CBHA News And Events

Final Commission Meeting

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 22:58:00 GMT

The Commission held its final meeting in Washington, D.C., on October 9, 2009. Featuring organizations and policy leaders in the areas of early childhood, nutrition and physical activity, housing and the built environment, and population health, the meeting focused on current progress and the next steps necessary to make the Commission's recommendations a reality.

D.C. bill aims to improve nutrition, exercise among students

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 18:12:00 GMT

The District's schools would be required to serve students fresh produce from local growers and to dramatically expand physical education programs under a bill introduced by D.C. Council member Mary M. Cheh and Chairman Vincent C. Gray.

USA Today: A healthier Head Start focuses more on preventing obesity

Tue, 08 Dec 2009 14:39:00 GMT

Many preschool children in Head Start programs are being offered fruits and vegetables and low-fat or non-fat milk daily as directors are increasingly concerned about childhood obesity. The children also have a chance to play each day.

Washington Post: America's economic pain brings hunger pangs

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 20:06:00 GMT

The nation's economic crisis has catapulted the number of Americans who lack enough food to the highest level since the government has been keeping track, according to a new federal report, which shows that nearly 50 million people -- including almost one child in four -- struggled last year to get enough to eat.

Great American Smokeout

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:27:00 GMT

The Commission has noted that to be a healthier nation, we must be a smoke-free nation. Take action today by participating in the Great American Smokeout. Plan your Smokeout activities and read tips to help you quit smoking.

The Health Care Blog: We the Consumers

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:21:00 GMT

As part of the work of the Commission to Build a Healthier America, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation released an issue brief in September, titled Education and Health. The RWJF study finds that those of us that never graduated from high school are twice as likely to report being in poor health than college graduates.

RWJF APHA Blog: Menu-Labeling’s Impact Across the Country

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:56:00 GMT

Live coverage from APHA: Analysis of menu-labeling efforts across the country have shown that, on average, 30% of people who see the posted calorie information use it.

Wall Street Journal: Annual Checkup

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:47:00 GMT

How the U.S. performs on various health-care measures compared with the 29 other members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the Paris-based group of industrialized countries.

U.S. News & World Report: Planning a Move? Look for These 4 Features That Make a Healthy Neighborhood

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:26:00 GMT

Walkability, bike paths, and other qualities may cut odds of developing type 2 diabetes and obesity.

USA Today: WIC program adds healthier mix of foods

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 16:15:00 GMT

Millions of women and children are eating more fruits, vegetables and whole grains in a public health campaign that all states had to join by his month. In the largest overhaul since it began in 1974, the federal Women, Infants and Children (WIC) nutrition program has begun giving vouchers for a wider variety of food to its 9.3 million low-income participants — mothers, infants and children up to 5 years old.

U.S. News & World Report: Poor Education May Lead to Poor Health

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:16:00 GMT

Adults with a poor education are also likely to have poor health, a growing body of evidence suggests. Study after study has confirmed the link, and now experts are zeroing in on the reasons for it and what can be done.

Washington Post Blog - All We Can Eat: School Lunch Money

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 18:44:00 GMT

The debate over health care has largely eclipsed talk of school lunch reform. But there's good news for advocates of healthful school food in the House Agriculture Appropriations conference report: $135 million worth, to be precise.

Issue Brief: "The Poor Pay More -- Poverty's High Cost to Health"

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 19:45:00 GMT

New issue brief from Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity describes many of the ways in which being poor is bad for one’s health and points to policies that have the potential for restoring the prospect of good health to the lives of the poor.

Washington Post: U.S. Losing Ground on Preventable Deaths

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 19:31:00 GMT

As Congress presses forward with landmark legislation to revamp the nation's health-care system, lawmakers are grappling with a troubling question: Are Americans dying too soon? The answer is yes.

Briefing: Beyond Health Care Reform - Health & Equity in All Policies

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 19:29:00 GMT

Unfair and avoidable differences in health and safety in the US will continue grow with the recession. Although health care reform is needed, it is not enough. Access to health care accounts for only 10% to 25% of the variance in health. RSVP now for The Institute for Alternative Futures briefing on October 20 on Capitol Hill.

Education and Health Briefing

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 21:57:00 GMT

The Commission held an experts' meeting on September 9 to discuss the connection between education and health. Download the event summary, listen to the recording and more here.

HealthDay News: Eating in America Still Unhealthy: CDC

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 13:11:00 GMT

Most Americans don't eat the recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables, says a U.S. government study released Tuesday. And no state has achieved national objectives for consumption of fruits and vegetables, it found.

Washington Post: Montgomery Wants to Know: Will That Road Make You Sick?

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 13:55:00 GMT

Montgomery County officials want to know if that new road might make you wheeze. Officials on Tuesday will propose requiring health studies before major roads are approved. They want to gauge how vehicle exhaust will affect minors, seniors, women who might have children, heart patients and others.

LA Times: William H. Frist: Focus on wellness

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 15:48:00 GMT

True healthcare reform requires a radical reorientation of our health sector to emphasize staying well. For the first time in history, we are raising a generation of children who will live sicker and shorter lives than their parents. Where and how we live, learn, work and play have a greater impact on how long and how well we live than added medical services.

New York Times: Initiative Focuses on Early Learning Programs

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 14:01:00 GMT

Tucked away in an $87 billion higher education bill that passed the House last week was a broad new federal initiative aimed not at benefiting college students, but at raising quality in the early learning and care programs that serve children from birth through age 5.

HHS Secretary Sebelius Announces Cornerstone Funding of the $650 Million Recovery Act Community Prevention and Wellness Initiative

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 21:51:00 GMT

Creating ways for healthful lifestyle habits to be the natural first choice for Americans is the goal of a $650 million initiative of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will be used to increase physical activity, improve nutrition, decrease obesity, and decrease smoking in U.S. communities.

DailyFinance: Why Health Care Reform Alone Won't Make Us Any Healthier

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 17:41:00 GMT

Sure, we need health care reform to extend coverage to the uninsured, James Marks says. But Marks, a former assistant surgeon general, makes it very clear that regardless of what happens with health care reform, it won't necessarily make us all healthier.

