Atrium Health secured funding from The Duke Endowment’s Healthy People, Healthy Carolinas program to form a coalition in Cleveland County aimed at improving healthcare access and addressing the social and economic factors affecting community health. This initiative, called Healthy Together Cleveland, features a diverse steering committee, community partnerships and work groups comprised of community members. The coalition utilizes health data from various sources to highlight the need for change and drive health improvements in the area.
In January 2023, Healthy Together Cleveland organized five community conversations that drew 117 attendees. These sessions aimed to introduce the coalition, present health data on nutrition, obesity, and physical activity, and engage in discussions to understand the reasons behind Cleveland County’s status as one of North Carolina's least healthy counties. The insights gained from these conversations helped guide the coalition in developing Community Health Improvement Plans and assess community interest in supporting health initiatives.
Healthy Together Cleveland benefits from the active participation of community members and partner organizations. Healthy Together Cleveland has established work groups to address health concerns. Work groups are responsible for establishing action plans and use a community-based approach to addressing physical activity, nutrition and obesity problems, factors that contribute to the development and complications associated with many chronic illnesses.
Action Plans:
English 
Spanish