Who We Are

The commitment to health and wellness is deeply ingrained in our communities. Yet, we continue to face significant health disparities, particularly for rural residents and those facing financial constraints.

Rural county residents face challenges in accessing vital services like mental health providers and urgent care centers, which worsens health outcomes. Financial and transportation barriers also prevent many from seeking medical care or adopting healthier lifestyles, disproportionately affecting marginalized groups. Racial and ethnic minorities experience worse outcomes in conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity, asthma, and heart disease compared to their White counterparts, and Black women face a significantly higher risk of maternal mortality. To address these health disparities, the Health & Wellness Coalition unites over 100 cross-sector partners to drive transformative initiatives that tackle food insecurity, sedentary behaviors, behavioral health, transportation barriers, and ensure access to quality healthcare resources throughout our region.

The Southwest Florida Health and Wellness coalition kicked off on May 1, 2023. The coalition came from a call for solutions to the region’s biggest social problems: housing, health and wellness, workforce and education. Building on the success of FutureMakers Coalition (formed in 2015), the Home and Health and Wellness Coalitions were formed.

The Health and Wellness coalition understands that no single individual or organization can dissolve the complex problems that exist in our communities. By leveraging relationships and resources, the coalition has increased capacity towards our shared goal to transform Southwest Florida to be among the healthiest communities in the nation by exceeding the 90th percentile for Health Indicators (Length of Life and Quality of Life) by 2040.

In the spring of 2022, the community responded to a regional call for information about the greatest challenges facing Southwest Florida. The responses were clear, 45% shared that health & wellness is a top priority. After Hurricane Ian, Collaboratory and its regional partners convened a cross-section of concerned residents to pinpoint the most pressing issues facing our region. Again, health & wellness was at the top, more specifically, healthcare access and costs, along with mental health and substance abuse, were identified as being among the most urgent.

In short, the one-two punch of the global pandemic and Ian’s ongoing impact has strained the region’s health and wellness like never before. To meet the challenge, Collaboratory, in partnership with 35 organizations, launched a regional Health & Wellness Coalition. The coalition’s goal is to transform the region into one of the healthiest communities in the nation by exceeding the 90th percentile for Health Indicators (Length of Life and Quality of Life) by 2040.

The region’s resilience is being tested, and so is our resolve to bolster our imperiled health and wellness. We’re committed to passing that test, and we invite you to join us in this crucial community effort to sustain a healthier Southwest Florida.