The 2018 County Health Rankings shows Barry County ranking 10th out of Michigan’s 83 counties in overall health, and 15th for health factors, putting the county in the top 15 percent of counties, according to a Barry Eaton District Health Department news release.
Rankings are based on population health that focuses on many factors that, if improved, can help make communities healthier.
Health outcomes are based on the sickness and death in a county; health factors are based on measures that can affect future health. The report can be used to build on successes and encourage community leaders to create programs and policy changes in areas that need improvement.
The county ranked 6th in the area of social and economic factors; education, income and poverty, household and social structures, crime, and injuries.
The Barry County Great Start Collaborative is working to increase social support to parents, reduce child poverty and increase school readiness to improve educational outcomes. Visit http://www.greatstartbarry.org/ for more information.
The county ranked 27th, or at medium risk for poor health in areas of smoking, obesity, and physical inactivity, showing that more needs to be done to improve health behaviors and physical environment. Potential ways to do this are by stepping up efforts to help residents quit tobacco; prevent obesity; improve access to dentists, mental health, primary care providers and increase opportunities for physical activity.
At 61st, the county ranked poorly for physical environment, which includes measures of air pollution, drinking water violations, severe housing problems, and motor vehicle driving commutes. It was partly driven by below average measures of air pollution and the percentage of commuters who drive alone and who have a long commute.
Steps are being taken to improve the health of county residents. The B. Healthy Coalition is working to prevent and control obesity and chronic disease through policy and environmental change and to increase awareness of healthy lifestyles.
For more, visit http://www.behealthybarrycounty.com/.
The Barry County Tobacco Reduction Coalition has a strategic plan to improve the health of Barry County by reducing exposure to tobacco, cigarettes, and environmental tobacco smoke. For more, contact Lauren Cibor at (517) 541-2624.
The Barry County Substance Abuse Task Force is focused on improving health by reducing the negative effects of alcohol and substance misuse and prescription drug misuse. For more, visit www.barrycountysatf.com/.
Everyone in the community has a stake in being healthy. Working together, Barry County residents can make their community a healthier place to live, learn, work, and play. For more on the rankings, visit www.countyhealthrankings.org.
