Coalfield Town Nationally Recognized for Health Improvement Work

A West Virginia town is being recognized for its efforts and accomplishments to improve health. Williamson has implemented several programs over the past several years.

Williamson is one of six winners of $25,000 through the Robert Wood Johnson’s Foundation (RWJF) Culture of Health Prize. Here’s a full list of the winning towns (in no particular order):

1. Williamson, West Virginia
2. Buncombe County, North Carolina
3. Brownsville, Texas
4. Durham County, North Carolina
5. Spokane County, Washington
6. Taos Pueblo, New Mexico.

The towns were selected from more than 250 applicants from across the country. The winners have made significant accomplishments in building a national Culture of Health.
The coalfield town in Mingo County has worked to improve health and expand economic development with several initiatives including:

• A community garden built next to a low-income housing facility offers at-risk residents an opportunity to grow fruits and vegetables. 
• Monthly 5k races
• Lunch walk program

The Robert Wood Johnson’s Foundation (RWJF) is looking for next year’s winners of the Culture of Health Prize.
The RWJF Culture of Health Prize was launched to further the work of the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps (CHR&R) program, a collaboration between the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute.  The County Health Rankings & Roadmaps help communities understand the many factors that influence health and identify strategies community leaders can take to improve health.

The Robert Wood Johnson’s Foundation (RWJF) is looking for next year’s winners of the Culture of Health Prize. Find out more by visiting the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps (CHR&R) website.