Fit For Kids News

On April 14, 2009, $160,000 in grants were awarded by Kane County Health Department to the following coalitions. Recipients are shown below in each photo with Paul Kuehnert, Executive Director of Kane County Health Department (left) and Gerald Jones, Chairman, Kane County Public Health Committee (right):

Aurora Healthy Living Council Planning
Grant for $30,000

The Healthy Living Council formed in 2008 to participate in the Making Kane County Fit for Kids Initiative. The HLC reports back as a committee to the Aurora University Institute for Collaboration. The Institute for Collaboration formed three years ago to bring education, health and human services, business and government together to study and facilitate the development of collaborative leadership. Community members convened in the Fall of 2007 for a ‘Big Idea Summit’ to discuss important issues facing the greater Aurora community. The Healthy Living Council was formed after the ‘Big Idea Summit’ and is a successful example of local leaders coming together to address a specific challenge, in this case; childhood obesity. Member organizations include the Aunt Martha’s Youth Center, Robert Crown Center for Health Education, Aurora Township, Aurora University, City of Aurora, Fox Valley Park District, Lutheran Social Services, MyTime Afterschool Program, Northern Illinois Food Bank, Provena Mercy Hospital, Rush Copley Medical Center, School Districts #129 & #131, the Visiting Nurse Association of the Fox Valley and the YWCA Aurora.

The current focus of the Healthy Living Council is to explore attitudes, behaviors and cultural differences in the population about obesity and wellness and to obtain empirical evidence on existing community organizations and institutions and barriers to healthy behaviors. This evidence will be used to shape the opinions of key stakeholders in the community so that changes in the environment can be made.

Delnor Community Coalition
Planning Grant for $30,000

Delnor Hospital recently formed a coalition of community organizations that wish to support a variety of nutrition and fitness programs and trainings along with initiating policy change in community and school settings in the following geographic areas in Kane County: Geneva, Batavia, Kaneland, Elburn, Sugar Grove St. Charles and Wasco. The target population will be reached by the coalition that includes members that already have a presence in the targeted geographic area. The coalition represents a partnership between before/after- school programs, businesses, religious organizations, hospitals, schools, municipalities, neighborhood groups, parent organizations and park districts. The coalition is intended to be dynamic and will continue to grow and incorporate more organizations to help achieve the greater goal: to reduce childhood obesity and related disease. Many of the coalition members have already worked together or have made plans to partner to help address the childhood obesity, poor nutrition and inactivity of youth in the aforementioned service areas.

Program topics and locations will vary between settings with the focus on collecting data in each location to determine participant knowledge pre- and post- program and behavior improvements to reduce obesity risk factors (i.e.: increased physical activity and increased fruit and vegetable consumption). After the completion of each program, data will be reviewed, program adjustments made and programs will be expanded into additional settings within the targeted service area. Their three-year community action plan includes expanding program offerings, building relationships with community groups and businesses to help influence policy makers, and to empower all program participants to utilize nutrition and exercise to reduce their risk factors for disease.

Activate Elgin
Implementation Grant for $100,000

Activate Elgin has been in existence since 2006, as part of the third cohort of the YMCA Activate America’s Pioneering Healthier Communities initiative. Several projects they have undertaken to date include the creation of educational health materials, wellness projects within a local Elementary School, Healthy Kid’s Day, and the Moving with the Mayor signature event during national America on the Move Week. Current projects within Activate Elgin include expanding upon wellness projects within area elementary schools, including the implementation of a 5-minute fitness program, promoting healthier lunches in cafeterias, supplying healthier vending options, and fitness, nutrition, and family engagement campaigns within the schools. Activate Elgin is also exploring bringing a Farmer’s Market to the west side of Elgin, preparing for America on the Move Week including the Moving with the Mayor Fun Walk and expansion to the Activate Elgin Mile race, conducting a community-wide BMI campaign, and developing the Activate Elgin website that will serve as a one-stop community resource for health information. Activate Elgin is also currently advocating for policy changes that support healthy lifestyles, as well as encouraging the development of a healthy and physically fit workplace to position Elgin as a top choice for the development of new business. Activate Elgin is a city-wide initiative to engage all sectors of the community to work in harmony providing all residents with opportunities to improve their health, well-being, and overall quality of life. Through this initiative, local YMCAs are serving as “connectors,” bringing together high-level representatives from the government, public health and private sectors to drive meaningful change.

Activate Elgin involves community partnerships, as this challenging work requires the collaboration of many organizations working together toward the common goal of reducing obesity and related health conditions in the Elgin area. Community partners include the Greater Elgin Area YMCA, In the Neighborhood Deli, the City of Elgin, Elgin Community Network, the Kane County Health Department, Gail Borden Public Library, School District U-46, the United Way of Elgin, Northern Illinois University, Judson University, the American Academy of Pediatrics, Provena St. Joseph Hospital, Sherman Health, and the Grand Victoria Foundation.

Activate Elgin Website

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