Lawrence, Massachusetts, a city that has struggled with poverty and poor health, is now a Culture of Health Prize winner due in part to state policies that bolster the city’s efforts to advance health equity and address social needs. These supportive state policies include guidelines governing the local hospital’s community health needs assessments, its community benefits investments, and its determination of need spending. The Mayor’s Health Task Force works closely with community partners and braids funding from a variety of sources to improve the social and economic factors that affect health. The city’s innovative work and longstanding partnerships offer a blueprint for cities and states interested in unlocking the potential of community-centered, multi-sector partnerships.
Support for this work was provided by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the foundation.
