Get Up & Go! Communities

Municipalities striving to make healthy choices easy for citizens deserve recognition. Besides, these good works can inspire others to do the same. Collectively, this will help us build momentum and succeed in our goal of becoming the healthiest county in the United States.

We launched the Get Up & Go! Community Recognition Program in October 2013. To qualify for this recognition, towns complete an application that describes plans, policies, and environmental features that promote healthy eating and active living for citizens and their municipal employees. A committee from Get Up & Go reviews and evaluates the applications.  View the Flyer

What is a Get Up & Go! Community?

It’s a neighborhood that deliberately sets out to improve access to healthy foods and active lifestyles for residents.

Belleville, Smithton, and Freeburg have been officially designated as Get Up & Go! Communities. Congratulations to these outstanding communities! Each has gone above and beyond to pursue good health for their citizens:

  • Freeburg supports Community Helpings food cooperative making fresh fruits and vegetables more affordable for residents. 
  • Smithton’s beautiful Village Park is an excellent example of public private partnerships between the Village and volunteer organizations like the Boy Scouts and Commercial Club.
  • The growth of Belleville’s Employee Wellness program has paid financial dividends in reduced health care costs and a dramatic drop in workmen’s compensation claims, according to Human Resource Director, Jim Schneider. 

For more information about Get Up & Go! Communities, see the videos below.

What to do

Download and submit the application. The purpose of this application is to gather information about how your community is working to build a healthy environment for your citizens. This application can guide communities who might want to take steps to achieve this designation. A review panel of 5 representatives from Get Up & Go will consider this application and provide feedback within 6 weeks.

2017 Community Application adobe
2017 Community Application in Word Format

To learn more, contact Rita Boyd at rarras@siue.edu