IOM Releases Action Steps for Local Governments to Prevent Childhood Obesity

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 21:25:00 GMT

Recognizing that local government officials are eager to address the childhood obesity epidemic, The Institute of Medicine (IOM) produced Local Government Action to Prevent Childhood Obesity, a report that serves as a practical guide for government officials at the city, town, township or county level who want to take action to address healthy eating and active living.

New York Times: Fat Tax (Letter to the Editor, PolicyLink President Judith Bell)

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 21:16:00 GMT

David Leonhardt hits at the most underexamined part of the nation’s obesity crisis. Our choices are constrained by the options available in our communities. A healthful diet is impossible if there are no nearby places to buy healthful food. Regular exercise is unsustainable in a community without a park or safe streets for running. Low-income communities suffer the most from such environments, so it is no wonder that low-income Americans suffer disproportionately from obesity and obesity-related issues like diabetes and heart disease.

New York Times: Dennis Rivera Leads Labor Charge for Health Reform

Thu, 27 Aug 2009 18:11:00 GMT

For more than a decade, Dennis Rivera was New York’s mightiest labor leader, running a union of 300,000 health care workers that often bent Albany to its will as it scared — and angered — governors, Democratic and Republican, with its hard-hitting ads.

August 10 Webinar: Access to Healthy Foods

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 19:07:00 GMT

Thanks to all who joined the August 10 webinar focusing on promoting health by improving access to healthy foods. For information about the other Commission webinars, visit the events section here.

National Journal: Should The Government Try To Make You Healthy?

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 18:10:00 GMT

Of the eight goals for health care reform laid out in President Obama's 2010 budget, just one has more to do with patients than with providers or insurers: "Investing in prevention and wellness."

August 4 Webinar: Creating Healthy Communities

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 13:43:00 GMT

Thanks to all who joined the August 4 webinar focusing on the Commission’s recommendations related to creating healthy communities. For information about the other Commission webinars, visit the events section here.

More than 100 Healthy Schools Honored by the Alliance for a Healthier Generation

Thu, 06 Aug 2009 18:20:00 GMT

President Bill Clinton, founder of the William J. Clinton Foundation, today joined Dr. Clyde Yancy, president of the American Heart Association and Dr. Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, at the Fourth Annual Healthy Schools Program Forum in New York to honor 114 schools from across the nation that are transforming into healthier places for students to learn and staff to work by implement policies and practices to promote healthy eating and increase physical activity.

The Huffington Post: What If Benjamin Franklin Ran the Congressional Budget Office?

Wed, 05 Aug 2009 18:02:00 GMT

Benjamin Franklin once famously remarked, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." Unfortunately, what this means is often, according to the CBO, an ounce of prevention isn't worth anything at all.

National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE): New Report Calls for Comprehensive School Obesity Prevention Policies

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 19:54:00 GMT

Policymakers, educators, health professionals and parents working to curb the pandemic of childhood obesity now have a new tool at their disposal. Preventing Childhood Obesity: A School Health Policy Guide, distills volumes of the most recent developments in the field into an easy-to-access policy brief essential for education decisionmakers.

Prevention Matters Podcast: David Williams Discusses How Commission Recommendations Can Improve America's Health

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 19:03:00 GMT

What makes Americans sick, and how can we keep them healthy? The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation established a panel of distinguished experts - the Commission to Build a Healthier America - to explore these fundamental but complex questions. Dr. David R. Williams, a professor at the Harvard School of Public Health, discusses the commission's findings and how they impact every segment of society.

Washington Post: Harlem Program Singled Out as Model

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 15:08:00 GMT

The Harlem Children's Zone Promise Academy, a nonprofit organization aimed at improving the lives of Harlem youth, is being used as a template for President Obama's Promise Neighborhoods program.

July 24 Webinar: A Focus on Starting Early

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 13:27:00 GMT

Thanks to all who joined Friday's webinar, "A Focus on Starting Early." This page features the audio recording and accompanying slides from the discussion. Sign up here to be notified about the next two webinars in this three-part series on the Commission's recommendations.

USA Today: Experts: Government changes to environment can make us fit

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 14:36:00 GMT

You drive to the office, sit at a computer all day, drive home and then park yourself on the couch. If that's your life, leading obesity experts say, the government should be changing your environment and making it possible for you to become more active.

Child Trends: Achievement Gap Begins Early: Study Finds Disparities in Child Outcomes Among Infants

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 16:24:00 GMT

A new Child Trends study commissioned by the Council of Chief State School Officers finds disparities between poor, at-risk children and more advantaged children as early as 9 months of age--extending prior research that primarily focuses on disparities at kindergarten entry and beyond.

Dept. of Education and HHS Outline Agenda for Early Education

Fri, 17 Jul 2009 19:56:00 GMT

Today, Education Secretary Arne Duncan and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius highlighted the Obama Administration's blueprint to improve and strengthen early learning programs, and announced their support for efforts in Congress to answer the President's challenge to invest $10 billion in the Administration's early learning reforms.

Idaho Education Association: Investing in Education Reaps Life-Long Benefits

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 13:40:00 GMT

American adults with the least education have the worst health, according to recent report released by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Commission to Build a Healthier America. Almost half of U.S. adults ages 25 to 74 reported being in less than very good health, and levels of health differ depending on levels of education.

Commission Releases Recommendations

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 20:12:00 GMT

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Commission to Build a Healthier America today urged all Americans to make healthier choices and society to help remove the obstacles so many people face in making those choices, issuing 10 cross-cutting recommendations for improving the nation’s health.

NJ Voices: Tobacco Regulation is a Step Toward Better Health Care

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 15:09:00 GMT

By Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, NJVoices guest blogger. As I watched President Obama sign the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act in the White House Rose Garden, I shared a deep feeling of pride with many public health champions on hand for the ceremony and hundreds of others who fought long and hard for this moment. I also see a roadmap for what prevention can do for health reform.

