Partners in Health

Partners in Health began its work in the fall of 1998 with a focus on reducing risk for chronic diseases like heart disease and cancer.

Many programs are available which teach residents about healthy behaviors to reduce their risk for heart disease or stroke. Often participants attend the program but still do not change unhealthy habits.

"Environmental or policy barriers" may be keeping them from enjoying healthier lifestyles. Environmental barriers might include a community with no safe areas for walking or a favorite restaurant with no healthy choices.

The Partners in Health vision includes a community that is committed to wellness! This commitment includes:

• Community leadership, worksites, governments, and schools that aggressively support, encourage, and provide for healthy alternatives.
• Opportunities for physical activity available and accessible to residents in every age group, economic level, and community in our two counties.
• Heart healthy food choices available in every establishment where food products are sold.
• On-going educational opportunities and media involvement to encourage and support healthy habits.
• On-going citizen involvement so that environmental and policy planning is appropriately directed.

Partners in Health goals are to create more opportunities for residents to choose physical activity and healthy, lower fat foods in our communities and worksites.

Strategies for accomplishing these goals may include:

• Assessing community barriers
• Working with town planners to identify needed environmental modifications.
• Encouraging and assisting worksites in developing policies which promote exercise and healthy food choices.
• Encouraging builders and architects to suggest building designs which promote stair use/physical activity.
• Develop and provide "laundry lists" of activities church communities can use to encourage healthy habits among residents.
• Work with restaurants to modify recipes so that all menu items are as healthy as possible and some are truly healthy choices.
• Assist restaurants in marketing healthy menus.
• Develop an annual Partners in Health recognition program for businesses, restaurants, and others who improve access to affordable, healthy foods.