Pioneering Healthier Communities

Creating a Culture of Wellness…..

According to Fit not Fat, published by Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, nearly two out of every five Arkansas School Age Children are overweight or at risk of becoming overweight. Obesity among children and adults has been increasing across the United States since the mid 1970’s, including Arkansas, which has consistently ranked above the national average. While it appears that the growth of child obesity is beginning to slow in Arkansas, it is still too high. Over the past twenty years, unhealthy behaviors, including physical inactivity and unhealthy eating have led to this epidemic in Arkansas, and specifically in Garland County, will take the hard work of the entire community.

The Pioneering healthier Communities Initiative, through Activate Garland County, is committed to providing leadership and resources to convene key leaders, and partners in combating this problem in order to ensure the health of present, and future , Garland County residents.

Activate Garland County promotes active lifestyles and encourages health conscience decisions. It is also most interested in health equity and will advocate for strong public policy in the areas of overall personal wellness as it pertains to where each of us lives, works, plays and worships.

This work is vital and imperative; in fact, the live of future generations depend on it!

What can each individual do in order to reverse the health trend in Garland County:

  • Support local grown produce and our fabulous Farmer’s Market
  • Support dining venues which make healthy choices readily available and willingly share nutrition information AT THE POINT OF SALE.
  • Support our National, State and Local parks.
  • Support local school Child Health Advisory Committees. (your school is mandated to have one).
  • Support the development of bike trails/lanes, and trail completion projects.
  • Support “best practices” as it relates to healthy choices in the work place.
  • Support increase in physical activity for students
  • Support community garden projects and the use of “green space” for fresh nutrition education.

Notice the key word SUPPORT.

The nature of Pioneering Healthier Community work, and the work of Activate Garland County, is collaborative in nature.

This initiative recognizes that many have ‘pioneered” the path for healthier communities. It is the intention of this work to help identify further barriers, to continue to foster an open dialogue, to increase public awareness, to “come along side work already being done” and to empower individuals within the larger community to take responsibility for individual and community health.

John Selig Community Coach

Executive Team

Jackie Arrison

Mike Bush

Jorge Garcia

John Hearnsberger

Tim Johnson

Bart Newman

John Simpson

Community Partners

The City of Hot Springs
The State of Arkansas
The Hot Springs School District
Garland County Health Department
The Downtown Historic Farmer’s Market
Spa Pacer’s
St. Joseph’ Mercy Hospital
Lakepointe Church
The Sentinel Record
The Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce

Visit the Activate Garland County website at www.activategarlandcounty.org

For more information regarding Pioneering Healthier Communities, Health Equity, Public Health Policy or Activate Garland County contact:

Annmarie Kaylo

Associate Executive Director, [email protected]