Partner Profile on National Association of County and City Health Officials

January 25, 2010

Partner Profile

We profile one of the organizations or foundations we collaborate with to highlight the expertise and resources they contribute to the Pioneering Healthier Communities movement. This month’s profile is on the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO).

CDC’s Healthy Communities Program:

The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) is the national organization representing local health departments (LHDs). NACCHO supports efforts that protect and improve the health of all people and all communities by promoting national policy, developing resources and programs, seeking health equity, and supporting effective local public health practice and systems. LHDs maintain working relationships with multiple agencies and organizations in both public and private sectors and have deep knowledge about the communities they serve. They work daily and directly with people in communities to protect and promote health. For this reason, LHDs play a unique and critical role in chronic disease prevention, working with elected officials, community members, and a wide range of partners to better understand and respond to the contributors to chronic disease in their jurisdiction. NACCHO’s chronic disease projects engage and enhance LHDs’ ability to expand evidence and practice-based chronic disease prevention activities in their communities and promote change at the policy, systems and environmental levels.

This is accomplished by:

• Building and enhancing LHD programmatic capacity to implement effective chronic disease prevention strategies;
• Creating or disseminating products, tools, and publications; and
• Fostering the transfer of effective evidence- and practice-based activities, program improvements and lessons learned to LHDs.

To learn more about NACCHO, go to, http://www.naccho.org/

Pioneering Healthier Communities Leadership Team distributes $30,000 in federal grant funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

These priorities include providing better access to walking trails for residents, making area roads more bicycle and pedestrian-friendly, encouraging employees to be more active by improving stairways and walking areas and providing opportunities for schools in Asheville-Buncombe and McDowell Counties to increase the physical activity of their students.

After reviewing opportunities to meet its priorities, the PHC committee has allotted CDC grant money to the following projects:

• McDowell Trails Association Catawba River Greenway - $10,000 in matching funds for the construction of the first phase of the greenway connecting McDowell House, Carson House and Little Round Hill Cemetery. These historic sites are included in the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area’s master plan for McDowell County. Also, this first phase is part of a comprehensive plan adopted by county commissioners to link the Burke County Greenway, the Over Mountain Victory National Historic Trail and the greenway system in Buncombe County.
• Mission Hospital’s "Two Up, One Down" Initiative- $2,500 to support the project encouraging stair use on the hospital’s campus. Funding will support collateral as well as step counters in stairwells to determine usage. With more than 7,500 associates, Mission Hospital System is the largest employer in the Asheville area. In addition, thousands of others visit the hospital each year. The initiative aims to serve as a pilot program for other employers in the area.
• CarePartner’s Trail Project - $1,000 to upgrade the trail for staff use. Grant funds will be used to develop signage and mile markers for the campus trail.
• Additional PE Equipment for Schools - $12,000 in funding for schools in Buncombe and McDowell Counties to purchase additional equipment for use in physical education classes. Supplementary equipment will allow schools to augment their PE programs and increase the physical activity of students. Each applying school received $1,000. Seven schools in Buncombe County and five schools in McDowell County were funded.

"We applied for the grant because the staff at ArtSpace is committed to increasing the amount of physical activity our students get and we needed more equipment to meet that goal," said Carrie Koppe, 2nd grade teaching assistant at ArtSpace Charter School. She continued, "ArtSpace does not have a PE specialist, so we want to get equipment that classroom teachers and teacher's assistants can use to teach PE activities."

The remaining money will go towards the Community Healthy Living Index (CHLI) project. CHLI is a compilation of community assessment tools measuring opportunities for physical activity and healthy eating in the area. The tools focus on afterschool childcare sites, neighborhoods, schools, work sites and the community at large. As many communities struggle with identifying and measuring effective interventions to prevent obesity, CHLI has the potential to guide organizational and community planning and action as well as to keep track of progress.

Many of the funded projects stemmed from recommendations made by well-recognized walking expert Mark Fenton. Fenton visited the Asheville area a year ago meeting with community leaders to develop best practices for making Western North Carolina more pedestrian and bicycle-friendly thereby boosting the community’s physical activity.

