WIN MEASURES VOTING PROCESS
The WIN Measures are a set of national and community measures that measure population and community health, well-being, and equity. They were chosen by local communities as well as community-based organizations, federal agencies, and national organizations. These communities represent most sectors that have an impact on health and include community residents with lived experience of racial and other inequities. Rather than having one set of measures for all time, these measures can change over time as we learn from and with communities across the nation.
Thank you for your interest in voting on these important proposed WIN Measure ideas. This series of votes will help us to identify new and updated measures to understand how racial justice and intergenerational well-being affect individuals and our communities so that we can advocate for new ways to achieve opportunities for all people, especially our most vulnerable people.
DEMOGRAPHICS
Demographics describe different qualities, real or socially constructed, of people and places. They help us to understand population patterns based on groupings of people by a common characteristic.
MEANINGFUL WORK AND WEALTH: ECONOMY
What makes a community’s economy vibrant and inclusive? An inclusive economy is about all people being able to have fairly paid, secure, meaningful work. People feel financially secure when they can take care of their basic needs and handle unexpected costs that might come up. When people struggle with financial security, they have less hope, age faster, and die prematurely. Communities that don’t have a healthy economy can find it difficult to attract people to live or work there. This can make it difficult to have enough resources for good schools, parks, roads, and all the other conditions that create well-being. This can lead to a cycle of hopelessness and intergenerational poverty. Additionally, communities where not all people have equitable access to good jobs experience income inequality. Income inequality can lead to poorer health outcomes and higher health care costs.
LIFELONG LEARNING
Additional Information:
What are the benefits of having a strong education system? Education can have a profound effect on health and life outcomes. Do children and adults have a fair and equitable chance to participate in lifelong learning? Are they achieving key milestones that help them succeed in life? When people are able to think critically and engage in the civic life of a community, they not only live longer, but they serve as a critical foundation for democracy and a thriving community.
THRIVING NATURAL WORLD: ENVIRONMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE
How can a community’s environment create well-being? It has to do with whether streets are designed to be safe and enjoyable for those who are walking or biking. It is about the air and water being safe to breathe and drink. It is about having infrastructure like broadband internet to connect people to opportunities. It has to do with the way places and conditions are designed to promote the health and well-being of its residents. It is also about whether there are structures and policies in place, historical or current, that means that people in some neighborhoods may not have a fair chance to thrive.
BASIC NEEDS: HEALTH
Additional Information:
How do we know that people and communities are healthy? Health is about how people are doing in terms of their physical and mental health at every age. It has to do with how people feel they are doing, and whether health stops them from living their life. It is about their health conditions and their health outcomes. It is about both health behaviors and about whether people have access to health services and health insurance. Just as a person and a community’s social well-being can affect their health, health can affect a person’s and a community’s social well-being. Health care costs are the most common cause of bankruptcy in the United States. Rising health care costs have made it difficult for cities and states to invest in education, social services, housing and other areas that would promote a community’s well-being.
BASIC NEEDS: HUMANE HOUSING
What does it mean for a community to have housing that helps people to thrive? It means that people have access to safe, affordable, quality housing that meets their needs. It means that policies and systems are in place so that everyone is able to have access to a good home that supports their mental, physical, social and spiritual well-being. It means that homes promote health and do not predispose someone to illness. Housing is related to both health outcomes and health care costs.
WIN MEASURES TO COME
BELONGING AND CIVIC MUSCLE : COMMUNITY VITALITY
Additional Information:
What makes a community vital? Community vitality is about whether people feel a sense of belonging to the place where they live and whether they feel connected to one another. Do they trust their leaders? Do they engage in community life and participate in decision-making? Do all groups in the community—across racial / ethnic, language, or other social or demographic differences—feel like they belong? These all contribute to whether people want to live in a place. That sense of belonging can, in turn, affect the community’s tax base and resources to support schools, roads, parks, etc. In addition, social isolation has profound effects on the health of people. Some estimate it is the equivalent of smoking one quarter of a pack of cigarettes every day.
BASIC NEEDS: FOOD AND AGRICULTURE
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What does it mean for people and communities to have a food and agriculture system that promotes well-being? It means that people have access to healthy food. “Access” means that healthy food is both available and affordable. A food and agriculture system that promotes well-being also means that people choose to eat healthily. Food can help communities come together and be part of creating a sustainable and healthy regional economy.
BASIC NEEDS: PUBLIC SAFETY
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What makes a community safe? Public safety is about whether people feel safe and whether the community has the conditions it needs to be safe for its residents. Public safety relates to community vitality, economy, education and health.
RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION
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What does it mean for a community to have effective transportation systems? It is about whether people are able to get to their jobs and the amount of time they spend commuting. It is about whether transportation is affordable and everyone can access it. It is about whether the transportation system and infrastructure allow people to live their lives. Transportation is related to everything from job access to healthcare access.
FAQ
