Updated 2/17 6:30 p.m.

One local county receives quite the wakeup call today as a new study paints a very grim picture of an alarming trend across the area.

Taylor County resident Joe Sistrunk is tagging along with a woman who's helping him because he says he's on the verge of being homeless.

Sistrunk said, "I'm cleaning her yard just to keep a roof over my head. No money; and it's just real frustrating and nerve-racking having to get out here to beat the pavement every day to try to find some work that you know is not here."

Sistrunk has been looking for a job for two years.

So, he's not surprised to hear that the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute's new report says Taylor County is ranked 60 out Florida's 67 counties when it comes to social and economic factors such as education and employment.

The report takes a complete look at community health problems and factors.

Taylor County resident Billie Roberts Byrd said, "I don't think it's any worse here than it is other places."

The report indicates it is.

Taylor County's overall health outcomes ranking is 52.
Suwannee County's is 48; Franklin County 31; Wakulla County 22 and Leon County is number eight.

Taylor County's poorest ranking in the report is for health behaviors. It's 66 out of 67 for smoking, obesity, and binge drinking.

"I think people that smoke, that's their business. They know what it does to then\m and if they want to continue, let them go ahead and smoke." Said, Byrd.

Taylor County is ranked 50 for clinical care.

Taylor County resident Elouise Pouncey said, "We have all the doctors on staff to help us at all the facilities.They really help us a heap."

Thomas County's overall ranking for health outcomes is 92 out of Georgia's 157 counties and Lowndes is ranked 56.

There are some area counties in Florida that did ranked higher than Taylor's 52.

Hamilton County is 58, Gadsden 62, and Madison 63.

Lowndes County officials say they're continuing to work on high infant mortatlity rates through the Baby LUV program and Taylor County has programs like "Taylor County Walks."

Residents say they feel they are more health conscience and say they hope to do better.

To see the results of any county and for more information on the County Health Rankings visit www.countyhealthrankings.org.

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Press Release:

Across the nation, health rankings were released today on a county by county level by the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute.

The report was released to serve as a call to action for communities to understand the health problems in their area, get more people involved
in improving the health of their community and to recognize the factors outside of medical care that influence your health.

According to Dr. Lynne Feldman, District Health Director, this report takes a broader look at health, including such areas as air quality, community safety and employment.

Local Public Health Officials want to take this opportunity to increase awareness of health problems throughout South Georgia and to encourage more people to become involved in improving the health of their community.

Feldman continued, “Counties should look at this report as a snapshot of their overall health. The objective of the County Health Rankings is to generate discussion on what can be done to improve the community’s health.”

South Health District produces County Health Profiles annually to spotlight health factors in each county that need improvement, while spotlighting other health factors that counties exceed at. Through the profiles, local Boards of Health have been able to pinpoint areas of health concern in their communities and create an effective way of improving health outcomes.

For example:
• Lowndes County continues to work on high infant mortality rates through the Baby LUV program.

• Ben Hill, Berrien, Cook and Irwin Counties are working on the awareness of diabetes through the Sweet Dreams project, due to the high rate of uncontrolled diabetes in their communities.

• In 2008, the Cook County Board of Health, along with physicians in the community,established an Indigent Care Clinic to serve people in their community with limited or no access to medical care.

“We hope the County Health Rankings, along with the County Health Profiles, will draw more people’s attention to the areas of health improvement needed in each county in South Georgia,” says Feldman. “We need to work as communities to improve our overall health.”

For more information on the County Health Rankings visit www.countyhealthrankings.org.
For more information on a county’s health in the South Health District call the District Office at
229-333-5370 or visit www.southhealthdistrict.com and select your local health department.