Alicia Nelson, CHES Chronic Disease and Epidemiology Supervisor Independence Health Department

Building a Healthier Independence:

Multi-department Collaborations to Combat Obesity and Tobacco Use

Alicia Nelson, CHESChronic Disease and Epidemiology Supervisor

Independence Health DepartmentIndependence, Missouri

Please feel free to stop me or text me during the presentation with questions: 816-797-4668.

Alicia Nelson, CHESIndependence Health Department

Independence, Missouri

Independence, Missouri

Located in Kansas City Metropolitan Area

Fourth largest City in Missouri

Population: 117,240 residents

Claim to Fame—Hometown of President Harry S. Truman

Building a Healthier Independence (BHI):

What is it?

Text questions to 816-797-4668

The Basics:• BHI was originally funded by the Social

Innovation for Missouri Grant and the Community Transformation Grant.

• BHI aims to decrease obesity and tobacco use among Independence, Missouri residents.


The Evidence





What strategies should we consider?

Increase availability of healthy affordable food and beverage choices in public service venues


Healthy Vending

The View


Fifty percent (50%) of all beverage selections offered must be caffeine-free and have no sugar added.

Eighty-five percent (85%) of all snack selections must meet the following standards: No more than 250 calories Total fat will not exceed thirty-five percent (35%) of the

calories Total sugar will not exceed thirty-five percent (35%) of

the total weight Sodium will not exceed 270 mg

Healthy Vending Criteria


Improve availability of mechanisms for purchasing foods from farms


Farmers’ Market Promotion

Enhance safety in areas where persons are/could be physically active and implement complete street policies: sidewalks, emergency phones, GIS trail markers, crosswalks


Improve Safety

Improve access to recreational facilities

New Cardio and Weight Equipment Wellness Center Discounted Membership Fees--$30

per year


Promotion of Local Community Center

Improve awareness of available opportunities for healthful food and physical activity Get Healthy, Independence! smartphone app


Get Healthy Independence App

Get Healthy Independence App

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aArPT7GlRC0

Offer quality programming to encourage and support community use of the built environment


3rd Annual Independence Park Trot 5K


The Mile Starts Here Walking Program

TMSH Video Clip

http://vimeo.com/103522865



Community and School Garden Programs

Community Gardens Clip


Healthy Corner Stores

Improve access to healthy food in neighborhoods where healthy food is not readily accessible.


Create 100% smoke-free/tobacco-free workplaces, parks, and multi-unit housing


Smoke-free Environments

Increase awareness and support for tobacco reduction


Youth Anti-tobacco Campaign

How do you determine if your

intervention is working or needed?

Surveys! Community Health Assessment Community Recreation Facility

Usage Vending Habits

Multi-unit Housing



41%

34%

11%

14%

"How long have you been a member of the Sermon Center?"

Less than 1 year 1-2 years2-3 years 3 or more years


Yes No0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

"Does the cardio equipment increase the frequency of your workouts?"


Strongly support

Somewhat support

Slightly support

Do not support

0

10

20

30

40

MUH Resident Survey“Do you support a policy in your

building that prohibits smoking in all living units?”




CollaborationThe secret is to gang up on

the problem, rather than each other. —Thomas

Stallkamp

Brainstorming: Name all possible

agencies/departments for collaboration on a similar

initiative.


School District Public Works Newspaper Community

Development Parks and

Recreation Other LHDs

Neighborhood Groups

Metropolitan Planning

Organizations

Fire Department Public Housing

Authority Universities Hospitals

Technology Services Chamber of

Commerce National Park

Service Economic Development

Council

Local Sports Teams PTOs/PTAs

Cycling Clubs Police Departments Farmers’ Markets Urban Farmers

Utility Departments Tourism Department


A Few Possible Answers:

Partnerships were formed with:

Other City Departments: Water, Public Works, Tourism, Community Development,

Parks and Recreation, Technology Services Outside Organizations/Community Members:

Local newspaper, University of Kansas, Community Garden Association, National Park Service, Missouri Mavericks, Mid-America Regional Council, Kansas City HD, Jackson County

HD, Community Development Councils, Chamber of Commerce


How do you get these departments/agencies/groups

to become partners?


Collaboration encouraged with

• Quarterly meetings• Workload collaboration

• Project deliverable development• Match funds


Acquired Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City

Healthy Lifestyles Grant Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services

Tobacco prevention

Pending Sources PICH CDC Grant DHSS HEAL Grant Prevent Obesity, Diabetes, Heart Disease and Stroke—

State/CDC

Funding Sources

Thanks!

Alicia NelsonIndependence Health Department

Independence, [email protected]

Documents

Alicia Nelson, CHES Chronic Disease and Epidemiology Supervisor Independence Health Department