Building Healthy & Active Communities

1. Building Healthy & Active Communities Amy Stringer Hessel, MSW Missouri Foundation for Health astringerhesssel@mffh.org

2. About MFH • Created in 2000 to receive Blue Cross Blue Shield of Missouri’s nonprofit assets • Our Vision is to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve • MFH is an independent, nonprofit organization focused on grant making, health policy and capacity building

3. One area of focus: obesity prevention Nearly 1 in 2 African American children overweight/obese $1.6 billion adult obesity Half of Missouri children in poor families are overweight or obese 12th most obese state

4. Why are we interested in transportation?

5. Transportation Policy IS Health Policy • Pollution • Mental Health • Safety • Physical Activity

6. Traditional Health Promotion Old solution: Only individual responsibility Achieve physical activity recommendations/ Meet dietary guidelines Traditional Approach Community Barriers

7. Active Living/ Healthy Eating Better solution: Individual in better environment Community Design Approach Community Barriers

8. Adequate infrastructure=increased activity

9. Grantee projects

11. Model Health Supported: Encouraging Healthy Behavior Through Changes in the Physical Environment Promotion, Education Policy, Infrastructure

15. Columbians for Modern, Efficient Transit (CoMET) GOAL: Triple Columbia’s Transit Service

16. City of Ozark: Pop. 18,500 13 miles from Springfield, MO Connecting with park and existing trails

17. Collaborative opportunities

18. National and Regional Partners Regional Partnerships: • California Convergence • LiveWell Colorado • Florida Convergence • Shaping Kentucky's Future • Maine Convergence Partnership • Massachusetts Convergence • Missouri Convergence Partnership • NH HEAL Campaign • New Jersey Convergence • Northwest Convergence

19. Increase options for affordable transportation to parks and open spaces by discounting public transit, altering or expanding school bus routes, and incentivizing ride sharing. Incorporate physical activity into the planning and design of every physical improvement to the city — from municipal buildings and new parks to streets and sidewalks. Incorporate pedestrian and bicycle lanes into street development. Enhance public safety near parks and other public spaces

20. Federal Initiatives • Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act • Communities Putting Prevention to Work • Community Transformation Grants • Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative • Integrated, coordinated effort to increase the quality of a neighborhood’s (1) educational and developmental, (2) commercial, (3) recreational, (4) physical, and (5) social assets

21. National Prevention Strategy Shift the nation from a focus on sickness and disease to one based on wellness and prevention: • Building Healthy and Safe Community Environments:  Prevention of disease starts in our communities and at home; not just in the doctor’s office.  • Expanding Quality Preventive Services in Both Clinical and Community Settings: When people receive preventive care, such as immunizations and cancer screenings, they have better health and lower health care costs.  • Empowering People to Make Healthy Choices:  When people have access to actionable and easy-to-understand information and resources, they are empowered to make healthier choices.  • Eliminating Health Disparities: By eliminating disparities in achieving and maintaining health, we can help improve quality of life for all Americans. 

22. What Next? • Connect with groups in your region • Preventobesity.net • State convergence partnerships • Prevention Institute • http://www.preventioninstitute.org/ • PolicyLink • http://www.policylink.org/site/c.lkIXLbMNJrE/b.5136441/k.BD4A/Home.htm • National Prevention Strategy • http://www.healthcare.gov/center/councils/nphpphc/strategy/report.pdf