D.C. Region Health Check Up: Wide Differences Based on Location

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:25:00 GMT

A new report detailing the health of residents in the Washington region shows where you live in the area could add or subtract nearly 10 years from your life. The Washington Council of Governments released a joint report detailing the connection between where someone lives in the region and the quality of their health.

Washington Post: Ky. Schools' Healthy Example Could Shape a National Policy

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 19:31:00 GMT

As Congress moves to reauthorize childhood nutrition programs this summer, it is again taking up the issue of whether sugary sodas, chips and candy should be allowed in schools. Legislators have tried to limit junk food in schools since 1994. But each time the measures were blocked by powerful food lobbies, and conventional wisdom has long held that such snacks are a necessary evil because they provide key revenue to supplement the federal school-lunch program and help pay for sports and arts programs.

Sen. Harkin Op-Ed: Shifting America from sick care to genuine wellness

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 19:30:00 GMT

With the Senate health committee convening daily to craft a comprehensive health reform bill, the basic outline of this landmark legislation is now clear. Yes, it will ensure access to affordable, quality care for every American. But, just as important, it will hold down health care costs by creating a sharp new emphasis on disease prevention and public health.

Statement from PolicyLink and The Food Trust on USDA Food Desert Study

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:33:00 GMT

“Improving access to grocery stores in both urban and rural communities must be part of our national strategy to improve children’s health and prevent obesity and diabetes. The Pennsylvania Fresh Food Financing Initiative has demonstrated that supermarkets can thrive in food deserts and offers a strong model for solving this problem nationally. Expanding this program is one of the Top Ten recommendations of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Commission To Build a Healthier America.”

USDA Report to Congress: Access to Affordable and Nutritious Food—Measuring and Understanding Food Deserts and Their Consequences

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:28:00 GMT

The report summarizes findings of a national-level assessment of the extent and characteristics of food deserts, analysis of the consequences of food deserts, lessons learned from related Federal programs, and a discussion of policy options for alleviating the effects of food deserts. Overall, findings show that a small percentage of consumers are constrained in their ability to access affordable nutritious food because they live far from a supermarket or large grocery store and do not have easy access to transportation.

GOVERNING: Diplomas Keep the Doctor Away

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 21:55:00 GMT

Last September, I wrote a column about a handful of academics who used a series of charts, graphs and yield curves to show that education plays a key role in one’s ability to make use of health care. What the academics found was that a longer life span was connected to a college degree. Now, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is taking the academic theories one step further. It has looked at research data and found that there’s a direct link between a person’s health and the level of education attained. In short, the higher your degree, the healthier you are. And the conclusions don’t rest on a national snapshot. They look at the link between education and health in every state.

The American Prospect: Wealth-Care Reform

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Our health is not determined by what happens inside a hospital ward or a doctor's office. It is determined, as the Robert Wood Johnson report puts it, by "where people live, learn, work and play." We are making health decisions when we choose whether to walk or drive to work, when we fill our bags at the supermarket, when we enroll our children in early-childhood education programs. None of these is specifically a "health care" moment, but in the aggregate, they add up to the state of being we call "health."

New York Times: With a Little Help, Greens Come to Low-Income Neighborhoods

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:10:00 GMT

Until a clean and airy ShopRite opened a year ago in Parkside, her low-income west Philadelphia neighborhood, Christine Gilliard used to pay someone to drive her several miles to the closest supermarket so she could avoid a long bus ride. Now she can walk to the new 69,700-square-foot store as often as she likes.

Washington Post: Young Eaters Mind Their Peas & Cues

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:07:00 GMT

"This gorgeous, bountiful garden has given us a chance to not just have some fun -- and we've had a lot of it -- but to shed some light on the important food and nutrition issues that we need to address as a nation," she told [the students] yesterday from a lectern in the First Lady's Garden. "I want you to continue to be my little ambassadors in your own home and your own communities."

EPA, DOT and HUD Announce Interagency Partnership for Sustainable Communities

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 20:03:00 GMT

"Creating livable communities will result in improved quality of life for all Americans and create a more efficient and more accessible transportation network that services the needs of individual communities. Fostering the concept of livability in transportation projects and programs will help America’s neighborhoods become safer, healthier and more vibrant," said DOT Secretary Ray LaHood.

Grantmakers in Health: Risa Lavizzo-Mourey on the Commission and Expanding the Circle of Allies

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 14:22:00 GMT

Views from the Field: Many of us have been investigating and working to reduce health disparities for decades. And we have seen the trend lines like writing on the wall. An equation of the health decisions we each make, plus the environment in which we make them, has added up to a nation where we are not nearly as healthy as we could be.

Politico: Barack Obama Says Shape Up Now

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 19:16:00 GMT

Any health care reform plan that Obama signs is almost certain to call for nutrition counseling, obesity screenings and wellness programs at workplaces and community centers. He wants more time in the school day for physical fitness, more nutritious school lunches and more bike paths, walking paths and grocery stores in underserved areas.

Acting Surgeon General Issues ‘Call to Action To Promote Healthy Homes’

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 16:53:00 GMT

Acting Surgeon General Steven K. Galson, M.D., M.P.H. today issued The Surgeon General’s Call to Action To Promote Healthy Homes at a press conference from the National Building Museum in Washington D.C. The Call to Action looks at the ways housing can affect health; its release will initiate a national dialogue about the importance of healthy homes.

Commission Holds Second Hearing in Philadelphia

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 16:02:00 GMT

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Commission to Build a Healthier America holds second public hearing focused on how physical and social conditions impact health

Commission Holds First Field Hearing in N.C.

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 15:56:00 GMT

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Commission to Build a Healthier America held its first public hearing in Raleigh, N.C. on June 12 to investigate the links between early childhood development and health. Read panelist testimony, view the latest story on two N.C. families, download the N.C. life expectancy map, watch the webcast and more here.

Commission Holds Third Hearing in Denver

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 13:43:00 GMT

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Commission to Build a Healthier America Holds Third Public Hearing Focused on How Work and the Workplace Impact Health

The Early ED Watch Blog: An Unexpected Champion of Early Education: Former Sen. Bill Frist

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 14:47:00 GMT

You might not immediately associate former Sen. Bill Frist -- the former Republican majority leader and transplant surgeon -- with calls for more spending on high-quality childcare and early education opportunities. But at a forum on health policy earlier this month, his dedication to these issues was unmistakable.