The Pioneering Healthier Communities committee is an arm Activate Asheville Area locally and Y-USA’s Activate America nationally. The initiative engages key community stake holders to develop strategies that reduce barriers and increase support for healthy living in the Asheville area.

Resources Partnership Releases State Network Project 2007-2009 Report Released:

The Safe Routes to School National Partnership released a report in November 2009 titled Safe Routes to School State Network Project: Final Report, 2007-2009, Making Change through Partners and Policies. The report was prepared for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) and highlights the progress achieved at state and local levels over three years.

The Partnership launched the State Network Project in 2007 to influence state-level Safe Routes to School implementation and to leverage additional resources and build a supportive environment through other state-level policies. The 2007-2009 Report describes the approach and structure of the Partnership's State Network and Local School Projects in 10 jurisdictions (CA, DC, GA, IL, KY, LA, NY, OK, TX and VA). The networks were selected primarily based on high levels of childhood obesity, diversity, and low income communities. The new report highlights the progress achieved at state and local levels over three years, including major accomplishments, lessons learned, and next steps.

To access the report, go to, http://www.saferoutespartnership.org/media/file/SRTS_FinalStateNetworkReport_Nov09.pdf

YMCA of WNC Distributes CDC Grant Funding

January 6, 2010

The YMCA of Western North Carolina recently received $30,000 in federal grant funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The YMCA’s Pioneering Healthier Communities (PHC) committee, a group of community leaders from Buncombe and McDowell Counties focusing on the built environment and supporting policy for healthy lifestyles, identified key priorities for the funding.

These priorities include providing better access to walking trails for residents, making area roads more bicycle and pedestrian-friendly, encouraging employees to be more active by improving stairways and walking areas and providing opportunities for schools in Asheville-Buncombe and McDowell Counties to increase the physical activity of their students.

After reviewing opportunities to meet its priorities, the PHC committee has allotted CDC grant money to the following projects:

• McDowell Trails Association Catawba River Greenway - $10,000 in matching funds for the construction of the first phase of the greenway connecting McDowell House, Carson House and Little Round Hill Cemetery. These historic sites are included in the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area’s master plan for McDowell County. Also, this first phase is part of a comprehensive plan adopted by county commissioners to link the Burke County Greenway, the Over Mountain Victory National Historic Trail and the greenway system in Buncombe County.
• Mission Hospital’s "Two Up, One Down" Initiative- $2,500 to support the project encouraging stair use on the hospital’s campus. Funding will support collateral as well as step counters in stairwells to determine usage. With more than 7,500 associates, Mission Hospital System is the largest employer in the Asheville area. In addition, thousands of others visit the hospital each year. The initiative aims to serve as a pilot program for other employers in the area.
• CarePartner’s Trail Project - $1,000 to upgrade the trail for staff use. Grant funds will be used to develop signage and mile markers for the campus trail.
• Additional PE Equipment for Schools - $12,000 in funding for schools in Buncombe and McDowell Counties to purchase additional equipment for use in physical education classes. Supplementary equipment will allow schools to augment their PE programs and increase the physical activity of students. Each applying school received $1,000. Seven schools in Buncombe County and five schools in McDowell County were funded.

"We applied for the grant because the staff at ArtSpace is committed to increasing the amount of physical activity our students get and we needed more equipment to meet that goal," said Carrie Koppe, 2nd grade teaching assistant at ArtSpace Charter School. She continued, "ArtSpace does not have a PE specialist, so we want to get equipment that classroom teachers and teacher's assistants can use to teach PE activities."

The remaining money will go towards the Community Healthy Living Index (CHLI) project. CHLI is a compilation of community assessment tools measuring opportunities for physical activity and healthy eating in the area. The tools focus on afterschool childcare sites, neighborhoods, schools, work sites and the community at large. As many communities struggle with identifying and measuring effective interventions to prevent obesity, CHLI has the potential to guide organizational and community planning and action as well as to keep track of progress.

Many of the funded projects stemmed from recommendations made by well-recognized walking expert Mark Fenton. Fenton visited the Asheville area a year ago meeting with community leaders to develop best practices for making Western North Carolina more pedestrian and bicycle-friendly thereby boosting the community’s physical activity.

