Creating healthy communities requires active citizens with resources to address problems, leadership support, and adequate healthcare. Successful community health strategies address core issues, have measurable goals, and are practical and sustainable. The CDC helps communities by providing grants, technical assistance, and connecting communities to share best practices and document progress.

1. Creating Community Health:
Keys to Success
Jennifer D. Seymour, PhD
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
SOAR Strategy Summit 2015
May 11, 2015
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity

3. Critical Assets for a Healthy
Community
 Active and engaged citizens with the data, strategies, and
resources to address problems
 Leadership support
 Adequate health care infrastructure
• Address acute care needs
• Reinforce community health strategies

4. Elements of Successful Community
Health Strategies
 Address problems, not just symptoms
 Have multiple goals – jobs, environment, health, education
 Have measureable goals
• Maintain accountability
• Provide ability to evaluate and adjust
• Give reasons to celebrate
 Are feasible, practical, sustainable, and meet communities
where they are

8. How CDC Helps Communities
 Supports states
 Provides technical assistance
 Provides grants
• Coalition building
• Technical support
• Strategy implementation
 Connects communities across the country
 Documents progress and what works
 Coordinates with other federal and state agencies
 Helps communities develop sustainable programs

10. For more information please contact Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30333
Telephone: 1-800-CDC-INFO (232-4636)/TTY: 1-888-232-6348
Visit: www.cdc.gov | Contact CDC at: 1-800-CDC-INFO or www.cdc.gov/info
The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity