Author: Julia Groenfeldt

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE –October 28, 2019

Six Virginia Communities Demonstrate Commitment to Healthy Eating and Active Living

(ROANAKE, Va.) — On October 8th, the Institute for Public Health Innovation’s (IPHI) HEAL (Healthy Eating Active Living) Cities and Town’s Campaign awarded HEAL recognition to six Virginia cities and towns for their commendable efforts to improve their communities’ physical activity and food environments.

The annual Virginia Municipal League conference is an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of HEAL Campaign members and connect with new municipalities interested in joining the Campaign. The HEAL Campaign provides technical assistance at no cost to municipal leaders to help them create healthy and prosperous communities by adopting HEAL policies and practices. Cities and towns join the HEAL Campaign by passing a HEAL resolution that outlines HEAL policy and practice goals to create communities where all residents can make healthy choices to eat nutritious food and be physically active.

Each year, the Campaign recognizes new member municipalities and cities and towns that advance to higher HEAL recognition levels by achieving their healthy eating and active living goals. This year’s honorees included:

• The City of Lexington and Surry County received recognition for passing a HEAL resolution and joining the Campaign.
• The Town of Scottsville and The Town of Ashland received Bronze recognition for incorporating HEAL goals in a recent comprehensive plan update and a workplace wellness program to incentivize staff wellness through fitness classes, educational activities, and monetary rewards.
• The Town of Dumfries and the Town of Wytheville received Platinum HEAL Recognition, the highest HEAL achievement award. Cities and towns that advance to the Platinum level have attained Gold status and are able to provide evidence that their healthy eating and active living work reaches across government departments and is being evaluated and monitored.

Since launching the Campaign in 2012, the HEAL Campaign has grown to 68 members across Maryland and Virginia. For more information about the Campaign and how to join, please visit www.healcitiesmidatlantic.org.

About the HEAL Cities & Towns Campaign:

The HEAL Cities and Towns Campaign provides free technical assistance to local government leaders to help them create healthy, prosperous communities by adopting policies and practices that improve their communities’ physical activity and food environments. HEAL is a project of the Institute for Public Health Innovation, in partnership with the Maryland and Virginia Municipal Leagues and funded by Kaiser Permanente, founding partner.

About the Institute for Public Health Innovation:

IPHI develops multi-sector partnerships and innovative solutions to improve the public’s health and well-being across Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia.  Our work strengthens health systems and policy, enhances conditions that promote health, and builds community capacity to ensure equitable health opportunities for all.  IPHI is one of over 40 public health institutes across the country and a member of the National Network of Public Health Institutes.  For more information on IPHI, see www.institutephi.org, and follow IPHI on Facebook and Twitter @InstitutePHI.

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For Immediate Release

June 24, 2019

The HEAL Cities & Town’s Campaign Recognizes Health Policy Achievements of Maryland Cities

Ocean City, Maryland, June 23, 2019 — For the seventh consecutive year, the Institute for Public Health Innovation’s (IPHI) HEAL (Healthy Eating Active Living) Cities and Towns Campaign has recognized Maryland municipalities for their achievements adopting HEAL policies and practices that improve their communities’ physical activity and food environments.

The annual award ceremony is held in conjunction with the Maryland Municipal League Summer Conference in the Town of Ocean City. The annual conference is an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of HEAL Campaign members and connect with new municipalities interested in joining the Campaign. The Campaign provides technical assistance at no cost to municipal leaders to help them create healthy and prosperous communities by adopting HEAL policies and practices. Cities and towns join the HEAL Campaign by passing a HEAL Resolution that outlines HEAL policy and practice goals to create communities where all people can make healthy choices to eat nutritious food and be physically active.

Each year, the Campaign recognizes cities and towns that advance to higher Campaign recognition levels by achieving their healthy eating and active living goals. This year’s honorees included:

• The City of New Carrollton received Silver recognition for implementing a healthy vending initiative and developing two new community gardens for City residents.
• The City of Bowie, The City of Greenbelt, and The City of Laurel received Platinum HEAL Recognition, the highest HEAL achievement award. Cities and towns that advance to the Platinum level have attained Gold status and are able to provide evidence that their healthy eating and active living work reaches across government departments and is being evaluated and monitored.

