You’ll find them in the wealthiest of homes.
You’ll find them in the poorest of homes.
They’re children growing up in cities and suburbs across America.
We have a vision for these children: It’s to make fundamental
changes in their communities so young people can live better, healthier,
safer lives.
Lives filled with hope and dignity.
We believe the path to change goes through knowledge. So the Urban
Health Initiative is about research, understanding and insight.
And applying our knowledge to improve kids’ lives.
Ultimately, we’re interested in what works.
Not just in small, isolated neighborhoods, but throughout entire
metropolitan areas.
That’s why we’re focusing our ten-year effort on five
U.S. cities that offer a range of possibilities: Baltimore, Detroit,
Oakland, Philadelphia and Richmond.
We realize, of course, that a variety of approaches can be effective.
So each city’s campaign is organized and run locally. Each
is given wide latitude in determining how to implement strategies.
We also realize that most successful campaigns have several things
in common. We know, for example, that real change requires strong
leadership and a vision shared by people from all walks of life.
In addition, we know effective campaigns are driven by research,
rely on powerful communications efforts, and are focused on fundamental
change in systems.
Our goal is to help communities work smarter for kids. We’re
already making progress. And it’s only the beginning.
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Urban Health Initiative helps communities work smarter for kids. |
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Funded by the Robert
Wood Johnson Foundation, the UHI's goal is to improve
the health and safety of children. The UHI is a collection
of campaigns in five large U.S. metropolitan areas. Each campaign
is unique, based on local challenges and opportunities, but
all are united by a commitment to help their cities make the
policy and investment decisions that will have the greatest
results for kids.
UHI campaigns are catalysts for change,
not service providers or funders. Each works with partners
inside and outside government to improve the systems—such
as education, juvenile justice, health and recreation - that
serve children. With unwavering resolve and a commitment to
be guided by sound data, UHI campaigns have an ambitious goal:
to improve kids' health and safety statistics throughout an
entire city or metropolitan area.
The UHI seeks revolutionary results for
kids through the thoughtful implementation of practical, systemic
changes that will have lasting, positive impacts on children.
At the same time, UHI campaigns inspire their cities to set
a higher standard for what it means to be a kid-friendly city,
so young people can live better, healthier safer lives --
lives filled with hope and dignity.
The UHI is comprised of these local efforts:
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