| 4/2/2009 10:31:00 AM | Email this article • Print this article | Public health receives grant
by Jennifer Denevan
Mail Staff Writer
Chaffee County Public Health received a $40,000 LiveWell Colorado grant in February to increase access to healthy eating and active living.
A meeting will be held from 4:30-6 p.m. April 7 in the Buena Vista school district board room regarding the grant and coalition formed to develop a strategic plan.
The county was among four new entities which received a grant this year. It is one of 25 total communities in Colorado receiving money for the program.
LiveWell Colorado is sponsored by Kaiser Permanente, Colorado Health Foundation and Kresge Foundation.
The idea is to reverse trends in increasing obesity in Colorado. The program is geared to boost healthy eating habits and physical activity by making it more accessible at work, home and play.
Jere Thomas, LiveWell Chaffee County program coordinator, said the money is for a year of developing a strategic plan based upon data. The program is to be data driven.
Information may be gathered from different sources. Some data may come from regional sources regarding obesity and some from surveys, she said.
Coalition members may use surveys seeking information regarding how likely residents are to walk or ride bikes based upon how user friendly sidewalks or roads are, Thomas said. School surveys may also provide useful data.
The coalition can apply for another grant in December, she said. That grant would be for initiation of a plan.
Coalition members will identify needs and gaps in the community in terms of eating healthy and physical activity and a plan will be developed to increase access to those items, she said.
Members will meet monthly, alternating between Salida and Buena Vista, Thomas said.
Part of the process is developing a plan tailored to needs of the community, she said, because every community is different, making needs and gaps different.
Needs might be items such as ensuring safe routes to school for children, whether riding bicycles or walking, she said.
Other LiveWell communities initiated a range of strategies including work site wellness programs and school district nutrition plans, she said.
Thomas said coalition members will continue informing the community about its plans. Anyone interested in participating is welcome, she added.
Additional information is available at 207-0678.
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