Sarasota County health ranking reaches No. 3

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin released 2012 County Health Rankings that show Sarasota County moved up this year from No. 4 to No. 3 on the list. Sarasota County ranked third out of the 67 counties statewide.

This is the third in a series of annual reports that rank counties nationwide on health outcomes and health behaviors. This year’s report is available for viewing on www.countyhealthrankings.org.

The report shows how Sarasota County ranks on factors that influence its overall health ranking.

“We were pleased that Sarasota County’s health ranking improved overall,” said Sarasota County Health Department Administrator Chuck Henry, in a news release. “This year’s overall third-place ranking among Florida’s 67 counties affirms that Sarasota County is a great place to work, live and raise our families.”

The study, though, said the county must work on its mental-health programs to further bolster its health score in future years.

For more information about the local health rankings, call 861-2852.

Contact Kurt Schultheis at [email protected].