Strategies for Change
In order to really make some healthy changes in your community, you should think about all the different ways you—as either a private citizen or an elected official—can make an impact. Visit this site, the CDC's Guide to Community Preventive Services, for lots of good resources. And below are 10 broad areas you should consider when you want to promote healthy living in your community. Under each you'll find a practical example or two.
Policy
Work to create or change policies to promote enjoyable and lifelong physical activity and healthy eating habits in your community. Speak up!
- As a citizen:
- Join or form an advocacy group that favors truth in labeling on food.
- As an elected official:
- Attend the annual meeting of the American Public Health Association held in the fall of each year.
Environment
Help to create a physical and social environment that encourages your community to move more and focus on healthy eating. Be aware of barriers to physical activity and do something about them.
- As a citizen:
- Report maintenance and safety issues with walking paths to your elected officials.
- As an elected official:
- Make certain that your local zoning board makes walking paths available.
The Healthy Kansas Communities Toolkit
Physical Education
Encourage educators to implement a curriculum that focuses on enjoyable participation in physical activity so students will develop the knowledge, attitudes, motor skills, behavioral skills, and confidence to be more physically active and eat a healthier diet.
- As a citizen:
- Speak out to your local school board and other elected officials about the importance of physical education in preventing obesity.
- As an elected official:
- Prevent further cuts in physical education programs and fund school- or community-based programs that enhance physical activity.
Health Education
Promote health education classes for your community and schools that focus on developing the knowledge, attitudes, behavioral skills, and confidence to be more physically active and eat a healthier diet. Kids who develop healthy habits while they're young are more likely to be healthy adults!
- As a citizen:
- Challenge school districts to incorporate effective nutrition education and behavior change in the school curriculum.
- As an elected official:
- Protect funding of programs designed to promote health education and family and consumer sciences education in schools.
Extracurricular Activities
Provide extracurricular activities to people of all ages that meet their needs and interests. Make sure your community has something for everyone!
- As a citizen:
- Coach a youth soccer team.
- As an elected official:
- Make certain that your local Department of Parks and Recreation has the resources it needs to provide high-quality programs and to keep physical facilities in good condition.
Parental Involvement
Get parents and guardians involved with participating in school-based and community physical activity and healthy-eating programs. In addition, encourage them to support their children in healthful activities. When families play and eat right together, it's easier for everybody to maintain good new habits.
- As a citizen:
- Establish a local walking group through the Walk Kansas program every spring.
- As an elected official:
- Appoint parent advocates to serve on local policy decision making committees.
Personnel Training
Train educators, coaches, recreational workers, health-care and other community personnel to effectively promote enjoyable and lifelong physical activity and healthy eating.
- As a citizen:
- If you have expertise in promoting healthy lifestyles, volunteer your time for in-service training programs.
- As an elected official:
- Promote work-site wellness programs in your community.
Health Services
Assess the physical activity and eating habits of your community and then inform the public about programs and strategies to fulfill their health needs. Knowledge is power!
- As a citizen:
- Join a local pubic health advisory board.
- As an elected official:
- Be willing to seriously consider recommendations from public advisory boards.
Community Programs
Provide a range of developmentally appropriate activities and recreational programs for everyone in your community.
- As a citizen:
- Advocate for programs for the entire community and not just your local neighborhood.
- As an elected official:
- Be willing to share resources across townships, cities and counties.
Evaluation
Regularly evaluate your community's physical activity and healthy-eating programs, facilities and educational activities. It's hard to know where you're going when you don't know where you've been!
- As a citizen:
- Be willing to voice your concerns and compliments about after-school-care snacks.
- As an elected official:
- Hold public organizations responsible for promoting health and wellness in your community and region.
Source: Centers for Disease Control