There are many factors that affect people's physical, mental, social and financial well-being, which in turn affects their health. Having access to the following things helps make a community healthy:
With these things in place, people that live in the community will be likely to live healthier lives.
Walking With a Purpose is available to assist communities as they assess walkability. The tool was developed specifically to help schools and children identify ways that their route to school could be more walkable. The tool gives ideas on where to complete the assessment, community members to invite to the assessment, a walkability checklist, discussion questions, what to do after the walk, potential class projects to consider, and resources.
In the spring of 2010, 15 community wellness grantees and BASICS contractors utilized the Iowans Fit for Life Walking with a Purpose walkability assessment tool. Read their success stories!
Read the walkability six-month follow up report
Congratulations to Adair-Casey Elementary School, Des Moines Goodrell Middle School, Rockwell City-Lytton Middle School, Riceville Community School, Central (Elkader) Community School, Lamoni Community School, Boone Franklin Elementary, Albia High School, Highland School District, Belmond-Klemme Jacobson Elementary, Waverly-Shellrock Junior High, Nora Springs Elem./Central Springs. These schools have been awarded for using Walking with a Purpose in conjunction with Go the Distance Day!
Nutrition and Physical Activity Asset Mapping can be used to help your community identify strengths and areas for improvement for nutrition and physical activity.
Community Action Plan - a sample action plan for your community to use for putting together action steps for nutrition and physical activity
Policy Ideas for your community - make your community projects stronger and more sustainable by adding policy components.
There is a growing international movement to improve safe routes to school. These routes increase safety and promote walking and bicycling to school through the "5Es: engineering, education, enforcement, encouragement, and evaluation." In addition there are also lots of no-cost or low-cost Safe Routes to School projects your community can do to improve the walking and biking environment.
We want to know about upcoming activities or steps your community is taking towards health to share on our website. Please contact Sarah Taylor Watts from Iowa Department of Public Health at 515-242-6709. We look forward to hearing how you are getting your community to be active and to eat smart.
