By Nick McClintock

BLOOMINGTON- For the second year in a row, McLean County ranks in the top 25 in overall health.

The rankings, which come from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, rank every county in health factors such as obesity, smoking, excessive drinking etc. McLean County followed up last year’s 22nd place ranking with a 19th place showing this year.

Lisa Slater with the McLean County Health Department says the improvement shows that positive steps are being taken to help the community. “Everything is sort of falling in line with what we have seen through the needs assessment process.” Slater says. “I think it shows that we are identifying the problems and making gradual progress.”

The county ranked higher than average in areas such as Obesity and Alcohol-Related deaths and lower in Diabetes monitoring and preventable hospital stays. Slater says that one things the County, and state at large, continue to deal with, is obesity.

One thing that Slater is very happy to see is that other organizations are reaching out to the Health Department when they are undertaking something for the community. “Every year is seems another group is inviting us to the table.” Slater says. “Let’s have the Heath Department give their two cents, and we are working together as a team”

Full information on McLean County and the rest of the state’s health rankings can be found HERE.

Nick McClintock can be reached at [email protected].