2022 County Health Rankings Released

Southern Nevada Health District presents findings at community event

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 27, 2022

LAS VEGAS — Clark County ranks 6th healthiest in Nevada according to the annual County Health Rankings. The County Health Rankings are released each year using data from the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute (UWPHI) and are available at www.countyhealthrankings.org.

The Southern Nevada Health District presented the findings for Clark County at a community event today held in conjunction with partners from the Nevada Public Health Institute and Larsen Institute.

The County Rankings provide a snapshot of local health data that demonstrate where people live influences how well they live and how long they live. The Rankings allow each state to see how its counties compare on a range of factors that influence health, including education, access to health and mental health care, the physical environment, social and economic factors, smoking, access to healthy foods and more. This year, seven new actionable measures were introduced for local communities to consider. These measures include:

COVID-19 Age-Adjusted mortality
Living Wages
Childcare Cost Burden
Childcare Centers
Gender Pay Gap
School Funding Adequacy
School Segregation

Among the many findings the Rankings reveal is that in Clark County, a family with two children spends an average of 30 percent of its household income on childcare. The burden childcare costs can have on a family becomes even more stark when examining the differences in household income by race and ethnicity. In Clark County, a Black family has a median household income of $41,900 while a White family has a median income of $69,000 and an Asian family of $70,200.

“The findings of the County Health Rankings relate directly to and complement the ongoing efforts of the Health District and our partners,” said Dr. Fermin Leguen, District Health Officer of the Health District. “In August 2021, we released the Community Health Assessment, an in-depth analysis conducted in collaboration with community organizations and individuals. We looked at the community’s health-related needs and strengths as well as resources available to address and improve health outcomes in Clark County,” said Dr. Leguen.

The Community Health Assessment (CHA) is designed to inform the public and stakeholders about the health status of Clark County residents and provide guidance for making shared decisions for improving the public health status of the community. Findings are used to identify strategic priorities and the development of a Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP). This plan guides Health District and community partner activities and interventions through the next three to five years.

During a stakeholder meeting held in October 2021, four priority areas were identified. The priority areas take into account how many people are impacted directly or indirectly, and the cost to the community and the economy. The four priority areas selected include access to health care; chronic disease; funding; and transportation. When discussing the funding priority, unemployment and the lack of dedicated funds for health care, education and other areas that impact quality of life are identified. In the CHA, it was noted that the median household income in Clark County was lower than Nevada and the United States median, data that is also reflected in the Rankings. The CHA further notes that areas with lower household income can be associated with negative health effects ranging from lower life expectancy, increased rates of disease and less access to healthy foods.

The Health District is committed to working with the community to use data and information from sources such as the County Rankings to enhance and improve upon programs, services and policies that are vital to building a healthy community.

The Southern Nevada Health District serves as the local public health authority for Clark County, Boulder City, Henderson, Las Vegas, Mesquite and North Las Vegas. The agency safeguards the public health of the community’s residents and visitors through innovative programs, regulations, and initiatives focused on protecting and promoting their health and well-being. More information about the Health District, its programs, services, and the regulatory oversight it provides is available at www.SNHD.info. Follow the Health District on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.