Following the event, the HEAL Campaign will continue to engage with new cities and towns and provide technical assistance to all 66 current HEAL Campaign members in both Maryland and Virginia. For more information about the Campaign or how to join, please visit: www.healcitiesmidatlantic.org.

About the HEAL Cities & Towns Campaign:

The HEAL Cities and Towns Campaign provides free technical assistance to local government leaders to help them create healthy, prosperous communities by adopting policies and practices that improve their communities’ physical activity and food environments. HEAL is a project of the Institute for Public Health Innovation, in partnership with the Maryland and Virginia Municipal Leagues and funded by Kaiser Permanente, founding partner.

About Institute for Public Health Innovation: 

The Institute for Public Health Innovation develops multi-sector partnerships and innovative solutions to improve the public’s health and well-being across Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia.  Our work strengthens health systems and policy, enhances conditions that promote health, and builds community capacity to ensure equitable health opportunities for all. IPHI is one of over 40 public health institutes across the country and a member of the National Network of Public Health Institutes.

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For Immediate Release

April 29, 2019

Seven Maryland and Virginia Municipalities Receive Grants For Policy and Environmental Changes that Promote Healthy Eating and Active Living

Washington, DC – Through its Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) Cities & Towns Campaign, the Institute for Public Health Innovation (IPHI) and Kaiser Permanente, founding partner, has awarded a total of $45,125 to seven Maryland and Virginia municipalities to implement policies that promote access to nutritious foods and opportunities for physical activity. The awardees include:

• Town of Bel Air, MD – Improving bike safety and connectivity by designing priority cycling routes and installing signs and pavement markings.
• Town of Bluefield, VA – Installing a ¾ mile, 10 Station Fit Trail System in a local park.
• Town of Edmonston, MD – Connecting local bike lanes with the Anacostia Trails Area and local parks.
• Town New Carrollton, MD – Increasing access to a local park by improving water drainage and reducing flooding along a popular pedestrian path.
• City of Frederick, MD – Improving access to affordable, nutritious food by enhancing local community gardens, urban agriculture, and urban farming.
• Town of Lawrenceville, VA – Improving walkability by increasing sidewalk connectivity and implementing walking programs and events.
• Town of Middleburg, VA – Enhancing active living opportunities by building sidewalk extensions, implementing wayfinding signs, and developing a Walk Middleburg pamphlet and mobile app.

Since 2012, the Institute for Public Health Innovation has partnered with the Maryland Municipal League, the Virginia Municipal League, and Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States to provide technical assistance and training to local governments to help them create healthy, prosperous communities by adopting healthy eating and active living (HEAL) policies and practices that improve their communities’ physical activity and food environments. The HEAL Campaign for the Mid-Atlantic has 66 members across Maryland and Virginia.

In 2015, the HEAL Campaign launched the inaugural funding opportunity by awarding HEAL grants to ten local governments in Maryland and Virginia. This year marked the second opportunity for member cities and towns to apply for HEAL grant funding. All funding will be used to support an adopted HEAL policy that uses a policy, systems change, and/or environmental approach to increase access to healthy, affordable foods and opportunities for physical activity in communities across Maryland and Virginia. Funding was generously provided by HEAL Cities and Towns Campaign founding partner, Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States.

About the HEAL Cities & Towns Campaign:

The HEAL Cities and Towns Campaign provides free technical assistance to local government leaders to help them create healthy, prosperous communities by adopting policies and practices that improve their communities’ physical activity and food environments. HEAL is a project of the Institute for Public Health Innovation, in partnership with the Maryland and Virginia Municipal Leagues and funded by Kaiser Permanente, founding partner.

For more information, visit the HEAL website at  www.healcitiesmidatlantic.org  and contact HEAL Program Manager, Sydney Daigle at Sdaigle@institutephi.org,

About Institute for Public Health Innovation: 

The Institute for Public Health Innovation develops multi-sector partnerships and innovative solutions to improve the public’s health and well-being across Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia.  Our work strengthens health systems and policy, enhances conditions that promote health, and builds community capacity to ensure equitable health opportunities for all. IPHI is one of over 40 public health institutes across the country and a member of the National Network of Public Health Institutes.

