The City of Bloomington, in recognition of its efforts to enhance the well-being of its residents, has clinched the 2024 Voice of the People (VOP) Award for Transformation in Health & Wellness. This accolade, awarded by Polco and the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), is based on the feedback from the community itself – an authentic gauge of local government success in terms of attending to public health.
Bloomington's achievement was not an overnight sensation. It took a concerted push on multiple fronts, especially reflected in the city's adept COVID-19 response, tobacco prevention, and mental health initiatives. A shining example of this multipronged approach is how Bloomington’s Police Department has innovated by partnering licensed marriage and family counselors with students to better provide mental health support in moments of crisis. The award underlines that the community data, not just the laurels, speak to the city’s steadfast commitment to health and wellness.
In their application which garnered high praise, Bloomington officials didn't just rely on their own assertions of success. Instead, they leaned on the evaluations of their own residents, sourcing from the National Community Survey among other feedback instruments, which collectively painted the city as a premier place to both live and work. This resident-centric method is at the core of the Voice of the People Awards, ensuring that the benchmarks for excellence are set not in city hall but in the sidewalks and parks where daily life unfolds.
Assistant City Manager Kathy Hedin spoke to the city's ethos, remarking, "Bloomington has always strived to be a place where people want to live." In a follow-up to their strides in public health, Hedin credited Polco with being an "invaluable partner in understanding our community’s priorities and concerns." Acknowledging the role of this civic engagement platform, Hedin further noted, "Their tools and insights have helped the City of Bloomington innovate and adapt our public health services to better serve the evolving needs of our community," as obtained by the City of Bloomington’s website.
