September 4, 2014 - Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://onforb.es/1nVaoTa. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwitunes or on Stitcher by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwstitcher. A new collaboration between the American Heart Association (AHA, for brevity’s sake) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (similarly, RWJF) aims to build a culture of health in America. The initiative assumes a broader need for change than simply tweaking the healthcare system, massive as that task would be, in order to create an environment where Americans not only have access to healthcare, but also to healthy food and where people support one another in making healthy choices. Together, the AHA and RWJF are working to accomplish several objectives: Abundant access to healthy food Safe access to opportunities for physical activity Environments for eating, shopping and working that are smoke-free Support from peers for making healthy choices Greater access to quality healthcare The AHA has a specific and related goal to improve cardiovascular healthy by 20% and reduce mortality from cardiovascular disease and stroke by 20% by 2020. A spokesperson for the RWJF explained, “At RWJF we know that health is influenced by education, housing, income, and numerous other factors outside of health care. This acknowledgement drives much of our work to build a national Culture of Health that will enable all Americans to live longer and healthier lives, now and for generations to come. Among our broad areas of focus are: healthy weight for all children; high quality, cost effective health care coverage for all; improving the lives and opportunities of the nation’s most vulnerable populations; pioneering ideas, technologies and trends that can transform health and health care; and educating health care practitioners for the 21st Century.”
#107: Nonprofits Partner To Foster Culture Of Health