The County Health Rankings and Roadmaps (CHR) report for 2024 has identified Montgomery County, Frederick County, and Howard County as some of the healthiest counties in the United States. This report focuses on the concept of civic health and how civic participation can impact overall well-being. It emphasizes the importance of civic infrastructure and spaces that allow for connection and information sharing, such as access to local news, broadband internet, and public libraries.

The CHR is a collaboration between the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Each year, the CHR compares counties within each state across more than 30 factors that influence health outcomes. These factors include social determinants like education, employment, housing, physical activity, and daily commute times. Based on these criteria, Montgomery, Frederick, and Howard counties have been recognized as leaders in health outcomes not just in Maryland but across the entire country.

The CHR report highlights how structural barriers like policies, laws, and practices can hinder participation in activities like voting and worker unionizing. To improve overall health outcomes, it recommends addressing these barriers by promoting policies that support civic engagement such as increasing access to affordable healthcare services or providing better transportation options for low-income communities.

For more detailed information on the rankings and key takeaways from the 2024 CHR report visit the County Health Rankings and Roadmaps website. You can also access specific data on health outcomes for each of these top-performing counties: Howard County