Miami-Dade County Awarded the 2016, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Culture of Health Prize

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Tallahassee, Fla. — The Florida Department of Health congratulates Miami-Dade County on receiving the 2016 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) Culture of Health Prize. Miami-Dade County is one of seven winners of this national award, which honors communities for their efforts to ensure all residents have the opportunity to live longer, healthier and more productive lives. 

“I want to congratulate Miami-Dade County on their significant accomplishments in health that have led to their selection for this national honor,” said State Surgeon General and Secretary Dr. Celeste Philip. “This prestigious RWJF award demonstrates the excellent collaboration between the county, our local health department, and various community partners in working toward solutions for improving the health of all residents.”

Chosen from nearly 200 applicant communities across the country, Miami-Dade County’s award-winning efforts include:

• The collaborative effort to form the “ Consortium for a Healthier Miami-Dade,” under the leadership of the Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County. The intent of the Consortium is to develop strategies that will combat the two most prevalent causes of chronic disease in the county: tobacco use and obesity.

• Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department for Miami-Dade County (PROS) and the University of Miami Health System teamed up to create the Fit2Play program, in 31 parks, where children learn the fundamentals of a healthy lifestyle, including nutrition, physical exercise and environmental awareness. They also receive homework assistance.

• PROS, in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Public Schools, led the Fit2Lead Youth Enrichment and Sports (YES) program, which focuses on developing leadership through sports fundamentals and providing academic support tailored to the child’s instructional needs.

• Miami Children’s Initiative, modeled after the Harlem Children’s Zone, provides a “cradle-to-college” support system for children in Liberty City, to provide quality education, health care, youth development programs and employment opportunities.

Learn more about Miami-Dade County’s work, as well as this year’s other prize winners through a collection videos, photos and more at www.rwjf.org/Prize.

About the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

For more than 40 years the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has worked to improve health and health care. We are working with others to build a national Culture of Health enabling everyone in America to live longer, healthier lives. For more information, visit www.rwjf.org Follow the Foundation on Twitter at www.rwjf.org/twitteror on Facebook atwww.rwjf.org/facebook.

About the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute

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. A focal point for health and health care dialogue within the University of Wisconsin-Madison and beyond, and a convener of stakeholders, the Institute promotes an exchange of expertise between those in academia and those in the policy and practice arena. The Institute leads the work on the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps and the RWJF Culture of Health Prize. For more information, visit http://uwphi.pophealth.wisc.edu.

About the Florida Department of Health

The department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

Follow us on Twitter at  @HealthyFla and on  Facebook. For more information about the Florida Department of Health please visit  www.FloridaHealth.gov.