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Description
and Mission of the Program
The mission of the Health
Education Program is to emphasize quality nutrition and adequate
physical activity in order to promote healthy lifestyle
behaviors among residents of Cowlitz County.
Poor nutrition and
lack of physical activity are contributing factors to obesity. Obesity is a leading cause of many serious life-threatening
illnesses, including type 2 diabetes, hypertension, colon cancer, and heart
disease and stroke. Obesity
also contributes to physical maladies, such as arthritis, falls and fractures.
The cornerstone of
the program is the U.S.D.A. funded Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program (SNAP). This program's goal is to increase the proportion of
Basic Food Program recipients and applicants whose diets reflect the U.S.D.A. Dietary Guidelines and who participate in moderate physical activity on
a consistent basis.
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Related Health
Department Web Links
Assessments
Food
Safety
Nutrition
Physical
Activity
Tobacco
Prevention
Related
Outside Websites:
Dept
of Health websites
Community
Wellness and Prevention
Nutrition
in Washington
Physical
Activity
Steps
to a Healthier US
WIC
Healthy Habits
WIC
Nutrition Education Program
Women,
Infants and Children (WIC) program
Other
Websites
Active
Living by Design
American
Cancer Society
American
Diabetes Association
American
Dietetic Association Eat Right Program
American
Heart Association
Eat
Smart, Play Hard (USDA)
Healthy
Kids Challenge
Improving
School Nutrition Environment
Kelso
Area Parks
Kids
Walk to School
Lewis
River Recreation Guide
Longview-Kelso
Parks and Recreation
National
Health Information Center
National
Institutes of Health
National
Heart, Lung and Blood Institute |
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Major
Program
Objectives and Goals
Conduct
a community-wide nutrition and physical activity campaign
throughout Cowlitz County.
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Disseminate
message through printed materials, updated Health
Education web pages, and television and radio ads.
Partner
with community agencies to incorporate and reinforce
nutrition and physical activity campaign into existing
programs and sites. -
Participate
in health fairs.
Form
a cohesive support system with partner agencies in order to
consistently reinforce physical activity and dietary quality
objectives in the population.
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Train
partner agencies' staff and volunteers in nutrition and physical
activity principles.
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Provide
nutritional/physical activity resource packets to partner
agencies.
Develop
a plan to work within existing networks to meet SNAP-Ed
program objectives. -
Identify,
assess and overcome barriers that hinder success of meeting
nutrition and fitness objectives.
Enhance
and incorporate nutrition and physical activity information into
existing Health Department programs.
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Identify
current sites or establish new outreach satellite sites that
include nutrition and physical activity promotion with other
services.
Provide
resource packets for IMMS and ICM clients that enforce
program objectives and measure specific outcomes. Incorporate
nutrition and physical activity education
materials/information packets into current Health Department
programs. Incorporate
food safety sanitation and "quit smoking" message into
nutrition and physical activity packets and existing Health
Department programs.
Promote
environmental changes in schools and communities to foster
improved dietary habits and physical activities.
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Encourage
Fruits and Veggies Matter Program throughout Cowlitz
County.
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Increase
awareness of local recreational opportunities, such as location
of trails, parks and sports facilities.
Collaborate
with other community programs to incorporate nutrition and
physical activity policy and promotion.
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