Nassau, Suffolk high health rankings mask problems in poor areas

Don’t let the numbers fool you.

A new report released Wednesday tells us Nassau County residents are among the healthiest in the state, with higher quality of life, fewer days of poor health, and lower rates of crime, unemployment and poverty. But beneath the surface, there’s a troubling story, and a problem that has plagued Nassau since its start: housing segregation.

The broad study of health by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute ranks Nassau second among New York’s 62 counties, behind Saratoga, in health outcomes. Many of Nassau’s health statistics, from the number of premature deaths and percentage of adult smokers to the percentage of children in poverty, are far better than the nation or the state.

It all sounds terrific, but deep within the data is a “residential segregation index.” It’s a measure that looks at where black and white residents live by census tract, and measures how segregated a county is. On a scale of 100, Nassau scored a 78, tied with Queens and Brooklyn for the highest level of housing separation by race statewide. Anything greater than 60, researchers say, is significant.

But why would there be a residential segregation index in a health study? Researchers say that in a highly segregated county like Nassau, the data might mask a distressing trend, where neighborhoods, particularly those with higher percentages of minority residents, are far from the picture of health, in terms of everything from obesity and sexually transmitted diseases to economic factors like unemployment. “When a county ranks well, it doesn’t mean everyone is,” associate researcher Kate Konkle said.

The good and bad news also are true in Suffolk County, which ranks ninth statewide. Suffolk’s residential segregation index stood at 62 — better than Nassau, but above the threshold for concern.

It’s easy to showcase good news, and we should. But let’s not be blind to the complex reality of communities that are experiencing health troubles. If what state or national officials hear is only that a county is healthy, it’s more difficult for local officials and activists to create a call to action, and for policy-makers to start fixing the problem.

This study clearly outlines something we all know, but don’t like to talk about. Long Island is a region of “haves” and “have-nots,” where some communities thrive consistently, while others struggle perpetually. But we have to talk about it, and we have to deal with it. We must look deeper to understand how the region’s residents are really doing.

The trouble spots likely won’t surprise anyone. We can’t ignore them. Instead, we must develop solutions. Nassau health officials are on that path, but they need partners in each community, and solid data to support their efforts. There’s more for both government and communities to do, from targeting unemployment and poverty, to creating more community-based or school-based health centers, and adding stores with healthier food choices. Other answers should be broader in scope. Long Island’s success in keeping residents healthy is noteworthy. But it’s incumbent upon all of us who are doing well to look out for our neighbors and do what we can so they can get healthy, too.

— The editorial board