Somerset County Named Second Healthiest County in New Jersey

SOMERVILLE – Somerset County Freeholder Director Mark Caliguire announced on Wednesday (March 25) that Somerset County has been ranked the second-healthiest county in New Jersey in an annual nationwide survey conducted by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation in collaboration with the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute. This is the county’s second year as second-healthiest county.

Somerset County ranked first among New Jersey counties for healthy behaviors, which include low rates of adult smoking and obesity as well as access to exercise opportunities. The county was also recognized in second place for length of life and access to clinical care.

“Promoting good health provides major benefits for everyone who lives and works in Somerset County,” said Freeholder Director Caliguire. “This recognition reflects the efforts taken by the county and its partners to prioritize personal and community health. We will continue to pursue partnerships and support community initiatives that will improve the lives of our residents.”

The “County Health Rankings” project seeks to compare counties throughout the state and nation on a variety of factors that can influence personal and community health. This research highlights the healthiest and least healthy counties in each state, taking into account factors such as adult obesity rates, the percentage of people who lack health insurance, education levels, access to exercise opportunities and the percentage of fast-food restaurants.

According to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the primary purpose of issuing these rankings is to foster engagement among public- and private-decision makers to improve community health.

The Somerset County Department of Health attributes the health-status achievements to ongoing community initiatives such as Healthier Somerset and several long-standing public health collaborations with organizations such as the Greater Somerset Public Health Partnership and area hospitals: Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and Saint Peter’s University Hospital.

Somerset County has promoted programs to expand walking and biking trails, increase open space, and increase utilization of alternative energy and green design. These initiatives address key issues in the 2012 Somerset County Community Health Improvement Plan and the 2013 Middlesex and Somerset Counties Community Health Improvement Plan, which identified areas of health concern and opportunities for improvement in Somerset County. Additional regional collaborations with Morris County and Middlesex County have resulted in efforts to establish ordinances that promote community health, such as smoke-free parks and “Complete Streets” that enable access for all users.

For the full report, click here.

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