The close of 2011 marks nearly two years since Wood County became one of 50 communities across the country to receive a $2.3 million Communities Putting Prevention to Work (CPPW) grant.
During the past year, the CPPW national obesity prevention program, known locally as Get Active Wood County, has made tremendous progress toward attaining its goal of making healthy eating and active living an easy choice in Wood County.
Led by the Wood County Health Department, the Get Active coalition of local businesses, schools and nonprofit organizations has successfully implemented numerous initiatives focused on nutrition and physical activity that have, and will continue to have, an impact on local residents well into the future. Some of these initiatives include:
» For the second year, all six Wood County public school districts and YouthNet offered Fit-tastic, an after-school program that emphasizes healthy eating and active living. The program served more than 225 students during fall/winter 2011.
» All Wood County public school districts took part in the second year of Farm to School monthly taste tests. Students had the opportunity to taste test locally grown produce that included apples, watermelon, cantaloupe, slicer tomatoes, cherry and grape tomatoes and carrots. Taste tests will continue in school cafeterias monthly through June.
» Seventy-five percent of farmers markets in Wood County now accept FoodShare. The program bridged a gap between FoodShare participants and local farmers, helping reconnect participants to fresh, locally produced food and farmers to federal dollars. More than $4,000 FoodShare dollars were spent at the Wood County Farmers Market at Rapids Mall during the 2011 season.
» Seventeen businesses in Wood County are in the process of implementing healthy food worksite policies. Ten of these businesses also are updating worksite wellness policies that promote employee physical activity.
» Fifteen Wood County restaurants implemented, or are in the process of implementing a Smart Meal program where they label their menus with meals lower in calories, fat and sodium; and higher in fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
» Eighteen childcare centers and four Head Start centers throughout Wood County received child care curriculums that promote nutrition and physical activity. In addition, they are receiving assistance and support to update wellness policies that incorporate more physical activity and better nutrition into children's daily routines.
» Fourteen new Wood County facilities opened their doors as Shared Use Facilities, which allow community members to walk in or use space for physical activity or nutrition education.
The Get Active coalition would like to thank the entire Wood County community for advocating for and supporting all of the many Get Active initiatives. But the hard work can't stop now. With the start of 2012 comes the opportunity for everyone to make an effort toward sustaining the Get Active mission of creating a healthier Wood County.
The incentive to do so is great. Right now, two-thirds of Wood County adults are overweight or obese, and childhood obesity rates are higher than ever before. Obesity and other chronic illnesses related to a lack of physical activity and an unhealthy diet place substantial stress on the local economy, our community and all of us as individuals. Together, we can make a difference. Make it your New Year's resolution to Get Active, Wood County, and Cause. Community. Change. Get involved at getactivewoodcounty.org.
This is a great example of leveraging earned media as well.
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