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YMCA of the USA,
the national resource office for the nation’s 2,686 YMCAs, announced that
St. Clair County has been selected to join
Activate America®:
Pioneering Healthier Communities—a
major component of the YMCA’s national effort to provide opportunities for
people of all ages in their pursuit of health and well-being in spirit,
mind and body. St. Clair County was one of 18 communities named, and
becomes one of 92 communities nationwide to participate in initiatives
focused on collaborative engagement with community leaders, how
environments influence health and well-being, and the role public policy
plays in sustaining change.
Combined with those already engaged in the project, these newly named
communities are forming the foundation of an aggressive social movement
that is mobilizing leaders in local communities to respond to the public
health challenge of obesity, physical inactivity and poor nutrition.
Through this project, launched five years ago, local YMCAs are serving in
partnership with high-level representatives from the government,
non-profit, and private sectors to drive meaningful change in each of
their communities. The YMCA of Southwest Illinois applied for this program
as part of the St. Clair County ‘Get Up & Go!’ Initiative – a county wide
health and fitness campaign for groups, organizations and communities in
the St. Clair County area. The application is funded through the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention, and was selected after a competitive
review process. The “Get Up & Go!’ campaign began as a grassroots
county-wide initiative to build healthy and connected communities through
a variety of self-selected health and fitness activities. Since the
campaign was initiated through its website at
www.getupgo.info by members of the St. Clair County Health Care
Commission last spring, over 110 groups representing nearly 23,000 people
have joined in to inspire their members and others to get proactive about
health and fitness.
“Being named as one of the Pioneering Healthier Communities for 2008 has
given us the opportunity to partner with great local organizations to
bring the community together with the main goal of instilling health and
wellness where we live and work,” said Jorge Perez, CEO/President of the
YMCA of Southwest Illinois.
“The
Pioneering Healthier Communities’ team-based approach allows communities
to provide a cohesive response to the lifestyle challenges facing our
nation,” said Neil Nicoll, president and chief executive officer, YMCA of
the
USA. “By connecting the leaders who can affect change, communities are
helping to make healthy behaviors an easier choice, not just the healthier
choice. These improved opportunities for physical activity and healthy
eating are laying a foundation to help reduce the risk of chronic diseases
that have taken such a serious toll on our community members.”
“Through
the ‘Get Up & Go!’ Campaign, we are seeing an unprecedented spirit of
collaboration and cooperation by a variety of community based
organizations,” said Mark Peters, Director of Community Health for the St.
Clair County Health Department. “It is encouraging to see these
organizations and their communities come together to share resources and
expertise that inspire the citizens of our county to work together for
their health.”
2008 Pioneering Healthier Communities
YMCAs in 18 communities across the country are convening local leaders
this year to respond to public health challenges: Birmingham, AL; Hot
Springs, AR; Oakland, CA; Savannah, GA; St. Clair County, IL; Indianapolis
(Lawrence); IN; Topeka, KS; Worcester, MA; Red Wing, MN; Neosho, MO;
Winston-Salem, NC; Livingston, NJ; Cincinnati, OH; Marietta, OH;
Nashville, TN; Port Arthur, TX; Burlington, VT; and West Bend, WI.
Early Community Successes
Communities involved in PHC are focused on various local challenges
ranging from devising ways to excite youth and older adults about physical
activity, supporting employees in their pursuit of health and well-being,
and improving school nutrition to enhancing the environment to allow for
more opportunities for activity and access to healthy foods, and
influencing relevant public policy.
Pioneering Healthier Communities teams are:
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Influencing policy makers to provide opportunities for kids to be
physically active before, during and after the school day.
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Building new or enhancing existing walking/biking trails and sidewalks
for community members to be active;
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Working with employers to provide workplaces that support healthy eating
and activity; and
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Providing opportunities for residents to purchase and consume fresh
fruits and vegetables through community-gardens, farmers markets, and
other activities.
