Database targets childhood obesity
 This month, NACo released the Healthy Counties Database, a new resource designed to help county officials prevent childhood obesity in their communities. The database contains more than 100 profiles of model policies, programs and initiatives that counties across the nation have enacted to promote healthy living.
Each profile includes a brief description of the best practice, county demographics, contact information, funding sources and additional resources. Visit www.healthycounties.org/database to browse the database on NACo’s Web site.
Many factors contribute to childhood obesity, but the community where a child lives is particularly important, experts say, in determining how easy or difficult it is to be physically active and eat a nutritious diet on a day-to-day basis.
Although childhood obesity has only recently gained national media prominence, many counties have already taken action over the past years to respond to this public health crisis.
Very often, county-led efforts to prevent childhood obesity go hand-in-hand with initiatives to support healthy populations and to create robust economies.
For this reason, the model programs and practices in the Healthy Counties Database focus on a variety of topic areas, including some not traditionally considered health-related such as zoning, economic development and agricultural sustainability. The benefits created by these types of model practices positively affect children’s access to healthy foods and physical activity.
Below are five mini-profiles of best practices from the database to illustrate how the Healthy Counties Database might help in your efforts to improve community health. Visit www.healthycounties.org/database to read the full profiles, and to learn about the great work going on in other counties.
Williamson County, Tenn.
Population: 126,638 (2000 Census)
Area: 583 (sq. mi.)
Best Practice: Williamson County School Health Partnership
In 2004 County Mayor Rogers Anderson convened a committee of community members to discuss ways to bring additional health services to school children. A survey was distributed to parents that found they were interested in their children receiving preventative health measures.
In response to these findings, the Williamson County Health Department, Williamson County Schools and Mid-Cumberland Health Department created a pilot preventative health care program in six schools with vulnerable populations.
The program included a yearly health assessment for each child, a plan of care, appropriate medical referrals and a class covering nutrition, fitness and self-esteem. The program saw great results, and in 2006 was expanded to include additional schools.
Pinellas County, Fla.
Population: 921,482 (2000 Census)
Area: 280 (sq. mi.)
Best Practice: Healthy Choices Restaurant Program
In response to the growing interest in healthier lifestyles, the Pinellas County Health Department worked with Steps to a HealthierFL and Florida on the Move to introduce the Healthy Choices Restaurant Program in Pinellas County.
The program helps children and families identify local restaurants that provide healthy options. By partnering with restaurant owners and the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, the program empowers residents to “just ask” for nutritious foods when eating out.
Participating restaurants have the program’s logo on display along with being listed on www.pinellaswellness.com. These restaurants are “Stepping Up to the Plate” and leading the effort to make a difference in the health of their community. Pinellas County is in the beginning stages of expanding this program to other counties through partnerships with three other county health departments.
Clark County, Wash.
Population: 231,969 (2000 Census)
Area: 396 (sq. mi.)
Best Practice: Resolution Establishing a Kitsap County Employee Wellness Program
In order to foster work environments that promote the health and well-being of county employees, the Kitsap Board of County Commissioners passed Resolution No. 009-2002. The resolution established the Kitsap County Employee Wellness Program and provided support for the program by naming a funding source, requiring officials and department heads to encourage employee participation, and requiring the Employee Wellness Committee, a body that was formed to develop, implement and direct the Wellness Program, to meet regularly. Workers who participate in employee wellness programs often bring home healthy habits and share them with their families.
Hennepin County, Minn.
Population: 1,116,200 (2000 Census)
Area: 557 (sq. mi.)
Best Practice: Resolution Affirming Support for Active Living Hennepin County
In 2007 Hennepin County passed a resolution in support of active living. The resolution has roots in 2003, when a collaborative working group began exploring the connection between public health and how Hennepin County designs its communities and transportation systems.
A few years later, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota and Active Living by Design, a national program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, supported Hennepin County in undergoing an active living assessment and engagement process. A multi-agency group worked for a year and a half to assess children and families’ real and perceived barriers to being physically active and to develop recommendations and also a vision for active living in the county.
The work group turned its vision into the draft of Resolution 07-489, and presented it to the County Board October 2007. The Board passed it unanimously, and expects the policy will result in greater opportunities for children and families to be physically active on a day-to-day basis.
Harford County, Md.
Population: 218,590 (2000 Census)
Area: 440 (sq. mi.)
Best Practice: Farmers’ Market Coupon Program
The Harford County Farmers’ Market Coupon Program was designed to assist and encourage participants in the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program and senior citizens in purchasing locally grown fruits and vegetables, and also to promote new farmers’ markets in the city of Havre de Grace and town of Edgewood.
The program provides booklets of 10 coupons worth $3 a piece, supplements the cost of produce and creates an incentive for families to choose healthier meal options. The Harford County Farmers’ Market Coupon Program is funded and managed exclusively by county personnel. Coupons are distributed through WIC program offices and Harford Senior Centers. Farmers return the coupons to the county executive’s office for monthly reimbursement.
Support for the Healthy Counties Database is provided by Leadership for Healthy Communities, a national program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
Please help NACo grow the Healthy Counties database. If your county has a policy or practice in place that helps prevent childhood obesity, contact Christina Rowland, crowland@naco.org or 202/942-4267, so it can be included.
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