For more information on IPHI, see  www.institutephi.org, and follow IPHI on Facebook and Twitter @InstitutePHI.

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For Immediate Release

15 February 2019

Institute for Public Health Innovation Announces HEAL Cities & Towns Campaign
Grants Program with $40,000 Available in Funding

Washington, DC – Through its HEAL Cities & Towns Campaign, the Institute for Public Health Innovation (IPHI) is offering a total of $40,000 to local governments in Maryland and Virginia to implement policies that promote access to nutritious foods and opportunities for physical activity. Up to ten communities will receive funding through a competitive application process that will open on February 15, 2019.

The HEAL Cities & Towns Small Grants Program will support local governments to implement policies that increase opportunities for healthy eating and active living in the community or government workplace. Implementation grants between $1,000-$10,000 will be awarded to current HEAL Campaign members. These grants support the HEAL Cities & Towns Campaign’s goal to support local leaders’ efforts to create communities where residents and employees can eat better and move more. These grants are intended to provide resources for cities and towns to implement an adopted HEAL policy in their community and increase access to nutritious food choices and/or opportunities for physical activity. Grant recipients will have approximately nine months to complete grant-funded activities. All supported efforts must directly impact incorporated cities, towns, or counties in Maryland or Virginia.

“We are thrilled to support local governments to move beyond policy adoption to implementation,” said Mid-Atlantic Campaign director, Sydney Daigle. “We know that policy change is necessary to combat chronic disease, but that is just the first step. The goal of this grant program is to support cities, towns, and counties to implement the HEAL policies that they’ve adopted so they can be successful in their efforts to create healthier community environments.”

The full Request for Proposals is available at: www.healcitiesmidatlantic.org/grants. Funding is provided by HEAL Cities and Towns Campaign founding partner, Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States. “Kaiser Permanente is committed to improving the conditions that shape health for our members and the communities we serve, and we know that access to healthy, fresh foods and places for physical activity has a positive impact on health,” said Celeste James, Executive Director of Community Health, Kaiser Permanente. “We work with a range of partners to champion good health and to advance creative solutions, and we are pleased to support municipalities across the region in improving policies and practices that support health.”

Applications are due to Sydney Daigle (Sdaigle@institutephi.org) on or before March 15, 2019. 

About the HEAL Cities & Towns Campaign

The Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) Cities & Towns Campaign is an initiative to support local elected officials and their staff to create communities where all residents can make healthy choices about physical activity and nutrition. Since 2012, the Institute for Public Health Innovation has partnered with the Maryland Municipal League, the Virginia Municipal League, and Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States to provide technical assistance and training to local governments to adopt policies that improve their communities’ nutrition and physical activity environments.

For more information about the HEAL Cities & Towns Campaign, please visit www.healcitiesmidatlantic.org

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For more information, contact:

Sydney Daigle

Program Manager

Institute for Public Health Innovation

Sdaigle@institutephi.org

(240) 253-1036

Thirteen HEAL Cities & Towns Recognized at 2018 Virginia Municipal League Conference

The City of Hampton, Virginia — On October 1st, 2018, the HEAL Cities and Towns Campaign for the Mid-Atlantic welcomed three new members and recognized the achievements of eleven Virginia cities, towns, and counties at the annual Virginia Municipal League’s (VML) Conference in Hampton. The annual VML Conference is an opportunity for municipal officials to gain peer support, build skills and knowledge, and learn about opportunities to enhance their communities.

The HEAL Cities and Towns Campaign is a project of the Institute for Public Health Innovation (IPHI), in partnership with the Virginia Municipal Leagues and with support from Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States. The Campaign provides technical assistance at no cost to municipal leaders to help them create healthy, prosperous communities by adopting healthy eating and active living (HEAL) policies and practices that improve their communities’ physical activity and food environments. The HEAL Cities and Towns Campaign for the Mid-Atlantic has 65 members across Maryland and Virginia.

