The 2015 County Health Rankings and Roadmaps document was recently released, and Riley County was selected as #1, as the healthiest county in Kansas. Since 2010, the county has ranked #1 and #2 for quality of life. On health factors, the county has averaged 6.5, but ranked 12th in 2014 and 11th in 2015.
This information was provided by County Health Department Director, Brenda Nickel during Monday’s county commission meeting. During the press conference portion of the meeting, Nickel shared how these results are compiled and what her department uses these figures for.
She said the department uses the rankings to identify areas where the county is doing well and where they could improve. The department hopes to focus on reducing the percentage of infants born with a low birth weight. They also will work to improve access to healthy foods and increase exercise opportunities.
The rankings are a collaboration of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute’s information.
On Thursday, community members from the county will present at the 2015 County Health Rankings Luncheon at the Kansas Health Institute in Topeka. Some of the presenters include County Commissioner, Robert Boyd and President and CEO of the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation, Vern Henricks.