Leading School Food Service Company Pledges to Fight Childhood Obesity

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 14:03:00 GMT

Sodexo, a leading food and facilities management services company and a leader in student nutrition, today is the first food service provider to sign on to the Alliance for a Healthier Generation's School Beverage and Competitive Food Guidelines. The guidelines were created to improve the nutritional quality of school snack foods and beverages, allowing more nutritious and less caloric options during the school day.

Washington Post: A Fresh Break For the Needy; Market Vouchers Aid Families on Assistance

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 14:03:00 GMT

Holyoke is not the kind of place where you'd expect to find a thriving farmers market. The western Massachusetts city is one of the poorest in the country, with high rates of diabetes, obesity and heart disease. But the Thursday market is busy and growing. And new revenues come from an unlikely demographic: families on federal food assistance.

New York Times: Getting Healthy, With a Little Help From the Boss

Fri, 22 May 2009 18:02:00 GMT

Get ready to get well. Boss’s orders. Once upon a time, corporations offered generous health benefits as a way to woo employees into their ranks. Now, most companies have turned from amorous suitors into stern parents — shifting more costs, and more responsibilities, to their employees.

TIME: More Companies Are Paying Workers to Stay Healthy

Thu, 21 May 2009 20:24:00 GMT

If you're like most people, you probably have a mile-long to-do list that includes items such as "Get blood pressure and cholesterol checked" and "Start walking 20 minutes per day." Who knows when you'll get around to all that? But if your employer offered to pay you cold, hard cash for taking better care of yourself, you'd probably start right now.

Commission Featured at Alliance for Health Reform Briefing

Wed, 20 May 2009 18:59:00 GMT

How much of Americans’ overall health is related non-health care factors? Which factors are most important for good health? What policy changes could provide more opportunities for people to make healthy choices? Members of the Commission addressed these questions at a briefing hosted by the Alliance for Health Reform on May 15. Videos and a podcast of the event are available to be downloaded.

New York Times: Letters: After the Great Recession

Mon, 18 May 2009 18:58:00 GMT

President Obama makes a strong case for education as the ticket to getting good jobs and securing the economic future of the nation’s middle class. Here’s another good reason: More education translates to better health. A new report from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Commission to Build a Healthier America demonstrates that people with more education are healthier.

New York Times: Unemployment May Be Hazardous to Your Health

Fri, 08 May 2009 20:25:00 GMT

Even as the U.S. Labor Department released figures showing that the economy lost more than half a million jobs in April, researchers on Friday made public a large study with an unsettling finding: Losing your job may make you sick.

San Francisco Chronicle: California's residents don't feel so good

Fri, 08 May 2009 16:28:00 GMT

If states were graded on health status, California would flunk. A report released today looking at the connection between health status and education found that California ranked 39th of all states based on the nearly 48 percent of adults who described themselves in "less than very good health."

The Denver Post: Study: Education yields health

Fri, 08 May 2009 16:28:00 GMT

Good health depends on education, according to a new study that shows wide health disparity between college-educated Coloradans and those who didn't finish high school.

WebMD: More Education, Better Health

Fri, 08 May 2009 16:28:00 GMT

Going back to school may belong on your to-do list for good health, because better health tends to go along with more education, a new report says.

Commission Releases New State-By-State Report Showing Health Strongly Linked to Education

Wed, 06 May 2009 11:20:00 GMT

Across the country and in every state, adults with less education are more likely to be in less than very good health than college graduates, and adults in every state fall far short of the level of good health that should be achievable for all Americans, says a new report released today by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Commission to Build a Healthier America.

Commission Recommendations Call for Action Beyond Health Care Reform

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 20:52:00 GMT

Asheville Citizen-Times: County Leaders Cite Study to Focus on Health Fix

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 19:35:00 GMT

Buncombe County Health Director Gibbie Harris said she hopes to convene a health summit later this spring focusing on recommendations in the [RWJF Commission] report. “I think Buncombe County has the opportunity to be the healthiest community in the state, if not the nation,” she said.

New York Times: Selling Obesity at School (Editorial)

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 18:56:00 GMT

More must now be done to fight the childhood obesity epidemic, which has triggered a frightening spike in weight-related disorders like diabetes, high-blood pressure and heart disease among young people. And the place to start is the schools...

The Huffington Post: Why Your Zip Code May Be More Important to Your Health Than Your Genetic Code

Thu, 23 Apr 2009 18:23:00 GMT

By James S. Marks, RWJF. We are not a healthy country. And while health reform focuses on coverage, cost, access and care, this is simply triage to a system that fails to ask the question "Why aren't we healthier in the first place?" Our health reform debate is focusing on where health ends (with medical care) and not on where our health begins (where we live, learn, work and play).

Medical News Today: Alabama Strategic Alliance For Health Program Will Work To Create A Healthier BlackBelt/West Alabama

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 17:57:00 GMT

The state's Black Belt and West Alabama counties will receive federal funding of up to $3.9 million over the next five years through the Alabama Strategic Alliance for Health Program to help reduce chronic diseases and health disparities.

SEIU President Andy Stern's Statement on the RWJF Commission to Build a Healthier America

Fri, 17 Apr 2009 21:12:00 GMT

The Commission's report offers both policymakers and the public a definitive roadmap and a way forward to building healthier communities. Their recommendations are an extremely valuable addition to the country's healthcare reform debate, and SEIU looks forward to working with the members of the Commission, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, policymakers and other stakeholders to make these proposals a reality.

Nebraska: Governor Announces New Wellness Plan for State Government

Fri, 17 Apr 2009 21:08:00 GMT

(Lincoln, Neb.) Gov. Dave Heineman outlined a wellness program for state employees and the option to choose a health insurance plan offering better coverage for preventative health and wellness. Nebraska is one of the first states to offer state workers a comprehensive plan for health insurance designed to encourage wellness and healthy lifestyles.

LULAC Supports the Recommendations of the RWJF Commission to Build a Healthier America

Fri, 17 Apr 2009 21:08:00 GMT

LULAC is very pleased to support the recommendations of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Commission to Build a Healthier America. The members of the Commission should be applauded for helping to expand the discussion surrounding how we reform the country’s health system. In a departure from the prevailing perception, the Commission looked beyond the medical system and found that where we live, learn, work and play has a greater impact on how long and how well we live than medical care.

Washington Post: Schools Should Increase Exercise and Track Weight Data, Study Recommends

Thu, 09 Apr 2009 23:24:00 GMT

Local schools need to do more to get students moving and track their weight data, according to a regional survey on childhood obesity released yesterday.

Health Beat: “Beyond Health Care” (Part 1)

Mon, 06 Apr 2009 15:34:00 GMT

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Commission to Build a Healthier America has just released a new report: Beyond Health Care. At a time when all eyes are trained on the debate over providing access to medical care for all Americans, the report looks beyond health care, to the health of the population. As it turns out our health—public health—has less to do with health insurance than one might think.

Reuters: US experts urge health reforms in schools, cities

Fri, 03 Apr 2009 16:16:00 GMT

The government should broaden its efforts to overhaul the U.S. healthcare system to include steps that provide better access to good food and recreation, a panel of experts said on Thursday.

Recommendations Release Event Kit

Thu, 02 Apr 2009 10:03:00 GMT

Download the complete event kit from the Commission's April 2 recommendations release.

Commission to Release Recommendations April 2

Thu, 02 Apr 2009 03:25:00 GMT

Save the Date: RWJF Commission to Build a Healthier America to Release Recommendations on April 2

Health Beat: Health, Education and the Welfare of the Nation

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 22:20:00 GMT

We know that health, education and poverty are linked. This is why, at one time, the U.S had a Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare. Restoring that cabinet post might go a long way toward inspiring discussion about how to approach all three simultaneously.

USA Today: 'Eat your vegetables': For kids, it means fries

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 18:20:00 GMT

Kids aren't eating enough fruits and vegetables, and when they do consume produce, they are more likely to eat french fries than nutrient-rich dark green or orange vegetables, a study shows.

HealthDay News: School Lunches Too Fatty and Sugary, Critics Say

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 18:20:00 GMT

Despite some improvements, U.S. school meal programs are still laden with unhealthy fat, salt and sugar, nutrition experts contend.

AlterNet: Why Our Greatest Health Concern Isn't Diet or Exercise -- It's Neighborhood

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 23:02:00 GMT

While we anxiously wait to hear how the Obama administration will tackle health care reform, are we missing the forest for the trees? Is it time for a complete overhaul of not just our dysfunctional system of medical insurance but what health economist Robert Evans calls our entire "repair shop" model of health?

HealthDay News: More Fast-Food Joints in Neighborhoods Mean More Strokes

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 19:10:00 GMT

Living in neighborhoods packed with fast-food joints could increase your risk for stroke by 13 percent, compared to residing in places where such restaurants are less plentiful, a new study suggests.

AP: Moving Nation from Sick Care Toward Wellness Care

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 17:15:00 GMT

Popping a pill can cut your cholesterol. But did the doctor also prescribe cutting the stress that's eroding your immune system? Or teach you how to exercise without worsening painful joints?

Submit Solutions to the Commission

Thu, 05 Feb 2009 16:33:00 GMT

Visit ideas.commissiononhealth.org to share innovative, specific policies and programs of great promise with the Commission.

Washington Post: Study Links Cleaner Air to Longer Life

Thu, 05 Feb 2009 16:32:00 GMT

Reducing air pollution has extended average life expectancy by five months for urban residents in dozens of U.S. cities over the past two decades, researchers found.

Reuters: Access to Healthy Foods Worse in Poor Areas

Thu, 05 Feb 2009 16:32:00 GMT

People who live in poorer neighborhoods in the U.S. are less likely to have easy access to supermarkets carrying a wide variety of fresh produce and other healthy food, an analysis of 54 studies confirms.

Washington Post: School Reform That Works

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 16:07:00 GMT

By Bill Gates. How many kids don't get the same chance to achieve their full potential? The number is very large. Every year, 1 million kids drop out of high school. Only 71 percent of kids graduate from high school within four years, and for minorities, the numbers are even worse -- 58 percent for Hispanics and 55 percent for African Americans.

Time: America's Health Checkup

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 20:51:00 GMT

What is the measure of a country's health? How do you take the temperature of a population that sprawls across nine time zones, 50 states and a global rainbow of cultures and communities? One way is by taking a close look at yourself.

Denver Field Hearing Webcast Now Available

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 20:50:00 GMT

The webcast of the December 10 Commission field hearing in Denver exploring the influence of work and the workplace on the health of all Americans is now available.

New York Times: Moving From Team Sport to Lifelong Fitness

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 16:54:00 GMT

West Babylon is one of a growing number of school districts across Long Island that have revised their physical education curriculums, moving away from team sports and skills mastery toward activities that school officials say can generate enthusiasm for lifelong fitness.

Washington Post: Targeting Obesity Alongside Hunger

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 14:17:00 GMT

The worsening economic crunch is causing the tab for food assistance programs to balloon, and with the rising costs has come an intensifying debate over whether -- and how -- the U.S. government can tackle simultaneously the paradoxically linked problems of hunger and obesity.

East Tennessean: Building a Healthier America

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 14:17:00 GMT

Dr. David Williams, the director of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Commission to Build a Healthier America, and a leading authority on the socioeconomic and racial influences and disparities in health, spoke about our nation's health at East Tennessee State University on Tuesday. In addition to the lecture, the Commission planned to travel to several communities in the region as part of a larger effort to understand the unique health issues and challenges facing Appalachia and rural communities.

New York Times: Obama Pledge Stirs Hope in Early Education

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 17:20:00 GMT

The $10 billion Mr. Obama has pledged for early childhood education would amount to the largest new federal initiative for young children since Head Start began in 1965.