Cities and towns join the HEAL Campaign by passing a HEAL Resolution that outlines HEAL policy and practice goals to create communities where all people can make healthy choices to eat nutritious food and be physically active. This year, the HEAL Campaign welcomed three new Virginia HEAL municipalities for passing a HEAL Resolution: The Town of Scottsville, the City of Fairfax, and the City of Manassas.

Each year, the Campaign recognizes cities and towns that advance to higher Campaign recognition levels by achieving their healthy eating and active living goals. This year’s honorees included:

Bronze Recognition:

• The City of Roanoke was awarded Bronze Recognition for initiating a workplace wellness program for City staff including health and wellness workshops, walking groups, stress reduction strategies, and an enhanced employee health fair.

• The City of Fairfax (also a new HEAL member) was awarded Bronze Recognition for launching Farm to Fairfax, the City’s producer-only farmers market.

Silver Recognition:

• The Town of Ashland was awarded Silver Recognition for accomplishments related to workplace wellness programs for Town staff. The Town initiated point-based monetary rewards for employees who participate; reimbursements for gym memberships; and, an annual family subscription to the Town’s pool.

• The City of Falls Church was awarded Silver Recognition for establishing a healthy vending program in its Community Center and developing a City-wide urban agriculture program beginning with a community garden at City Hall.

• The County of Greensville was awarded Silver Recognition for engaging the County’s Community Health Action Team that works to bring effective health-oriented programs to rural communities. Their work has helped launch community events and provided funding for an upgraded river nature trail, EBT card use at the local farmers market, and a playground at a children’s park. They were also recognized for their financial support of their local YMCA’s Diabetes Control Program.

Gold Recognition:

• The Town of Big Stone Gap was awarded Gold Recognition for providing free nutrition classes at their Tourist and Information Center, providing free exercise classes like weekly Zumba classes, and taking the million-mile challenge as a town – which aims to have residents collectively walk one million miles in a year.
• The Town of Bluefield was awarded Gold Recognition for initiating a smoke-free public parks and recreation areas, holding an annual 5K run, and establishing a straw bale community garden for residents downtown.
• Town of Dumfries was awarded Gold Recognition for accomplishments related to workplace wellness like establishing a staff garden and issuing pedometers and stand-up workstations to town staff.
• The Town of Wytheville received Gold Recognition for creating walking trails and maps to promote walking in their downtown, providing a free, daily, nutritious snack to children at the municipal swimming pool, and installing handicap-accessible exercise equipment along an existing outdoor walking path.

Platinum Recognition:

• The City of Hopewell and Prince George County received Platinum HEAL Recognition, the highest HEAL Achievement award. Cities and towns that advance to the Platinum level have attained Gold status and are able to provide evidence that their healthy eating and active living work reaches across government departments and is being evaluated and monitored.

In addition to its awards ceremony, the HEAL Cities & Towns Campaign hosted a panel presentation, “Building Healthy Economies through Healthy Communities.” The presentation featured HEAL Campaign leaders from The City of Charlottesville, the City of Fairfax, and the City of Richmond. The presentation was attended by over 40 participants, including both current HEAL Cities and Towns and attendees interested in learning more about the Campaign.

About the HEAL Cities & Towns Campaign:

The HEAL Cities and Towns Campaign provides free technical assistance to local government leaders to help them create healthy, prosperous communities by adopting policies and practices that improve their communities’ physical activity and food environments. HEAL is a project of the Institute for Public Health Innovation, in partnership with the Maryland and Virginia Municipal Leagues and funded by Kaiser Permanente, founding partner.

For more information, visit the HEAL website at www.healcitiesmidatlantic.org and contact HEAL Program Manager, Sydney Daigle at Sdaigle@institutephi.org.

About Institute for Public Health Innovation: 

IPHI creates partnerships across sectors and cultivates innovative solutions that improve health and well-being for all populations and communities across the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia, particularly those most affected by health inequities. IPHI’s work enhances the environments and conditions in which people live, age, work, learn, and play; strengthens health service systems and public policy; and builds organizational and community capacity to sustain progress.  IPHI is one of over 40 public health institutes across the country and a member of the National Network of Public Health Institutes.

