From church groups to the chamber of commerce, from farmers to the PTA, communities across the country are putting prevention to work. Here's just some of what they're accomplishing.
- In Bartholomew County, Indiana, the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce has worked with two other local groups to create Reach Healthy Business, a workplace recognition program designed to support companies who are committed to creating a workplace that supports employee health. Says Chamber of Commerce president Jack Hess, "The two biggest costs grabbers for any business today are both health related-and that's health insurance increases, but also the loss in productivity based on the treatment of health-related disease, such as employee absenteeism. The bottom line is this: a healthy community is one in which companies want to locate, businesses want to grow and expand, and the best workforce in the world wants to live." Bartholomew County's Farm-to-Fork program didn't just bring 11,000 students fresh strawberries, tomatoes, watermelon and apples from local farmers: it also saved money, when food service directors found some local produce priced at half the cost of produce that had been shipped in from out of state.
- In partnership with their local hospital and CPPW-funded health department, Kwik Trip convenience stores, headquartered in La Crosse, Wisconsin, joined the 500 Club, highlighting healthier alternatives to customers in all twenty-one of their La Crosse county stores. All 113,758 La Crosse County customers can now easily find convenient, affordable healthy options, including fresh fruit that costs less than a bag of chips. Kwik Trip saw their efforts as so successful that they've chosen to bring the 500 Club to thirty more stores in neighboring Minnesota and Iowa. Kwik Trip Retail Food Service Director Paul Servais explains, "We heard from our customers that they were looking for more healthy options. We heard some people say not to go to convenience stores because there is nothing healthy to eat in them. We knew at Kwik Trip we had healthy options. This was a great way to get that message out." La Crosse's Farm2School program is helping Wisconsin kids eat Wisconsin food. Over 5,000 students are eating and learning how to cook locally-grown foods including cabbage, beets, wild rice, potatoes and winter squash, grown by local Wisconsin farmers, and prepared locally instead of being shipped in from California, Florida or even Chile. Local food processing facility Wisconsin Innovation Kitchen pre-processes the food to reduce labor costs in the school kitchens, and had to add a third shift to keep up with the new demand.
- In New York, The Walkers for Wellness program is bringing walking clubs and better nutrition to 100 faith-based organizations representing more than 10,000 New York City congregants of many faiths. Beth Hark Christian Counseling Center/Bethel Gospel Assembly, located in East Harlem, has started a walking club that meets twice a week. With the Center located across from Marcus Garvey Park, club participants are able to walk outdoors when the weather permits, or inside the large church building during inclement weather. Participants walk at least one mile per club gathering. In addition, an NYC DOHMH presentation on the contribution of sugary beverages to obesity led the Center to adopt healthful new food policies, including reducing the availability of sugar-sweetened beverages at all Center functions. A more nutritious drink option - healthy soda (seltzer water with a splash of 100% juice) - has been a big hit at Center events. The Center has also increased the water options in vending machines and is continuing to work on reducing the number of vending machine slots dedicated to sugary drinks. Another faith-based organization, God's Battalion of Prayer Church, located in the East Flatbush section of Brooklyn, has also successfully implemented the Walkers for Wellness and healthier foods programs. Its walking club meets twice a week, and club participants walk two to three miles per scheduled gathering. In inclement weather, members are undeterred, and instead, climb the stairs of the church building. In response to two NYC DOHMH presentations on sugary drinks and obesity, the church has adopted several health-promoting nutritional policies, including displaying signs that remind people of portion control and hosting sugary-drink free events.
- South Carolina has adopted a .57 cent price increase on cigarettes, making it likely that more than 23,000 kids under the age of 18 in South Carolina will never become smokers. Of funds collected from the price increase, $5 million will support tobacco prevention and cessation efforts. Research shows that price increases on tobacco products are an effective policy intervention designed to prevent initiation of adolescents and young adults, reduce cigarette consumption, and increase the number of smokers who quit. A 10% increase in the price of cigarettes is estimated to reduce consumption by 4%.
- In Los Angeles County, Long Beach's bicycle-friendly business districts aim to increase bicycle and pedestrian trips, and help local businesses thrive. Blair Cohn, Executive Director of the Bixby Knolls Business Improvement Association, explains, "We look forward to being a bike friendly business district as it will further our mission to connect the local community to our business corridors. We have spent the last three years developing programs and events to create an actual ‘connected community,' and a bicycle component would add another layer to bring people together to support our local businesses. Bixby Knolls should have a little of everything and making the area truly pedestrian friendly adds to its vibrancy."
