Our community's efforts to fight childhood obesity and create a healthier place to live are winning national attention and a boost in the form of a $360,000 grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the nation's largest health foundation. The grant, to be distributed over the next four years, will invest in improving opportunities for physical activity and access to affordable healthy foods for children and families in Jefferson County.

An additional $100,000 in local matching dollars from the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham and the Jefferson County Department of Health, as well as hours of in-kind contributions from other key partners makes a total of more than $700,000 to fight childhood obesity through RWJF's national Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities Initiative.

The strong vision, plan and collaborations of the Jefferson County Health Action Partnership made this the perfect group to receive this grant, one of 41 awarded after a rigorous selection process that drew more than 500 proposals from across the country.

“When we found out that the grant was available, it seemed a natural fit for what was already going on here through the Health Action Partnership,” said Webb Lyons, Community Investment Manager for the Community Foundation and one of those who helped put the application together. “We knew we had a partnership that was working well and focusing on how to make our community a healthier place for everyone.”

As part of that collaboration, United Way of Central Alabama will serve as the lead agency for the initiative, with project coordinator Amanda Storey representing the Health Action Partnership and its key partners, including the Community Foundation, Jefferson County Department of Health, Jones Valley Urban Farm, Birmingham YMCA, Greater Birmingham Community Food Partners, and Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham.

“This grant will help empower our community to address the rising rates of childhood obesity,” said Dr. Michael Fleenor, Health Officer, Jefferson County Department of Health. “With our partners in the Jefferson County Health Action Partnership, we’re confident we can make a difference in the lives of many of our most vulnerable youths and their families.”

In Jefferson County, where the rate of obesity in children is higher than the national average, the focus is on finding ways for children and their parents to gain access to healthy foods, increase opportunities for physical activity and follow healthy lifestyle options.

 “To reverse this epidemic, communities are going to have to rally around their kids and provide the opportunities they need to be healthy,” said Dr. Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. “Through this project, the Jefferson County Health Action Partnership is doing what it takes to make sure children lead better lives.”

Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities is a $33 million national program and RWJF’s largest investment to date in community-based solutions to childhood obesity. The initiative began with nine Leading Sites chosen in late 2008 and now includes 50 communities from Seattle to Puerto Rico. All are targeting improvements in local policies and their community environment, changes that research indicates could have the greatest impact on healthier eating, more active living and obesity prevention. 

Jefferson County is the only Alabama site included in the program. Click here  to learn more about these communities and their plans.

“The Health Action Partnership was developed as a way to fulfill the Community Roadmap to Health, a vision of what our community wants for itself,” said Kate Nielsen, President of the Community Foundation. “In making our investment of $80,000 over the next four years as part of a local match for this grant, and through our proactive leadership in this initiative, we want to build on our assets and create a place where healthy eating and active lifestyles are easy for everyone to achieve.

“We are already seeing the results of previous local grants in the form of walking groups organized by the local YMCA, community gardens growing on formerly vacant land and new parks which will add more than 1,200 acres of green space. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation grant helps to fast-forward our efforts and multiply our local investment. Together, we can transform our community for the next generation.”