What is COHAF?
The Culture of Health (COH) is a national initiative that aims to incorporate the concept of health into all aspects of our society. It was developed by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the RAND Corporation in collaboration with many stakeholders, including key leaders in healthcare, industry, government and local communities. The COH framework is based on the premise that individual and community health is the outcome of the interplay among many factors, including families, our education system, the media, housing, the social, economic and physical environments, government, local policing, and industry.
What defines health? Health will always be linked to health care, but also connects to work, family, community life, and a sense of place where we live, learn, work and play.
Imagine a culture that empowers everyone to live the healthiest lives that they can, even when they are dealing with chronic illness or other constraints.
Building a COH means recognizing that while our economic, geographic, or social circumstances may differ, we all aspire to lead the best lives that we can.
An action framework has been developed that serves as a kind of strategy roadmap for achieving a COH in America. We are not there yet, but using the COH framework will help us on our journey.
The 4 Action Areas encourage approaches that build stronger connections between treatment and factors outside of healthcare that influence how long and well we live. Many Americans don’t have access to an equal measure of choices and opportunities for healthy lifestyles. These actions work to increase opportunities in education, housing, and community development to make good health available to all.
Each module will provide an overview of each action area using stories from the community, that connect to support a COH in Hawai`i. The components of this framework are not separate. They all interconnect to create a whole.
Imagine a health care system that combines treatment with care, and considers the life needs of individuals, families, and communities, inside and outside the clinic.