What’s
Next for the 2008 Pioneering Healthier Communities
Following the model of the 2004-2007 communities, the St. Clair County
initiative will compose a team consisting of approximately 10 local
leaders, including elected officials, state and local directors of public
health organizations, business leaders from various industries, and
leaders of local schools, parks and recreation departments, foundations,
and hospitals. This team will join with the other 17 teams, nationwide,
and convene at the Pioneering Healthier Communities national conference
December 10 - 12 in
Washington,
D.C. This fifth-annual conference will focus on educating these community
leaders about strategies and models for bringing about community solutions
that have been replicated nationwide. At the conference, attendees learn
about evidence-based approaches to affecting change from nationally known
experts. In the past, experts have included Dr. Julie Gerberding,
Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Sally Squires
formerly of The Washington Post, author of “The Lean Plate Club;” Mark
Fenton, contributing editor of Health magazine and a PBS TV series host;
Dr. Ken Thorpe, Executive Director of the Partnership to Fight Chronic
Disease; Tyler Norris, co-founder of Community Initiatives; Roberto
Salazar, Administrator of the U.S Department of Agriculture’s Food and
Nutrition Service; and Dr. Jeffrey Levi, Executive Director of Trust for
America’s Health.
Pioneering Healthier Communities is funded through a cooperative agreement
with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Since 2004,
this critical initiative has also received generous support from Kellogg’s
Corporate Citizenship Fund, Kimberly-Clark Corporation, PepsiCo
Foundation, Aquafina, JCPenney Afterschool Fund and Pharmaceutical
Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA).
For
more information about Pioneering Healthier Communities go to
www.ymca.net/activateamerica
For
more information about the “Get Up & Go!” Campaign go to
www.getupgo.info |
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The High Mount School’s first annual Walk-a-Thon was held
Saturday, October 6, 2008 at Melvin Price Memorial Park in Swansea.
Members of High Mount School Parent Teacher Club & the Visionary Club, a
student organization; joined parent volunteers to make the walk a true
success.
An extension of High Mount’s “Healthy Morning Strollers” walking club, the
walk-a-thon was held to encourage High Mount families to engage in healthy
activities together. The Healthy Morning Strollers walking
club was established by High Mount parents in September 2007. Chairperson
Lorraine Cange, working with staff & parent volunteers, invites the entire
student body Pre-K through 8th grade to participate in morning
walks on the school grounds. Adults lead the children on a ¼ mile trek,
with some children logging as much as 2 miles each day. The
daily mileage is tracked with small incentives being awarded to
participants on a monthly basis. The mileage accumulates throughout the
school year. Quarterly & yearly awards are given to the top mileage
achievers. When inclement weather strikes; the walking is
brought indoors with a trail of students following adult volunteers
through the hallways, stairwells & gymnasium of the school building.
Dedicated volunteers show up without fail every Monday, Wednesday, &
Friday that school is in session.
The Healthy Morning Strollers is sponsored by the HMS PTC
(parent teacher club). Lorraine Cange, who is the Treasurer for the
organization and chair of the Healthy Morning Strollers is extremely
pleased with the support shown by parents, staff & community businesses.
With the walks not beginning until after the Labor Day holiday, many
students approached Mrs. Cange the first days of school wanting to know
when the walking club was going to start again. “I’ve been volunteering
for High Mount for 12 years now, and the walking club has been the most
rewarding program yet. I walk into the building and kids are running up &
giving me hugs. Their enthusiasm is great!” Principal Mike
Brink fully supports the group and their efforts to create healthy and
educational programs for High Mount’s families. The district took on
strategically planning for the future in 2007 and the health of the
students is at the top of the list. “We are hoping to secure some grant
money to help fund a walking trail on the school grounds. Fundraising
efforts this year are focused on that goal.” Many area
businesses have also shown their support by donating time, money and prize
items to the Healthy Morning Strollers.
During the 2007-2008 school year, 131 students participated, logging 1,876
miles total. The club is hoping for even bigger numbers for this school
year.
(Click here to see more pictures
from the Walk-a-Thon)
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