Palm Beach County has been chosen as a finalist for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Culture of Health Prize. As a 2021 finalist, Palm Beach County is one step closer to the national prize, which honors communities working at the forefront of advancing health, opportunity, and equity for all.
The Palm Beach County Youth Services Department, Palm Health Foundation and Children's Services Council of Palm Beach County collaborated on the application process for the prize that shared the county's collective commitment to the social determinants of health, including Birth to 22: United for Brighter Futures, an alliance of over 300 organizations supporting the healthy growth, development and education of children and youth prenatally through young adulthood.
To get to this stage, communities had to showcase the work and collaboration happening across sectors to expand health opportunities for residents. To become a finalist, Palm Beach County had to demonstrate how its efforts reflect the six prize criteria:
- Defining health in the broadest possible terms
- Committing to sustainable systems changes and policy-oriented long-term solutions
- Creating conditions that give everyone a fair and just opportunity to reach their best possible health
- Maximizing the collective power of leaders, partners, and community members
- Securing and making the most of available resources
- Measuring and sharing progress and results
“The coordination in our community as exhibited through the Birth to 22 Alliance has been extraordinary," said Youth Services Department Director Tammy K. Fields.
If selected as a winner, Palm Beach County will receive a $25,000 prize and a national platform to share its story and lessons learned. The community will join with and learn from other national and community change leaders, including past prize-winning communities.
Palm Beach County is one of nine finalist communities nationally. Winners will be announced this fall.