b'Message from the ChairpersonsOn behalf of the Council for a Healthier In the spring of 2006, Cheshire Medical Center/ Community, I am pleased to introduce this plan Dartmouth-Hitchcock Keene (CMC/DHK)for the Cheshire County healthiest community challenged Cheshire County to become thein the nation initiativeVision 2020. For the healthiest community in the nation by thepast year Council membership has deliberated year 2020, and named the challenge Vision 2020.in work groups that aligned with the five target Recognizing that the success of the projectareas of Vision 2020. This document presents a required a true sense of community ownershipsummary of our work and discoveries. But more and commitment, CMC/DHK engaged theimportantly it offers a challenge to our Council for a Healthier Community to overseecommunity to focus on health and well-being this community-wide initiative. as individuals, families, organizations,With the Councils leadership we examinedneighborhoods, and towns. information about our current state of health asWe know we have many programs and resources in our community that arewell as aspects of our economy and environment that can be consideredcritical for improving and sustaining health. We have learned we have manydeterminants of health. We identified five overarching target areas in which things yet to do to reach our goals. This document offers suggestions for howto focus our work: health status, health literacy and communication, health we may move Vision 2020 forward. care access, wellness, and social capital and we recommended indicators tomeasure our progress in becoming the healthiest community.As members of the Council, we made a commitment to engaging the But Vision 2020 is really about a culture change, and well know our communities within our communitytoward developing, nurturing, and community is moving toward a culture of health when:sustaining collaborative working relationships. We will continue tospearhead our community efforts by convening key stakeholders to reviewOur health and well-being indicators are consistently the highestand assess progress, integrate this initiative with other community-based in the nation.efforts, and promote the goals of Vision 2020. Our community members view health care professionals as partners in health and they rely upon a broad array of resources, includingI invite you to join us in leading our community to becoming the healthiest themselves and their community, for health maintenance and prevention.in the nation by the year 2020.Our community members are systematically and continually engaged in creating the conditions necessary for being the healthiest they can be.Tom Link, Chair, Council for a Healthier CommunityPlease join with the Vision 2020 Steering Committee in making a commitment to take steps toward a culture of health.Don Caruso, M.D., Chair, Vision 2020 Steering Committee4 Engaging Our Community In Health88222_CMC2.indd 6 2/1/10 12:26 PM'