The Pioneering Healthier Communities committee is an arm Activate Asheville Area locally and Y-USA’s Activate America nationally. The initiative engages key community stake holders to develop strategies that reduce barriers and increase support for healthy living in the Asheville area.

For more information, contact Director of Association Wellness Kristen Weaver at 828-210-9658 or kweaver@ymcawnc.org.

Centers for Disease Control Awards $30,000 to Make WNC Healthier

November 3, 2009

Area Schools Eligible to Apply for Funding for PE Equipment

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently awarded $30,000 in federal funding to the YMCA of Western North Carolina. The funding is designated to support the work of the Pioneering Healthier Communities committee, part of the Y-USA's Activate America Initiative.

The PHC committee, comprised of government, healthcare, education, and community leaders from both Buncombe and McDowell counties, is focusing on workplace, infrastructure, and policy change to encourage citizens of WNC to be more physically active.

"The mission of Pioneering Healthier Communities is vital and timely. It's exciting to see the first steps of collaborative efforts to create a sustainable and healthy environment in our community. It is critical that citizens have opportunities to take responsibility for their wellness. The CDC grant is helping us provide those opportunities," notes Holly Jones, PHC committee member and Buncombe County commissioner.

The PHC committee identified key priorities for grant funding. These include:

• Greenway System Connectivity and Critical Linkages – Providing better access to walking trails for residents
• Complete Streets Implementation – Making area roads more bicycle and pedestrian-friendly
• Employer-Driven Physical Activity Program – Encouraging employees to be more active by improving stairways and walking areas
• Provide opportunities for schools in Asheville-Buncombe and McDowell Counties to increase the physical activity of their students

Schools in Asheville-Buncombe and McDowell Counties are eligible to apply for grant funding to purchase additional equipment for their physical education programs. Funding is available to public, private, and charter elementary schools with enrollment of more than 150 students. Schools may be awarded up to $1,000 for materials and equipment related to physical activity.

The grant application is posted on the Activate Asheville Area website at www.activateashevillearea.org. Applicants will have until November 2 to submit their application, and must be employed by the school they are applying for.

"I am excited that the CDC grant affords schools the opportunity to replace some of the funds that might have been cut from this year's budget in order to upgrade PE supplies for students," said Dr. Ira Trollinger, superintendent of McDowell County Schools. He continued, "PE engages youngsters in activities that keep them moving. Engaged bodies help to insure engaged minds. Whether it is jump ropes, hula hoops, cones for obstacle courses, or even unicycles; all play a key role in keeping our students active and less obese."

Y-USA's Activate America Initiative, including its Pioneering Healthier Communities program of work, was recently recognized by The HSC Foundation as one of 10 models successful in its efforts to fight obesity, particularly childhood obesity. The report cites the program's collaborative approach, community and family involvement, sustainability, and measurable outcomes as reasons Activate America is successful in combating the nation's obesity epidemic.

For more information on the development of projects funded by the CDC grant, contact Kristen Weaver, director of association wellness, at (828) 258-9658 or kweaver@ymcawnc.org.

The YMCA of Western North Carolina's mission is to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind, and body for all. Visit www.ymcawnc.org for more information.

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Partner Profile from Activate Asheville Newsletter

September 16, 2009

Over the next year, we will profile one of our partners (locally or nationally) each month to highlight the expertise and resources they are contributing to the healthy community’s movement (locally known as pioneering healthier communities activate Asheville area project). This month’s featured partner is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) who have been a true supporter and collaborator since the very beginning of Y-USA’s Pioneering Healthier Communities Initiatives. In fact, it is through their resources that Y-USA has been fortunate to support over one hundred YMCAs and their partners in implementing community owned and developed initiatives to prevent chronic diseases.

CDC’s Healthy Communities Program:

CDC’s Healthy Communities Program engages communities and mobilizes national networks to focus on policy, system, and environmental (PSE) strategies to prevent chronic diseases. Communities supported by the Healthy Communities Program are working to positively impact the places and organizations that touch people’s lives every day in schools, work sites, health care sites, and other community settings. According to CDC, one important partner in its national network is the YMCA of the USA.

According to Wayne Giles, Director CDC’s Division of Adult and Community Health, "CDC’s Healthy Communities Program has developed strong community and national partnerships, like YMCA of the USA, to implement policy, systems, and environmental changes to reduce barriers for healthy living.

