Maintaining good health typically involves regular doctor visits to check on things like heart health, teeth, and ears. However, Elaine Johannes, Kansas Health Foundation’s Distinguished Professor of Community Health at Kansas State University, points out that personal health extends beyond just medical checkups.

Research from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation shows that over half of our health is influenced by where we live, work, learn, and play. Studies also connect community engagement with better health and longer life.

“So,” she says, “we should look for opportunities to be civically engaged, and be aware of opportunities to volunteer, involved in clubs and organizations, vote, and contribute to local community improvement projects. That’s part of civic health.”

The National Conference on Citizenship has found that communities with higher employment, better schools, and more responsive governments have healthier residents.

Civic health is based on three elements: places where people gather, processes that allow residents to have their voices heard, and people who actively participate in community life. When these factors are strong, the overall health of the community improves.