Lyon County, Nevada Region Selected as Finalist for RWJF Culture of Health Prize

Lyon County, Nevada Region Selected as Finalist for RWJF Culture of Health Prize

  

Community Health Efforts Recognized as Lyon County Region Advances in Prize Selection Process

The Lyon County, Nevada community has been chosen as a finalist for the RWJF Culture of Health Prize given by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. “Selected from nearly 200 applicants, these RWJF Culture of Health Prize finalists recognize what it takes to build a healthy community. They have set themselves apart with innovation grounded in evidence; partnerships across non-profit, education, business, and local government sectors, among others; and an unrelenting commitment to all residents having an opportunity to lead their healthiest lives” said Richard Besser, MD, RWJF president and CEO. “We now look forward to visiting these finalist communities to learn more about their work and to help spread their ideas and solutions throughout America.”

 As a finalist, the Lyon County community is one step closer to the national Prize which honors communities that understand health is a shared value and everyone has a role to play in making sure good health flourishes for all.

“It’s so exciting to advance as a RWJF Culture of Health Prize finalist community. It is an honor for the Lyon County community to be acknowledged for our beautiful dream of true collaboration, where everybody has something to give,” said Wendy Madson, Executive Director of Healthy Communities Coalition of Lyon and Storey Counties. “Whether it’s law enforcement, health care providers, farmers, social workers, volunteers, county/state/federal/tribal staff, innovative teachers, school administrators, or students, our region has shown a unique willingness to partner in order to move that dream forward. TOGETHER we are a wonderful example of the power of ‘collective enoughness.’”

The Lyon County community joins nine other finalist communities from across the U.S. Edrie LaVoie, Director of Lyon County Human Services, said, "What an honor it is to advance as a RWJF Culture of Health Prize finalist community and to have the opportunity to showcase the many, many diverse and collective efforts to improve the health of Lyon County."

If selected as a Prize winner, the Lyon County community will be given a $25,000 cash prize and a national platform to share their story and lessons learned with the country. The community will also be part of a national network of past Prize winners. Winners will be announced this fall.

Wayne Workman, Superintendent of the Lyon County School District, noted, "We are pleased to advance as one of the RWJF Culture of Health Prize finalist communities. More than ever before the families of Lyon County are receiving health and wellness care previously believed unattainable. Students and families are even receiving services in our schools and that ultimately helps remove some of the key barriers to student learning.”

The Prize is guided by the principle that every community has the potential to leverage its unique strengths and be a healthier place for residents to live and thrive. To earn finalist status, the Lyon County community had to demonstrate how their 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.

Harnessing the collective power of leaders, partners, and community members.

Securing and making the most of available resources.

Measuring and sharing progress and results.

 "Advancing as a RWJF Culture of Health Prize finalist community means recognition of the great work many teams have been doing to help all people thrive in the Lyon County region,” said Shaun Griffin of Community Chest.  “No one does this work alone - together they have helped this community flourish."

To learn about the work of the 35 previous Prize winners, visit www.rwjf.org/prize

The RWJF Culture of Health Prize is a collaboration between the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute.