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Smile Patrol: Dental hygiene students hit the road to help rural residents

The Department of Dental Hygiene at Hiwassee College is helping them achieve a whiter, brighter and healthier smile at no cost.
4 Ways Tennesseans Are Living Healthier: Tennesseans of all ages are improving health in their own ways

Tennesseans of all ages are improving health in their own ways
A Reader Is Born: Free book program gives Tennessee tots a head start on learning

Thanks to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and the Governor’s Books from Birth Foundation, every child in Tennessee can have a free book, every month, from birth through their fifth birthday.
Building a Healthy Appetite

Porter-Leath Spoonfuls helps Shelby County’s low-income childcare providers serve well-balanced, nutritious meals to young children in their care.

Building a Healthy Appetite: Porter-Leath Spoonfuls program helps childcare providers give kids nutritious meals

Porter-Leath Spoonfuls helps Shelby County’s low-income childcare providers serve well-balanced, nutritious meals to young children in their care.
Committed from the Start and Racing Toward Results

Calvin Anderson, senior vice president and chief of staff at BlueCross, spoke with Better Tennessee about the past, present and future of those efforts.

Committed from the Start and Racing Toward Results: Q&A on the BlueCross legacy of caring for the community

Calvin Anderson, senior vice president and chief of staff at BlueCross, spoke with Better Tennessee about the past, present and future of those efforts.
Fighting For The Future

As a child, Mike Conley was keenly aware that not everyone in his family was blessed when it came to health.

Fighting For The Future: Family ties move Grizzlies star Mike Conley to fight sickle cell disease

As a child, Mike Conley was keenly aware that not everyone in his family was blessed when it came to health.
Understanding in Action

During his walk around a Nashville neighborhood, a police officer spots a disheveled young man sleeping in the alleyway of an apartment building. It’s a dangerous spot for sleep — cars speed through the narrow alley regularly, and early the next morning a garbage truck will be pulling up to empty a nearby dumpster. So the officer shakes the young man awake, to get him to move along, ideally to a shelter a few blocks away. The switch to wakefulness does not go well. The young man grows increasingly agitated, pulls away from the officer and begins to argue. A situation like this can escalate quickly when a person with mental illness is behaving erratically and a law enforcement officer […]

Understanding in Action: First responders learn how to respond during encounters with a mentally ill person

During his walk around a Nashville neighborhood, a police officer spots a disheveled young man sleeping in the alleyway of an apartment building. It’s a dangerous spot for sleep — cars speed through the narrow alley regularly, and early the next morning a garbage truck will be pulling up to empty a nearby dumpster. So the officer shakes the young man awake, to get him to move along, ideally to a shelter a few blocks away. The switch to wakefulness does not go well. The young man grows increasingly agitated, pulls away from the officer and begins to argue. A situation like this can escalate quickly when a person with mental illness is behaving erratically and a law enforcement officer […]
In Pursuit of Harmony

Rocketown gives kids the freedom to explore and learn and encourages them to push the limits of their creativity.

In Pursuit of Harmony: At Rocketown's recording studio, a young man finds space, freedom & support to work toward his dreams

Rocketown gives kids the freedom to explore and learn and encourages them to push the limits of their creativity.
Infographic: Top 10 Causes of Death in Tennessee

Studies have found certain behaviors may contribute strongly to each of the top 10 causes of death in Tennessee. The graphic below shows these causes and the risk factors that may contribute to them.

Infographic: Top 10 Causes of Death in Tennessee: Lack of access to preventive health care contributes to our state's mortality

Studies have found certain behaviors may contribute strongly to each of the top 10 causes of death in Tennessee. The graphic below shows these causes and the risk factors that may contribute to them.
Live Through This

Larry Chilcutt heard the diagnosis — acute lymphoblastic leukemia — and knew that he had a big fight ahead of him. But neither he nor his wife, Tabitha, realized that the battle would take complete control of their lives.

Live Through This: Cancer patients find support and a family of fellow survivors at Hope Lodge

Larry Chilcutt heard the diagnosis — acute lymphoblastic leukemia — and knew that he had a big fight ahead of him. But neither he nor his wife, Tabitha, realized that the battle would take complete control of their lives.