Improvements to Community Health Status

 

 

Improvements to Community Health Status

 

Our nation’s most pressing current public health issue, identified by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), is obesity, which now challenges tobacco use as the leading cause of premature death and disability.  Why is this and what does this mean for the tri-state?  With overweight/obesity and tobacco use above the national average, it means we are at greater risk for numerous preventable health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, stroke, arthritis, cancer, and more.  These conditions lead to a poorer quality of life for people, increase disability, and send our health care costs soaring.

 

Much of this burden could be avoided.  These chronic health conditions develop gradually over a period of years as a result daily habits that often begin early in life: low physical activity, poor nutrition habits, and tobacco use.  Overweight children and teens have a greatly increased probability of becoming overweight adults, with overwhelming consequences to their  physical and emotional health.  The majority of adult smokers began the habit before they reached the age of eighteen.

 

Creating environments that support regular physical activity and healthy eating, and preventing tobacco use, are at the root of preventing much of this disease burden.  Poor health does not have to be an inevitable consequence of aging. People who live healthy lifestyles and avoid the behaviors that increase their risk for these health conditions can expect to enjoy longer, healthier lives.

 

The Foundation seeks research-based projects that endeavor to:

·       Enable people to increase the amount of physical activity in their daily routines

·       Reduce overweight and obesity

·       Prevent and reduce tobacco use

·       Improve wellness and lifestyle-related chronic disease prevention

·    Form and expand health ministries for churches and faith communities, their members and their communities

 
This year, there is a Microsoft Word on-line template that you may download and utilize in the development of your Letter of Interest. ALL LETTERS OF INTEREST SUBMITTED VIA E-MAIL MUST USE THIS TEMPLATE. Please note that the template requires Microsoft Word.
 

Download Letter of Interest Cover Page and Instructions  (rename the file and save it to your hard drive)

 

Additional Links and Resources:

Active Living by Design: www.activelivingbydesign.org.

 

Active Living Essentials, Healthy Eating by Design: http://www.activelivingbydesign.org/index.php?id=355

 

Active Living Essentials, Physical Activity and Health: http://www.activelivingbydesign.org/index.php?id=28

 

America Walks: http://www.americawalks.org/.

 

Health Ministries Association:  www.hmassoc.org

 

International Parish Nurse Resource Center:  www.parishnurses.org

 

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Healthy People in Healthy Places:   http://www.cdc.gov/osi/goals/places.html

 

Walkable Communities, Inc.: http://www.walkable.org/.

 

Wellness Council of America: www.welcoa.org