For more information on IPHI, see www.institutephi.org, and follow IPHI on Facebook and Twitter @InstitutePHI.

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Maryland Cities and Towns Demonstrate Commitment to Healthy Eating Active Living

Ocean City, Maryland — On June 12^th, 2018, the HEAL Cities and Towns Campaign for the Mid-Atlantic welcomed three new members and recognized the achievements of seven Maryland cities and towns at the annual Maryland Municipal League’s (MML) Summer Conference in Ocean City. The annual MML Summer Conference is an opportunity for municipal officials to gain peer support, build skills and knowledge, and learn about opportunities to enhance their communities.

The HEAL Cities and Towns Campaign is a project of the Institute for Public Health Innovation (IPHI), in partnership with the Maryland Municipal Leagues and with support from Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States. The Campaign provides technical assistance at no cost to municipal leaders to help them create healthy, prosperous communities by adopting healthy eating and active living (HEAL) policies and practices that improve their communities’ physical activity and food environments. The HEAL Cities and Towns Campaign for the Mid-Atlantic has 65 members across Maryland and Virginia.

Cities and towns join the HEAL Campaign by passing a HEAL Resolution that outlines HEAL policy and practice goals to create communities where all people can make healthy choices to eat nutritious food and be physically active. This year, the HEAL Campaign welcomed three new HEAL municipalities for passing a HEAL Resolution: the Town of Chesapeake Beach, the Town Mount Air, and the City of Glenarden.

Each year, the Campaign recognizes cities and towns that advance to higher Campaign recognition levels by achieving their healthy eating and active living goals. This year’s honorees included:

• Silver Recognition:
  • The Town of Mount Airy was awarded Silver for two accomplishments related to workplace wellness and improved marketing of town walking circuits and trails.
• Gold Recognition:
  • The City of Laurel received Gold Recognition for attaining three new HEAL goals, including workplace wellness initiatives like walking meetings, hosting a community health fair, and purchasing and stocking high-tech healthy vending machines.
  • The Town of Rock Hall was awarded Gold Recognition for accomplishments related to launching a morning walking program for a local school’s faculty, staff, and students; forming an interdepartmental workplace wellness committee; and the construction of a new playground.
• Platinum Recognition:
  • The Town of Bel Air, the Town of Capitol Heights, the Town of Colmar Manor, and the City of Frederick received Platinum HEAL Recognition, the highest HEAL achievement award. Cities and towns that advance to the Platinum level have attained Gold status and are able to provide evidence that their healthy eating and active living work reaches across government departments and is being evaluated and monitored.

In addition to its awards ceremony, the HEAL Cities & Towns Campaign held a networking reception for over 40 HEAL municipal leaders. This peer-to-peer learning opportunity allowed for robust discussions on the successes and challenges related to implementing complete streets, workplace wellness, and healthy vending policies and integrating health components into comprehensive plans.

About the HEAL Cities & Towns Campaign:

The HEAL Cities and Towns Campaign provides free technical assistance to local government leaders to help them create healthy, prosperous communities by adopting policies and practices that improve their communities’ physical activity and food environments. HEAL is a project of the Institute for Public Health Innovation, in partnership with the Maryland and Virginia Municipal Leagues and funded by Kaiser Permanente, founding partner.

For more information, visit the HEAL website at www.healcitiesmidatlantic.org and contact HEAL Program Manager, Sydney Daigle at Sdaigle@institutephi.org,

About Institute for Public Health Innovation: 

IPHI creates partnerships across sectors and cultivates innovative solutions that improve health and well-being for all populations and communities across the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia, particularly those most affected by health inequities. IPHI’s work enhances the environments and conditions in which people live, age, work, learn, and play; strengthens health service systems and public policy; and builds organizational and community capacity to sustain progress.  IPHI is one of over 40 public health institutes across the country and a member of the National Network of Public Health Institutes.

For more information on IPHI, see www.institutephi.org, and follow IPHI on Facebook and Twitter @InstitutePHI.

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