the bottom of RWJF's Oregon county health rankings. In 2012, Klamath County was struggling. One in two adults had a chronic condition, the area was home to some of the most impoverished neighborhoods in the state, and only 54 percent of residents reported feeling safe. Community leaders formed the Healthy Klamath Coalition to turn the tide, and advocated to bring Blue Zones Project to Klamath Falls under the umbrella of the Oregon Healthiest State Initiative with leadership funding from Cambia Health Foundation. Blue Zones Project is a community-led well-being improvement initiative working in select U.S. cities to make healthy choices easier. In 2014, Klamath Falls became the first Blue Zones Project demonstration site in Oregon.

"Klamath County is giving all residents the opportunity to live their best life," said Michael Acker, general manager of Blue Zones Project. "Through a sustained focus on well-being, Klamath County is moving the needle when it comes to population health. It is inspiring to be part of the coalition proving that when a community comes together, big things can happen."

The Healthy Klamath Coalition, Blue Zones Project, and local partners have made a measurable difference in the community thanks to public health innovations and a commitment to policy-focused solutions. Since Blue Zones Project launched, Klamath County has experienced a host of well-being improvements, such as a smoke-free policy for 850 acres of outdoor space, including public parks. The Klamath-Lake Counties Food Bank and partners expanded the "Free Produce Connection" program to distribute 720,000 pounds of produce at 30 sites throughout the area.

Meanwhile, Klamath County Public Health and Klamath Tribal Health and Family Services focused on the health and risk factors of the Tribal population. The Healthy Klamath Coalition worked with the Klamath Falls Police Department to engage the community and address the role of mental health and addiction in crime. As a result, there has been a 25 percent reduction in person-on-person crimes and a 10 percent reduction in overall crime in Klamath Falls. The community also formed Klamath Promise, a partnership of nonprofits, businesses and the county's two school districts, focused on improving the community's high school graduation rate, which has gone up by 7 percent in recent years.

"We saw an acceleration of public health work when we began the Blue Zones Project work, and I hear a lot more positivity regarding health and wellness now than I have in years past," added Jennifer Little, Healthy Klamath Coalition committee co-chair.

"As Oregon's first Blue Zones Project community, Klamath Falls has set the bar high for the initiative across the state," said Sarah Foster, executive director of Oregon Healthiest State. "The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Culture of Health Prize awarded to Klamath County is a testament to the positive change a community can experience when passionate individuals, local leadership, and agencies rally together and prioritize health and well-being."

Ben Leedle, CEO of Blue Zones and co-founder of Blue Zones Project, said, "We feel like our work in Klamath County has just begun, and the current progress points to a real and positive impact. We're looking forward to more fully realizing our goal of better health and well-being for every resident in Klamath County."

RWJF awarded Klamath County $25,000 in commemoration of the Culture of Health Prize. Other communities to receive the 2018 Prize include Cicero, Illinois; Eatonville, Florida; and San Antonio, Texas.

About Blue Zones Project
Blue Zones Project^® is a community-led well-being improvement initiative designed to make healthy choices easier through permanent changes to a city's environment, policy, and social networks. Established in 2010, Blue Zones Project inspired by research by Dan Buettner, a National Geographic Fellow and New York Times best-selling author who identified five regions of the world—or Blue Zones^® regions—with the highest concentration of people living to 100 years or older. Blue Zones Project incorporates Buettner's findings and works with cities to implement policies and programs that will move a community toward optimal health and well-being. Currently, 47 communities in 10 states have joined Blue Zones Project, impacting more than 3.3 million Americans nationwide. The movement includes three beach cities in California; 15 cities in Iowa; Albert Lea, Minnesota; the city of Fort Worth; and communities in Southwest Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Oklahoma, Oregon, and Wisconsin. Blue Zones Project is a partnership of Blue Zones, LLC, and Sharecare, Inc. For more information, visit bluezonesproject.com.

About Oregon Healthiest State 

Oregon Healthiest State is a privately led, publicly supported partnership to assist Oregon communities in achieving better health outcomes. More than 70 percent of our health is influenced by our behaviors and surroundings, while just 30 percent is influenced by genetics and access to health care. That 70 percent is where Oregon Healthiest State focuses its attention. This cross-sector, statewide movement addresses health and well-being on all levels—physical, mental, emotional, social, financial, and sense of purpose. Oregon Healthiest State will work statewide through initiatives that align allies and resources to take on the state's most pressing health issues; and at the local level through programs to help communities make healthy options abundant for everyone. Oregon Healthiest State's goal is that by 2020, Oregonians are healthy, health equity increases, and Oregon is the healthiest state. For more information, visit ORhealthieststate.org.

About Cambia Health Foundation

Cambia Health Foundation is the corporate foundation of Cambia Health Solutions, a total health solutions company dedicated to transforming the way people experience the health care system. A 501(c)(3) grant-making organization, the Foundation invests and partners with organizations to advance palliative care quality, access, and understanding; improve the behavioral health of underserved children; and transform health care to a more person-focused and economically sustainable system. Learn more at cambiahealthfoundation.org and follow us on Twitter.

CONTACT:
Naomi Imatome-Yun
612-596-3600

SOURCE Blue Zones Project

Related Links

https://www.bluezonesproject.com