Since 2004, CDC has funded over 100 YMCAs to convene high-level representatives from the local government, public health, and private sectors to reduce the risk of chronic disease on the local level."

Since 2003, CDC's Healthy Communities Program has made several investments in chronic disease prevention at the local level, resulting in impressive outcomes. Communities have responded with a groundswell of energy, ideas, and the will to make the local changes needed to reverse trends in the burden of chronic disease.

The Healthy Communities Program’s Coaches Meeting and Action Institutes provide a springboard for community action in the areas of PSE strategies. Additional technical assistance including conference calls, webinars, other online training methods, and educational products enhance the process of community action. The Community Health Resources Database, the CHANGE assessment tool, and a variety of Action Guides for implementing effective strategies are CDC resources that will enable community leaders to more efficiently and effectively bring about improvements in community health.

In February of 2009, a new Web site was launched to provide information about the Healthy Communities Program’s investments in local communities, national networks for community change, upcoming training events, tools for community action, and evaluation and innovation (visit www.cdc.gov/HealthyCommunitiesProgram).

Pioneering Healthier Communities In Action

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention awarded the YMCA of Western North Carolina $30,000 in federal funding to implement projects and activities identified by the Pioneering Healthier Communities (PHC) leadership team: The PHC Committee, comprised of government, healthcare, education, and community leaders from both Buncombe and McDowell Counties, is focusing on workplace, infrastructure, and policy change to encourage citizens of WNC to be more physically active.

"The mission of Pioneering Healthier Communities is vital and timely. It’s exciting to see the first steps of collaborative efforts to create a sustainable and healthy environment in our community. As our country discusses federal health care reform, it is critical that citizens have opportunities to take responsibility for their wellness. The CDC grant will help us provide those opportunities," notes Holly Jones, PHC Committee member and Buncombe County Commissioner.

The leadership team identified strategic priorities for the region. The funding is designated for projects that encourage physical activity like improvements to greenways and infrastructure.

Key priorities include:

• Greenway System Connectivity and Critical Linkages – Providing better access to walking trails for residents.
• Complete Streets Implementation – Making area roads more bicycle and pedestrian-friendly.
• Employer-Driven Physical Activity Program – Encouraging employees to be more active by improving stairways and walking areas.
• Additional Activity Equipment for P.E. in Area Schools – Encourage kids to be more physically active during school.

In the coming months, we will share more information on the development of projects. For more information on the CDC grant or Pioneering Healthier Communities Committee, contact Kristen Weaver, director of association wellness, at (828) 210-9658 or kweaver@ymcawnc.org">kweaver@ymcawnc.org.

Resources

The Transportation Prescription: Bold New Ideas for Healthy, Equitable Transportation Reform in America: The Transportation Prescription: Bold New Ideas for Healthy, Equitable Transportation Reform in America, a report by PolicyLink and Prevention Institute, commissioned by the Convergence Partnership, is a policy guide that analyzes the intersection of transportation, health and equity. This report provides key policy and program recommendations that can improve health outcomes in vulnerable communities, create economic opportunity, and enhance environmental quality.

The Transportation Prescription outlines 11 key policy proposals, including:

• Encouraging and funding healthy and environmentally responsible transportation options like buses, light rail, subways, biking, and walking;
• Targeting transportation investments to low-income communities and communities of color in order to provide much needed access and lower health disparities;
• Opening up the transportation planning process by involving local residents and committing to accountability and transparency so community members can have a say in what their needs are;
• Promoting the health benefits of reducing injuries from traffic crashes, encouraging physical activity, and improving respiratory health.

The Transportation Prescription provides a summary of an in-depth review of the intersection of health, equity and transportation, by key academics and advocates in the field. The nearly 200-page analysis will be published separately in an upcoming report called Healthy, Equitable Transportation Policy: Recommendations and Research.

To access the report click HERE.

Activate Asheville Area Made the January/February 2009 Issue of ACE Fitness Matters

January 30, 2009

Activate Asheville Area featured in the January/February 2009 issue of ACE Fitness Matters. Click here to download the pdf of the article

Pam Anderson Visits Asheville

January 9, 2009

Walking through the Ingles on Hendersonville Road, Pam Anderson stops to pick up a rotisserie chicken.