Corporate Wellness Insights: Safeway's Wellness Incentive Program

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 19:42:00 GMT

Safeway is betting that it pays to pay for good health. Beginning January 1, the grocery giant is giving non-union administrative employees up to $800 in rebates on health insurance premiums. The program, called Healthy Measures, rewards employees for remaining within limits on four common medical risk factors - smoking, obesity, blood pressure and cholesterol.

AMNews: The poorer the kids, the worse their health, study says

Mon, 22 Dec 2008 15:45:00 GMT

A new report by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation found substantial shortfalls in the health of the nation's children based on their family's income and education.

Commission Holds Third Hearing in Denver

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 20:16:00 GMT

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Commission to Build a Healthier America Holds Third Public Hearing Focused on How Work and the Workplace Impact Health

Field Hearing Kit: Denver

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 19:22:00 GMT

Download the event kit from the Commission's third field hearing in Denver, Colo.

Reuters: Parks can cut health gap between rich and poor

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:20:00 GMT

Parks, playing fields and forests greatly narrow health gaps between the rich and poor, and governments should do more to promote and invest in green areas, researchers said on Friday.

The Health Care Blog: Judging states by the health of their children

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 20:30:00 GMT

While having or not having health insurance is important, poverty will have an even greater influence on an individual’s health. As Commission Co-Chair and former Congressional Budget Office director Alice M. Rivlin puts it, “This report shows us just how much a child’s health is shaped by the environment in which he or she lives.”

New York Times: Infant Deaths Drop in U.S., but Rate Is Still High

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 16:34:00 GMT

Infant deaths in the United States declined 2 percent in 2006, government researchers reported Wednesday, but the rate still remains well above that of most other industrialized countries and is one of many indicators suggesting that Americans pay more but get less from their health care system.

HealthDay News: Family Income Impacts Children's Health

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 16:51:00 GMT

For American children, the state they live in and their family's income and education may help determine how healthy they are, a new survey shows. Among children aged 17 and younger, 16 percent are in less than optimal health, according to the state-by-state survey from the nonprofit Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Philadelphia Inquirer: Where You Live Could Affect Life and Life Span

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 14:02:00 GMT

A public hearing at Temple explores the factors that contribute to health disparities.

Commission Launch Event Details

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 17:17:00 GMT

Washington, D.C.
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Launches Commission to Look Beyond Medical Care System to Improve the Health of All Americans
Mark McClellan, Alice Rivlin to Lead the National Effort

Commission to Build a Healthier America Holds Second Public Hearing

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 18:04:00 GMT

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Commission to Build a Healthier America held its second public hearing in Philadelphia focused on how physical and social conditions impact health.

Commission Releases "America's Health Starts With Healthy Children: How Do States Compare?"

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 18:03:00 GMT

Commission releases new state-by-state report that finds shortfalls in children's health tied to parents' income and education.

October 6 is National Child Health Day

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 17:31:00 GMT

Child Health Day is celebrating its 80th anniversary of helping kids to eat healthy and be active - read more below. Also, visit the Resources section to read the Commission's issue brief on early childhood experiences and health for background on this important factor.

USA TODAY: Federal Agencies Start Summit on Healthy Homes

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 13:50:00 GMT

The U.S. government is ramping up efforts to promote the building of healthy homes free of lead, chemicals, mold, moisture and pests. Four federal agencies are hosting the first national summit on the topic, beginning Monday in Baltimore.

TIME: Narrowing World Health Disparities

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 17:41:00 GMT

On average, a black man living in Washington, D.C., does not live as long as a man in India, and he certainly doesn't live as long as a white man in his hometown. The reasons — just like the reasons that the Japanese and Swedes live longer than the Ukrainians, and why aborigines in Australia on average die 17 years earlier than non-aborigines — are almost entirely social, according to a new report from the World Health Organization (WHO) released today.

Washington Post: Poverty Rate Held Steady Last Year, Census Says

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 21:42:00 GMT

The nation's poverty rate held steady as median household income edged upward last year, according to annual census data released yesterday. The number of children in poverty increased by 500,000 to 13.3 million.

Washington Post: Healthy Lunches Help Kids' Concentration in School

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 17:23:00 GMT

Healthy foods should be included on the list of back-to-school supplies for your children, says a University of Michigan Health System expert.

Washington Post: For Many Kids, There's No Free Lunch in Summer

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 21:49:00 GMT

In the 2006-2007 school year, 16.3 million children benefited from free or reduced-price lunches through the National School Lunch Program. But what happens when schools let out for the summer? The hunger does not end for many of these kids, but their access to free lunches does.

New York Times : Patterns: In Older Neighborhoods, Less Weight Gain

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 14:14:00 GMT

Can where you live play a role in how much you weigh? A new study finds that it can, and reports that people who live in older neighborhoods appear less likely to be overweight.

AHIP Coverage: Creating the Conditions for Health

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 20:11:00 GMT

Some factors that play a major role in a population’s health transcend the system itself. A new $5 million project by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, called the Commission to Build a Healthier America, is focused on analyzing and making policy recommendations about factors outside “health care” that affect how long and how well Americans live.

Los Angeles Times: Council bans new fast-food outlets in South L.A.

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:55:00 GMT

The one-year moratorium, proposed by Councilwoman Jan Perry, is aimed at attracting restaurants serving healthier fare to the area, where a study found 30% of children are obese.

MSNBC: Heavy? Your neighborhood may be to blame

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 18:59:00 GMT

It could be your neighborhood that's making you fat — or keeping you slender. A new study found that the year your neighborhood was built may be just as important as diet and exercise for shedding pounds.

Wall Street Journal: Exiling the Happy Meal

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 19:25:00 GMT

Despite its health-crazy reputation, parts of Los Angeles are plagued by obesity rates that rival any city in America. Now, the city may join a growing roster of local governments aiming to put their residents on diets by cracking down on the fast-food industry.

Associated Press: Report: Invest $10 a Person for Better Health

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 13:54:00 GMT

Investing just $10 per person — roughly the price of a six-pack of beer and some chips — could greatly fuel community programs that get couch potatoes moving, prevent smoking and improve nutrition, researchers say.

Washington Post: L.A. Official Wants a Change of Menu

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 14:57:00 GMT

Citing alarming rates of childhood obesity and a poverty of healthful eating choices, a city councilwoman is pushing for a moratorium on new fast-food restaurants in South-Central Los Angeles.

The Baltimore Sun: An Uphill Nutrition Fight

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 20:02:00 GMT

Johns Hopkins University's attempt to get better food into inner city runs into difficulties, including customer resistance.

USA TODAY: CDC Campaign Hopes to Make USA Healthier Nation

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 18:01:00 GMT

Julie Gerberding, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, wants to get this message out to Americans: Health care isn't only what takes place in a doctor's office, a clinic or a hospital.

New York Times: Diabetes Cases Increase 15 Percent In 2 Years

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 21:46:00 GMT

The number of Americans with diabetes increased by 15 percent in two years to 24 million, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About 8 percent of the population now has the disease, mainly Type 2 diabetes, which is linked to obesity and sedentary living, the agency said in a report using data from 2007.

Chicago Tribune: New York to Issue Licenses for 500 Veggie-Only Food Carts

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 21:42:00 GMT

In an effort to get New Yorkers to eat better, the city is preparing to issue licenses for 500 food carts that will be allowed to sell only fresh fruit and vegetables. The carts, which are expected to start appearing on the streets later this summer, are restricted to low-income areas that have the fewest sources of fresh produce in the city.

The Huffington Post: Too Poor To Parent?

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 21:35:00 GMT

Parenting while poor almost always leads to suspicion. At least 60 percent of child-welfare cases in the United States involve solely allegations of neglect, usually for inadequate food, clothing, shelter or inadequate supervision or guardianship. Not surprisingly, poor families are up to 22 times more likely to be involved in the child-welfare system than wealthier families.

NBC 17: National Panel Highlights NC Child Health Care

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 21:31:00 GMT

RALEIGH - Finding the right child care program isn't always easy. Just ask Hillsborough resident Ricky Hill, who needed help for his infant son. Hill told his story to members of the Commission to Build a Healthier America, which stopped in Raleigh Thursday. It was one of only three stops in its national tour to find out about non-medical programs that are working to improve public health.

HealthDay: Education, Income Affect Heart Attack Survival Rates

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 21:31:00 GMT

Being well-off and well-educated may improve your chances of surviving a heart attack, according to new report.

News & Observer: Health Commission Meets at Marbles Today

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 14:10:00 GMT

RALEIGH - A national commission gathering information on overcoming obstacles to Americans' health is holding its first field meeting today in downtown Raleigh.

News & Observer: Scholar: Early stress lingers

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 14:10:00 GMT

RALEIGH - When children endure abuse or see horrific incidents, their stress can rise to levels that affect not only mental well-being but also lifelong physical health, a Harvard researcher told a gathering of state health leaders Thursday.

Commission to Build a Healthier America Holds First Public Hearing

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 22:26:00 GMT

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Commission to Build a Healthier America Holds First Public Hearing in Raleigh, N.C.; Focus on Links between Early Childhood Development and Health

Field Hearing Kit: Raleigh, N.C.

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 12:32:00 GMT

Download the kit including all materials from the Commission's first field hearing in Raleigh, N.C.

Occupational Health & Safety: Healthier America Commission Holding First Field Hearing June 12

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 19:25:00 GMT

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Commission to Build a Healthier America will hold its first field hearing June 12 in Raleigh, N.C., to showcase promising programs in early childhood development and testimony from local leaders and national experts about non-medical programs that are improving children's health and wellness.

Los Angeles Times: Education level makes a difference in your BMI

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 19:10:00 GMT

When it comes to a healthy body weight, education matters. Highly educated men and women in the U.S. have a lower average body mass index than their less-educated counterparts, according to a new comparison of international data. Conversely, highly educated men and women in poor countries where malnutrition is prevalent tend to have a higher BMI than less-educated people.

Washington Post: Obesity Threatens a Generation; 'Catastrophe' of Shorter Spans, Higher Health Costs

Wed, 21 May 2008 19:14:00 GMT

With one in three children in this country overweight or worse, the future health and productivity of an entire generation -- and a nation -- could be in jeopardy.

New York Times: Counting Birthdays: The Short End of the Longer Life

Wed, 14 May 2008 15:00:00 GMT

Throughout the 20th century, it was an American birthright that each generation would live longer than the last. Year after year, almost without exception, the anticipated life span of the average American rose inexorably, to 78 years in 2005 from 61 years in 1933, when comprehensive data first became available. But new research shows that those reassuring nationwide gains mask a darker and more complex reality. A pair of reports out this month affirm that the rising tide of American health is not lifting all boats, and that there are widening gaps in life expectancy based on the interwoven variables of income, race, sex, education and geography.

Washington Post: The Less the Education, the Higher the Risk of Dying Early

Wed, 14 May 2008 15:00:00 GMT

The difference in death rates between highly educated and poorly educated people in the United States is very wide and growing wider, according to new research. For Americans with less than a high school education, the risk of dying prematurely is on the increase -- rising most quickly for white women in that category. In contrast, the risk of premature death among college graduates is falling -- fastest of all for black men.

LA Times: UCLA Study Links Poor Health to Fast-Food Neighbors

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 15:25:00 GMT

Higher rates of diabetes and obesity occur in neighborhoods -- regardless of the residents' income, race or ethnicity -- where fast-food restaurants and convenience stores greatly outnumber grocery stores and produce vendors, according to a statewide study released today.

Life Expectancy Falls In Pockets of U.S.

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 18:04:00 GMT

Not everybody is living longer. Sure, most Americans’ life expectancy has increased in recent years, but there have been declines in some regions of the country, especially for women. The drops took place primarily in Appalachia, the Deep South and stretches of the Mississippi River basin, Harvard University researchers found.

JAMA: Group Seeks to Improve Nonmedical Aspects of Health in the United States

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 14:29:00 GMT

Because a number of factors outside the medical system have considerable effects on health, experts are working to identify non-medical strategies to improve the well-being of those living in the United States. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has launched a national, independent, and nonpartisan group called the Commission to Build a Healthier America to investigate how factors such as education, environment, income, and housing influence personal choices that affect health.

