The 2023 County Health Rankings National Findings Report from the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute highlights how civic infrastructure and participation shape community health and equity. It shows that access to inclusive civic spaces—like libraries, schools, and parks—and meaningful opportunities for engagement, from voting to volunteering, are essential for thriving communities. Rural and historically disinvested regions such as the Black Belt, Appalachia, tribal areas, and the U.S.–Mexico border are spotlighted for the structural barriers that diminish both civic health and life expectancy. By linking civic participation to health outcomes, the report underscores the need for investments that repair exclusion and expand opportunity, echoing Aspen CSG’s commitment to fostering community power and equitable rural development.
2023 COUNTY HEALTH RANKINGS
