CCSR involved in statewide effort to promote healthy communities
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, chronic diseases affect almost 50 percent of Americans and account for seven of the 10 leading causes of death in the United States. People who suffer from chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer, obesity and arthritis experience limitations in functioning, health, activity and work, affecting the quality of their lives. The top three causes of these chronic conditions are tobacco use and exposure, physical inactivity and poor nutrition.
Through two grants with the Kansas Health Foundation, CCSR will provide leadership development assistance and facilitate planning discussions with 20 Kansas community coalitions composed of health care providers, schools, businesses, local government and nonprofits.
Scott Wituk, CCSR director, said: "Participating communities have identified they want to make progress on these challenging health issues. Through planning and implementation grants they will be positioned to bring together diverse stakeholders in order to have meaningful conversations on these issues and what progress can be made."
In addition, CCSR is assisting with the development and coordination of a statewide advisory committee who are experts on these health issues.
"We've been working on each of these issues for decades, but largely treated them as separate issues," said Wituk. "This is a unique opportunity to work across the leading causes of chronic health conditions to help make progress on health. While there is growing awareness and evidence-based practices and policies, we need to determine what can work in Kansas."
CCSR began working with 12 communities in 2012 and will work with an additional eight communities starting in 2013. Each community begins with a year planning grant, followed by a three-year implementation grant.
For more information, contact Scott Wituk at 978-3327.