But the cookbook author and food columnist doesn't just see dinner tonight, she sees possibilities: The simple bird could be used in a chicken pot pie, added into soup for some extra protein, thrown on top of a favorite pasta dish, and the skin and bones can be added to chicken broth to make a good stock.

"I think people think cooking is really hard and complicated and it doesn't have to be," Anderson says as she nears the salad bar, explaining how pre-cut vegetables can save time by being added to an omelet for dinner.

Anderson along with Ingles dietitian Leah McGrath and Kristen Weaver, the YMCA's director of wellness advancement, took a tour through the local grocery store Thursday afternoon in an effort to show people how to shop and cook healthy without being bound by strict rules.

The Asheville Citizen-Times sponsored the visit by the Connecticut-based author also includes a private cooking demonstration and an sold-out event Thursday night at Biltmore Estate where Anderson will share her weight-loss journey, detailed in her latest book, "The Perfect Recipe for Losing Weight & Eating Great".

"I'm not a weight-loss expert," Anderson said. "I'm just a cook who was overweight and had a story to tell."

Anderson's formula for cooking healthy is about teaching people to cook by technique, rather than by strictly following recipes.

Soup can be spiced up with the addition of local fresh vegetables and some strong cheese, dried fruit and nuts make a hearty salad when added to some fresh lettuce. Carbohydrates and eggs are not the enemy, but they can be made healthier by choosing whole grains and only using one yolk when making an omelet.

Recipes

• Gingerbread Straws
• Sausage and Caramelized Onion Flatbread With Kale and Parmesan
• Creamy Chili-Corn Soup with Chicken and Black Beans

Links

• Asheville Citizen-Times Article :: Author Pam Anderson shares secrets for healthy eating
• Asheville Citizen-Times Article :: Cookbook author shares some tips for healthy eating
• Asheville Citizen-Times Gallery :: Pam Anderson Visits Asheville
• Asheville Citizen-Times Gallery :: Pam Anderson at Biltmore Estate

Mark Fenton Visits Asheville

December 5, 2008

300 people attended four events recently held in Asheville, where walking advocate Mark Fenton extolled the benefits of increasing physical activity in our everyday lives. Mark, a champion race walker, recognized expert on public health issues, and well-known authority on public policy initiatives, addressed a wide number of groups in our area regarding "the epidemic no one is talking about physical inactivity and poor nutrition." Mark's energetic and persuasive talks rallied attendees together to engage in conversations and create plans of action to meet our communities' needs. Workshops included creating more livable, walkable community including a community walk in the Downtown area, Physician's Dinner, Fighting the Obesity Epidemic, Workplace and Physical Activity promotion and Mayor's Leadership breakfast. Activate Asheville is confident that Mark's help and insight will usher our communities into a new awareness of the need for safe, user-friendly ways to encourage people to get active and be healthy.

Activate Asheville's Vision and Goals

The Vision is "Asheville will be the Healthiest City in North Carolina." We plan to increase physical activity by focusing on the built environment and supporting policy for healthy lifestyles.

Target:

Workplace, Infrastructure, and Policy change

Goals:

1. Increase physical activity and ensure that the environment supports that activity as part of daily life.
2. Promote public policy that supports healthy lifestyles by:
• Involving key stakeholders throughout the area representing all facets of community life.
• Influencing public policy to have a positive impact on physical activity.
• Promoting and supporting information and education on healthier, active lifestyles.
• Developing and delivering informational and motivational messages through the media and workplace.

Many thanks to the Pioneering Healthier Communities Committee, Sponsors, and Contributors:

• Applied Solutions Group
• Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce
• Asheville Citizen-Times
• Asheville Radio Group
• Buncombe County Schools
• CarePartners Health Services
• City of Asheville
• ClearChannel Asheville
• Healthy Buncombe
• Liberty Bicycles
• McDowell County Schools
• Mission Health System
• Mountain Area Health Education Center
• Mountain Express
• National Park Service
• The Cliffs
• UNC – Asheville
• WLOS, News ABC 13
• YMCA of the USA
• YMCA of Western NC
• YWCA

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