A Community Approach: The Plan

Preface

Our nation is now facing a major public health crisis. Over the last two decades, an unprecedented number of Americans have increasingly become overweight or obese. The situation with the residents of Effingham County has been no different. The national and local trend has accelerated over the last ten years, with no end in sight, unless dramatic changes occur on a number of different factors that together, present us with an overweight status that multiplies and magnifies over time.

Effingham County's plan to address obesity is a coordinated one that requires the involvement of individuals and families, employers and government leaders, faith-based institutions and schools, and healthcare providers and insurers. The focus of the plan is lifestyle changes, including healthy eating practices and physical activity for all age groups.

Creating a Healthy Community: The Plan

What will it take for us to become a healthy community?

Reversing the steadily increasing trend towards obesity requires a sustained, long-term effort on the part of all residents of Effingham County. As we consider the hundred plus ideas and interventions proposed by the Nutrition & Fitness Task Force, our community must first envision and embrace core turning points - changes in lifestyle that will move Effingham County toward a culture of health and fitness. We will be a healthier community if...

  1. All county residents practice good nutrition and exercise regularly, including eating five fruits and vegetables, as well as walking or doing some type of exercise every day.
  2. All employers create healthy work environments, including participation in work site wellness promotions and activities.
  3. City and county leaders design the community for active living, including walking paths, bike lanes, parks and recreation centers, and the community uses them.
  4. Restaurants provide healthy menu options, and the community chooses them.
  5. Vending machine companies provide healthy snack selections in all public vending machines, and the community buys them.
  6. Schools involve students in 30 minutes of exercise every day, and students participate.
  7. Physicians and other providers candidly confront weight, nutrition and exercise issues with their patients as a routine part of their practice, and patients follow their recommendations and advice.
  8. The Public Health Department works with health providers to make nutrition and fitness education available to all county residents, and all of us learn more about eating right and staying fit.

Residents are asked to commit to these important eight core turning points. They are part of a critical foundation from which each resident can then determine for his/her self and family which activity or set of actions would be best for them to insure good eating habits, exercise routines and a healthy lifestyle.

Where did it all begin?

In 2005, St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital partnered with the Effingham County Health Department, Heartland Human Services, Catholic Charities, and other agencies to determine the physical and emotional health needs of Effingham County residents. The goal was to find unmet needs within the community and determine the best ways to address those needs. An independent research firm conducted a community health assessment for Effingham County. The assessment was called "Checkup 2005: Assessing Our Community's Health." Over 1000 residents were surveyed. The purpose of the assessment was to identify health issues of greatest concern so that resources could be committed to those areas, making the greatest impact on the community's health status. This assessment was funded by a generous contribution from the Friends of St. Anthony's. A full report of the assessment can be obtained at www.stanthonyshospital.org.

Key findings of the assessment that are directly influenced by nutrition and physical activity are

Where are we trying to go?

The Nutrition & Fitness Task Force developed a vision, mission, and goals and objectives to guide the initiative.

Vision

Effingham County residents will practice good nutrition, be physically fit and maintain their optimum weights.

Mission

To create a culture in Effingham County where residents choose to practice good nutrition and exercise regularly.

Goals and Objectives

  1. To improve nutrition and increase physical activity thereby decreasing obesity among individuals residing in Effingham County.
    1. To educate the public in regards to the fitness and nutrition practices of Effingham County residents and how those practices relate to the incidence of obesity in the community.
    2. To promote and provide community wide opportunities which encourage all residents to participate in good nutrition, fitness and weight loss initiatives.
    3. To assist community partners in establishing nutrition, fitness and weight loss initiatives designed specifically to their target population.
  2. To establish a strong organizational network of community partners which includes key leadership from government, area businesses, schools, and community based organizations.
    1. To establish an organizational structure that will support a broad-based, community-wide initiative.
    2. To identify key government, business, school and community-based organization leaders and recruit them to partner with health initiative.
    3. to initiate a community-wide kick-off campaign with the support of the partners.
    4. To organize workgroups based on target population groups or affinity groups to develop strategies in support of the mission and goals of the program
    5. To support the implementation of the intervention strategies.
    6. To evaluate the program's effectiveness in meeting its mission and goals.

What did the survey tell us?