The We THRIVE! initiative in Hamilton County supported a broad-based shift from individual-focused public health messages and programs to a healthy community approach that addressed environments, policies and systems (PSE). It helped resident leaders, professionals, elected officials and other stakeholders understand their role and engage in a new movement for change by providing an organizational umbrella, hosting an influential luncheon, conducting educational tours and launching a strategic communications campaign to demonstrate how PSE changes could work for local communities and families.
For more information, read the full story.
Because Hamilton County is home to 48 political jurisdictions, each with its own decision-making powers, collective action can be difficult to achieve. But on an issue like childhood obesity, “We need all of these important voices,” Bierer continued. “When everyone is pulling in the same direction, that’s what creates enough momentum to make real change and sustain it.”
But making these types of changes requires sustained and coordinated efforts throughout the county, which is why public health joined forces with numerous dedicated partners including the Nutrition Council, YMCA of Greater Cincinnati, Closing the Health Gap, Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati Green Umbrella, Our Harvest, Interact for Health, local school districts, area elected officials and fourteen community coalitions. Collectively called WeTHRIVE!, this partnership has started to turn its vision into reality.
“A lot of significant organizations invested in preventing childhood obesity have come to the table to coordinate efforts,” project coordinator Jennifer Bierer said.
Under the leadership of HCPH and WeTHRIVE!, several major funding sources were strategically leveraged to achieve advancements in policy, system and environmental changes in the county. These sources include the Strategic Alliance for Health and Communities Putting Prevention to Work, grants from the Centers for Disease Control, and Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
WeTHRIVE! efforts will continue to be disseminated throughout the county through the provision of training and support of Community Ambassadors who will lead the planning and implementation of healthy eating and physical activity policy, systems and environmental strategies tailored to meet the needs of their respective communities.
“Community engagement at all levels is key to the success of this very important work,” Bierer said. “Together we can create and support sustainable changes that have a positive impact in the community for years to come.”
For more information, view a short film about their work.