- The San Antonio Healthy Restaurants Coalition debuted the ¡Por Vida! Program, a menu labeling and recognition program for food service establishments that offer healthy menu items. ¡Por Vida! is voluntary, and only requires restaurants to label the specific menu items that meet set nutritional criteria. The cornerstone of the ¡Por Vida! Program is the solid nutritional criteria, developed by the San Antonio Dietetic Association based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans which suggest a balanced diet consisting of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean protein. The criteria establish clear limits for calories, total fat, saturated fat, transfat, and sodium. ¡Por Vida! is currently implemented within 7 restaurants in San Antonio, at over 120 locations. The restaurants include a large national fast food chain, several local restaurant chains, and independently owned restaurants. The restaurants received guidance and technical support from local, registered dietitians who analyzed and created menu items to meet the ¡Por Vida! nutritional criteria. Each of the restaurants identified at least one plate (entrée and sides) to meet the nutritional criteria, and developed in-store marketing materials to promote the new ¡Por Vida! items.
- 127,691 Seattle teens (ages 12-17) are now protected from exposure to tobacco through electronic smoking devices and unregulated nicotine delivery products. New policies restrict the sales of e-cigarettes or any other unapproved nicotine delivery products to people 18 and older; prohibit free or highly discounted electronic smoking devices or unapproved nicotine delivery products; and prohibit the use of e-cigarette devices in places where smoking is prohibited by law.
- In Philadelphia, nearly 500 corner stores have been recruited into the Healthy Corner Store Initiative; some local businesses have received resources for equipment upgrades, shelving and refrigeration to sell produce, low-fat dairy products, and lean meats. 1000 children a day are receiving healthier meals, thanks to the USDA After-School Meal Program in 40 of the 98 recreation center after-school sites. And 200 Philadelphia schools have created School Wellness Councils, to incorporate physical activity into the school day and to eliminate unhealthy options foods from classrooms, fundraisers, and school stores.
- On January 24, 2011, The Board of Trustees of City University of New York (CUNY) approved an expanded tobacco policy that will make CUNY the largest urban public university system in the United States to go 100% smoke-free. CUNY serves over half a million students citywide and employs about 40,000 staff. The majority of CUNY's population is between the ages of 18 and 24, the critical age when many occasional smokers transition to become daily smokers. The policy prohibits the use of tobacco on all grounds and facilities under CUNY's jurisdiction - indoor and outdoor - as well as tobacco industry promotions and marketing on campus properties, and tobacco industry sponsorship of athletic events and athletes. Additionally, CUNY will expand its free cessation services and referrals to community-based services for smokers who want to quit. The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is supporting CUNY's efforts by providing training to students and clinic staff; access to online "best practice" resources; and specialized on-site technical assistance to all 23 campuses throughout the one-year implementation period.
- 113,000 residents in Jefferson County, Alabama are waking up to more walkable and livable communities. The recently passed Smart Code zoning amendment allows for compact, mixed-use development in unincorporated areas of the county, more walkable communities centered around villages and transportation nodes, and preserves a greater amount of natural area and open space.
- In Miami, draft regulations that set nationally recognized minimum minutes of physical activity, screen-time restrictions, and nutrition standards for all licensed day care centers are currently being piloted with 887 day care centers, reaching 63,427 children. Full passage of the policy is expected prior to March 2012, affecting 1,420 centers and reaching 102,302 children.
- Louisville's Metro Council approved a resolution supporting voluntary menu labeling in local restaurants with fewer than 20 locations. Dan Huckestein, operating partner at Yang Kee Noodle, explains why his business was one of the first to sign on: "Our goal has always been to offer a product that is fresher, healthier and prepared from scratch," said Huckestein. "From our inception our patrons have been requesting nutritional facts and I have had a difficult time finding the time and resources to compile hard data. I am very excited to be part of this pilot program and find tangible ways to offer healthier choices on our menu." With the recent addition of J. Gumbo's and the Bristol Bar & Grille, there are now 16 restaurants with a total of 33 locations signed up for the program. These Healthy Hometown restaurants are working with dieticians and chefs to analyze and adjust entrees to make them more healthful, and to include the caloric value of all items on their menus and menu boards.
