Through the use of evidence-based strategies and interventions, Healthy Jacksonville works in a collaborative effort to influence the social determinants of health and move Duval County toward achieving health equity. Healthy Jacksonville values building strategic partnerships across a variety of sectors. In order to build healthy communities, we must work together across disciplines and sectors to improve the health of everyone in Duval County.

Where we live, work, learn, and play significantly impacts our health and well-being. The social determinants of health most closely tied to health outcomes include income, employment, education, and other socioeconomic opportunities. People tend to live longer, healthier lives when they live in neighborhoods that make the healthy choice the easy choice. A place-based approach to chronic disease prevention and health promotion focuses on creating healthy neighborhoods so that all residents have the opportunity to reach their full health potential.

Not everyone in Duval County has the same opportunity to live a long, healthy life. For example, census tract 122 (Hillcrest neighborhood) and census tract 126.02 (Hyde Park neighborhood) on the Westside of Duval County had the highest number of infant deaths from 2012-2016, with a combined total of 27 deaths during this time period. In addition, when compared with county-level data, these two neighborhoods had higher levels of poverty, unemployment, and crime, and lower levels of educational attainment, insurance coverage, and household income. When building a community in which all residents can achieve optimal health, it is important to focus on populations with higher rates of preventable health conditions and on neighborhoods with fewer opportunities for good health. Addressing the root causes of poor health, such as social, economic, and environmental factors, ensures that all people have the same opportunity to reach their full health potential.

Healthy Jacksonville works to improve the health of all residents of Duval County by focusing on initiatives that advance health equity, adopt a place-based approach, and build strategic partnerships in the community.