Washington Post: Life Expectancy Tied to Education

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 14:14:00 GMT

Life expectancy in the United States is on the increase, but only among people with more than 12 years of education, a new study finds. In fact, those with more than 12 years of education -- more than a high school diploma -- can expect to live to 82; for those with 12 or fewer years of education, life expectancy is 75.

USA TODAY: Life Spans Decline in Some U.S. Areas

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 14:08:00 GMT

While most Americans enjoyed a clear jump in life expectancy from 1960 to 2000, a startling number — especially women — living primarily in the Deep South and in Appalachia actually saw a drop in life spans beginning in 1983, says a study that came out Monday. In sum, where you live makes a difference in how long you can expect to live.

Commission to Study Outside Health Factors

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 16:41:00 GMT

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has created a two-year Commission to Build a Healthier America to focus on factors outside of medicine to improve health in the short and long term.

Florida Times-Union: Bad Food, Not Just Hunger, Is Literally Killing The Poor

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 22:03:00 GMT

According to the Duval County Health Department study, "Place Matters," people who live in the urban core are more likely to die from heart disease and diabetes - maladies that are directly related to diet and lack of access to foods that don't cause high blood pressure and obesity.

Newsweek: What's Race Got To Do With It?

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 18:29:00 GMT

We're all the products of our environment and our genes. But when it comes to health, which factor is the trump card? Would a woman with a family propensity for ovarian cancer avoid coming down with the disease if she were raised on a macrobiotic diet in pollution-free rural North Dakota? Or on the flip side, could a white woman adopted from a middle-class family in Idaho into a poor Hispanic family in New York suddenly become vulnerable to diabetes or asthma?

Just Why Are We Sick?

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:47:00 GMT

A documentary series that has been airing on KET on consecutive Thursdays since March 27, presents some startling evidence that our socio-economic status as well as racial inequities can cause problems with our health. Unnatural Causes: Is Inequality Making Us Sick? investigates findings that belie conventional understanding of what causes us to be healthy or chronically ill.

San Francisco Chronicle: PBS to air study on link between money, health

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 18:20:00 GMT

Unnatural Causes: Is Inequality Making Us Sick?, a four-part PBS series that explores why social factors - economic status, race, neighborhood conditions - can be more powerful predictors of health and life expectancy than biology or even some behaviors such as smoking.

USA Today: Can Wealth Affect Health

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 18:12:00 GMT

Unnatural Causes: Is Inequality Making Us Sick? concludes that, contrary to popular belief, your health is not just the sum of your genes, your health habits and the quality of your health insurance plan. Your income, education and race matter; so does your address, your job title and the status your parents had when you were small.

New York Times: Gap in Life Expectancy Widens for the Nation

Mon, 24 Mar 2008 13:41:00 GMT

New government research has found “large and growing” disparities in life expectancy for richer and poorer Americans, paralleling the growth of income inequality in the last two decades.

Associated Press: New Report Details Health Challenges Facing Urban Indians

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 21:17:00 GMT

Rich or poor, American Indians in cities across the country are facing startling health challenges unlike those of any other urban population, according to a new study of federal data.

Brownsville Herald: Study: McAllen Area Hispanic Children Have Fewer Opportunities

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 21:08:00 GMT

In the March/April issue of the journal Health Affairs, researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health conclude that the McAllen metropolitan area is one of the five worst regions of the country in its proportion of Latino children who live in "low-opportunity" neighborhoods compared to white children. Low-opportunity neighborhoods tend to have fewer grocery stores with fresh produce, poorer schools, fewer parks and playgrounds and higher crime rates than high-opportunity neighborhoods, said lead researcher Dolores Acevedo-Garcia. Those factors contribute to children's overall health as they grow up, she said.

Financial Times: US society helping to make people sicker

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 20:41:00 GMT

Americans should be living four years longer at current rates of healthcare spending, signaling that US society is helping to make people sicker, a report on health inequality said on Thursday.

Washington Post: Very Premature Babies Don't Get Follow-Up Care

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 20:39:00 GMT

A groundbreaking study reports that most very low birth-weight babies born to low-income women failed to get critical follow-up care within their first two years of life.

Washington Examiner: Study: Race, location play roles in life expectancy

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 20:39:00 GMT

Black Americans are more likely than whites to die from a host of illnesses, from diabetes to heart disease and cancer, a new report says. And where you live may be an even bigger factor than race, wealth or education in determining life expectancy, disease outcomes and other health issues, says the report, released Thursday by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

New York Times : Council Vote for Good Health May Weaken Business at Groceries in Poor Neighborhoods

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 20:38:00 GMT

They are fixtures of New York City life: sidewalk peddlers and the grocers who try to shoo them away from their storefronts. The City Council grudgingly added to that time-honored clash on Wednesday, approving a bill that will increase the number of fruit and vegetable carts in the city’s poor neighborhoods.

The new health math: < education = < life

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 13:22:00 GMT

A new report from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), Overcoming Obstacles to Health, codifies the relationship between socioeconomics and health. Health disparities go way beyond simple race and ethnicity categories -- the combination of income, education, wealth, and neighborhood conditions could be more useful in explaining differences in Americans' health status.

CQ HealthBeat: New Commission Will Study Non-Medical Health Factors

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 13:19:00 GMT

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) recently announced the creation of a new national commission to study the impact of issues outside the health care system that affect individuals’ well being. (Subscription Required)

Commission to Build a Healthier America Launched

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 19:32:00 GMT

RWJF Launches Commission to Look Beyond Medical Care System to Improve the Health of All Americans.

WebMD: Social Factors Affect Americans' Health

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 15:20:00 GMT

While the presidential candidates are busy debating how to reform health insurance, a group of experts says it's going to find out what makes Americans sick before they ever get to the doctor.

Launch Media Kit

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 00:29:00 GMT

Download a complete packet of Commission launch media materials.

Lack of equity in health care for minority children in America

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 17:37:00 GMT

There is a lack of equity in health care for minority children in America, according to data gathered in a nationwide survey and analyzed by a UT Southwestern Medical Center researcher.