Cumberland County improved from 69th in North Carolina for 2020 to 55th for 2021 in the County Health Rankings released by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. In overall health factors, the county improved from 73 to 56 in the state.

The County Health Rankings are based on a model of community health that emphasizes the many factors that influence how long and how well citizens live. The rankings use more than 30 different types of measurements that help communities understand how healthy residents are today and what will impact their health in the future. 

The Cumberland County Board of Health uses this data, along with the data from the Community Health Assessment and the State of the County Health Report, to determine strategic priorities for the Cumberland County Department of Public Health. These priorities are used to create the goals and activities which are outlined in the Cumberland County Department of Public Health Strategic Plan.

“We are pleased that Cumberland County is trending in the right direction. The Public Health Department is among many agencies in the community that work to make these improvements every day,” said Cumberland County Health Director Dr. Jennifer Green.  “With these partnerships, we can continue to move the needle in the right direction.”

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) is the nation’s largest philanthropy dedicated to solely to health. They fund a wide array of research and initiatives to help address some of America’s most pressing health challenges. Since 1972, RWJF has supported research and programs targeting some of America’s health issues from substance abuse to improving access to quality health care.

The University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute advances health and well-being for all by developing and evaluating interventions and promoting evidence-based approaches to policy and practice at the local, state, and national levels. The Institute works across the full spectrum of factors that contribute to health.

Find out more about Cumberland County Department of Health programs by visiting https://www.co.cumberland.nc.us/departments/public-health-group/public-health or about the County Health Ranking model at https://www.countyhealthrankings.org/