NJ Spotlight published the following article on March 27, 2014. To read the full article, click here.
Health Rankings for NJ Counties Reflect Impact of Social and Economic Factors
Andrew Kitchenman | March 27, 2014Hunterdon tops state while Cumberland is least healthy, according to RWJ Foundation, which says smart policies can improve outcomes statewide
When Robert Wood Johnson Foundation officials describe their annual county health rankings, it isn’t so much the ranking that they emphasize, as what goes into the numbers.
The Plainsboro-based organization wants the fifth annual statewide rankings, released yesterday, to spur local and state officials, as well as local charities and businesses, to push for improved public-health measures.
The 2014 rankings found that Hunterdon County was the healthiest in the state, while Cumberland County was the least healthy.
While the relative wealth of each county is a major factor in determining the outcomes, foundation officials emphasized that there are many policy changes that can help improve the health of residents of any county in the state.