Wellmark Foundation

The conditions in which we live, learn, work and play impact our health long before we ever see a doctor. Good health doesn’t start in a doctor’s office. It begins with our families and in our homes, schools, workplaces and community. Genetics aside, decades of research show factors impacting a person’s health are related to basic needs being met. Examples include1: - Healthy food - Access to care - Affordable housing - Available transportation - Quality education - Jobs that provide more than just a living wage - Healthy physical environments - Communities with safe spaces for residents to create connections