By Shannon McFarlin WENK/WTPR News Director
Nashville, Tenn. – The Governor’s Foundation for Health and Wellness today announced Henry County has been awarded a $5,000 Healthier Tennessee Community Grant to help sustain community-wide projects that encourage and enable physical activity, healthy eating and tobacco abstinence.
Making the check presentation at today’s meeting of the Healthier Henry Co. board was Healthier Tennessee Regional Director Stacey Levine.
Henry County already achieved several important milestones to receive the community grant and Rachel Matlock, public health educator for the Henry County Health Department, said it will keep working on goals such as promoting events and activities that will improve the health and wellness of countians. To be designated a Healthier Tennessee Community, Henry County must initiate and sustain community-wide events and activities that support physical activity, healthy eating and tobacco abstinence, and then track and measure outputs and accomplishments of the program, according to Healthier Tennessee officials.
“We are pleased to present this grant to Henry County in recognition of the great work being done there and with the belief that it will boost efforts to improve the health of local citizens and the overall quality of life in the community,” Governor’s Foundation CEO Richard Johnson said.
To earn the grant, Henry County achieved:
At least 50 percent of K-8 teachers using GoNoodle, an interactive, online tool that
encourages exercise during the school day.
At least 15 percent of faith communities with 100 or more members using Small
Starts @ Worship wellness programs.
At least 20 percent of workplaces with 35 or more employees using Small Starts @
Work wellness programs.
According to a press release from Healthier Tennessee, in our state, one in five adults smoke, and one in five high school students use tobacco. Approximately 34 percent of the population is classified as obese and an additional 34 percent are overweight, and type-2 diabetes and high blood pressure are at epidemic levels.
The Healthier Tennessee Communities initiative takes a local approach to improving Tennesseans’ health. The initiative was launched in March 2015 with nine pilot communities. Today, 84 communities are involved with the program and 24 have achieved official designation as Healthier Tennessee communities.
Photo: Healthier Tennessee Regional Director Stacey Levine, at right, presents the $5,000 check to Rachel Matlock and other board members, from left, Sandy Minor, Kim Dempsey, Tory Daughrity, Matlock, Lori Stambaugh, Carly Wheat, Amber Noles, Stephanie Winders, Tony Lawrence and Michele Atkins. (Shannon McFarlin photo).
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