Spotlight on Columbus, Ohio
The City of Columbus is the largest city in the state of Ohio and one of the fastest growing big cities in the Midwest. In recent years, Mayor Michael B. Coleman, Columbus Public Health (led by Health Commissioner Teresa C. Long MD, MPH), and other city agencies have taken great strides to increase opportunities for physical activity and promote healthy eating. Whether it involves health prevention initiatives, new parks, additional programs at recreation centers, public service projects that spur active transportation, or development policy on land use, the city’s agencies use a health focused lens to advance conditions in which residents can be healthy.
Mayor Coleman leads Bike Columbus Twilight Ride in 2012
For instance, through its four programs — Creating Healthy Communities; Healthy Children, Healthy, Weights; Healthy Places; and the Institute for Active Living — Columbus Public Health’s new Office of Chronic Disease Prevention builds coalitions and incorporates community stakeholders and partners to support initiatives that promote healthy choices in early childhood; increased opportunities for physical activity; access to affordable, nutritious food; and, in partnership with Columbus City Schools, improved nutrition and increase physical activity. Here are just some examples of their achievements:
Early Care and Education Efforts: Since 2010, Columbus Public Health’s Healthy Children, Healthy Weight (HCHW) program has partnered with the Ohio Child Care Resource and Referral Agency to implement Ohio Healthy Programs (OHP) – a program which offers child care providers special recognition for their efforts to combat childhood obesity This voluntary designation is for child care centers and family home providers who: 1) attend 15 hours of professional development training, 2) create at least one policy around increasing physical activity, decreasing screen time, improving nutritional value of menus, decreasing sugar sweetened beverages, and/or promoting breastfeeding, 3) serve an OHP healthy food menu (based on Let’s Move! Child Care menu guidelines), and 4) engage parents in the process. Locally, HCHW has assisted 3 centers in gaining the designation and an additional 57 that have surpassed the criteria thus far. Additionally, Columbus Public Health facilitates the City of Columbus Early Childhood Obesity Prevention Coalition with more than 50 community, service, and early childhood education groups. Columbus has been awarded an LMCTC Gold Medal for Goal I: Start Early, Start Smart.
Promoting MyPlate: HCHW has 2.5 hours of curriculum on healthy eating, including MyPlate promotion. A classroom poster of MyPlate was created by HCHW and distributed to 69 centers in 2011 and 2012. Columbus is a community partner for MyPlate and has distributed hundreds of placemats featuring MyPlate as part of Mayor Coleman’s Neighborhood Pride initiative. In addition, a 5 foot vertical display board was created for exhibit at dozens of community events.
Active Kids at Play: Through a public/private partnership, downtown Columbus is offering increased opportunities for physical activity. Kids can bike along the new Scioto Mile, a path which connects downtown to the Scioto River, or visit Columbus Commons, a park that hosts kickboxing, yoga and fitness classes. In addition, the Columbus Public Health recently received funding for a Safe Routes to School Program. Columbus has been promoting their efforts through the Institute for Active Living’s Get Active Website, which had over 42,000 visitors in 2012. The website features online maps that detail where families can play at an affordable cost in their neighborhood and is part of the MyColumbus APP.
Through these efforts, Columbus hopes to become a place known for its initiatives to encourage healthier lifestyles. To learn more about Columbus, visit their community profile page.
Each newsletter will spotlight a community and their achievements. If you and your community is interested in being profiled, send us an email at lmctc@nlc.org.