Healthy Communities

Fairfax County is committed to providing equitable access to affordable healthcare and healthy living opportunities, allowing all residents to attain their full health potential. Health and well-being are influenced by a wide range of social and economic factors, health behaviors, access to services and environmental quality. For some people, the essential elements for a healthy life are readily available; for others, the opportunities for healthy choices are significantly limited.

It is important to recognize that disparities exist, and have been highlighted and exacerbated by the recent pandemic, especially for people of color who are at a higher risk of COVID-19 due to a multitude of related issues. These include a greater likelihood of underlying health conditions that make some residents more prone to contracting the virus, higher rates of employment in public-facing service jobs, and residing in high-density, multifamily living units which contribute to the spread of communicable diseases.

The strategies in this section seek to advance equitable health outcomes by examining what specific changes in the social determinants of health, the community, and healthy living resources can be made to improve health and wellness for all, especially those who are most vulnerable and have been disproportionately affected, including older adults and children.

Note: The Environment and Energy community outcome area was originally combined with Healthy Communities, but these two areas were separated to ensure adequate focus on each. Therefore, one of the first steps of the implementation process will be to crosswalk the following proposed strategies with countywide plans that are focused on community health, and to make necessary adjustments to ensure total integration and alignment of related work. 

The Healthy Communities dashboard focuses on metrics that Fairfax County Government leaders have reviewed and selected to be monitored throughout the implementation of the Countywide Strategic Plan and to inform decision-making. The dashboard provides analysis of the data in a “story behind the numbers” with contextual details to help its users understand the figures and their trends, as well as any implications and importance of the health topics covered. The Healthy Communities dashboard highlights any health outcome disparities across the various segments of the County’s population.

The Live Healthy Fairfax Community Health Dashboard (CHD) has been in existence for several years and contains a wider range of metrics than the Healthy Communities dashboard. The CHD also includes data for the cities of Fairfax and Falls Church, the Fairfax Health District and the Northern Virginia region, where available. While the Community Health Dashboard offers links to best practices and data sources, no analytical contextual information or “story” are featured. 

These strategies were formulated based on the comprehensive work of the Countywide Strategic Planning Teams. Please note that the strategies have been reorganized to align with their respective Indicators of Community Success, and some have been revised or combined for clarity. Strategies marked with an asterisk (*) include recommendations from the Chairman's Task Force on Equity and Opportunity. To view the original strategies, visit the archived documents. 

BOLDED strategies have been identified for implementation and will move ahead to action planning.

Access to Health Services

• HC 1. Integrate considerations of health, well-being and equity into the development, implementation and evaluation of land use, transportation and housing policies and ordinances.
• HC 2. Attract health service providers to underserved geographic areas by incentivizing the provision of care that is culturally and linguistically appropriate, accessible, high quality and affordable.
• HC 3. Explore innovative financing mechanisms to bolster the flexibility, scalability and sustainability of community health and wellness initiatives

Improving Physical and Behavioral Health Conditions

• HC 4. Identify barriers to accessing health services for residents in need and align county and community resources to address the underlying factors contributing.
• HC 5. Foster individual and family resiliency to withstand, adapt to and recover from chronic stress and adverse experiences through early intervention, prevention and trauma-informed care.
• HC 6. Increase capacity and access to behavioral health and developmental disability services in collaboration with community partners through trauma informed prevention and education efforts, vital services and supports, and expanded treatment and service options.    
• * HC 7. Establish a forum, in collaboration with healthcare, county government, schools, and community organizations, to implement data-driven, place-based strategies that improve access and health outcomes for underserved groups, address underutilization and barriers to health service access, integrate delivery of health services and align resources to eliminate service gaps.

Promoting Health-Related Behaviors

• HC 8. Create healthier environments on county properties through health-promoting policies and encouraging the use of county properties for active recreational use.
• HC 9.  Promote healthy eating by implementing policies and initiatives that increase access to fresh, affordable and nutritious food options, especially in the geographic areas of the county with the highest rates of food insecurity.
• HC 10. Implement a comprehensive, coordinated, evidence-based healthy living campaign that is tailored to reach, inform, educate, and motivate people to increase health-promoting behavior across all communities.
• HC 11. Create walkable, bikeable, transit-oriented, dense, mixed-use and connected places that make inviting and vibrant communities with opportunities for recreation and active living for individuals of all ages and abilities.