Growing Healthy Communities

Growing Healthy Communities (GHC) is a project developed by the Arkansas Coalition for Obesity Prevention (ArCOP) in 2009 to build capacity within local communities to reduce obesity by increasing physical activity, increasing access to healthy foods, and implementing environmental and policy changes that support healthy living.

The Growing Healthy Communities project is a collaborative effort funded by the Blue and You Foundation for a Healthier Arkansas, the Arkansas Department of Health’s CDC Cooperative Agreement, UAMS Partners for Inclusive Communities, UAMS College of Public Health, and the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute.  Fact Sheet

Through a grant process, communities are selected to participate in an immersion training event, with required attendance by the Mayor and other decision leaders.  During the training, participants network with and learn from national, state and local leaders about policy and environmental changes that will promote healthy lifestyles. Each community delegation is then assisted in creating a plan to address specific areas of need in their community and provided with funding to help them implement their plans.

The 2010 Growing Healthy Communities:

Three additional communities participated in the training and are eligible to receive technical assistance from ArCOP, but were not selected for funding:

Highlights of the 2010 Growing Healthy Communities training session.

 The 2011 Growing Healthy Communities training will take place March 2 – 5 at the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute at Petit Jean .  The guest speaker is Dan Burden, Executive Director, Walkable and Liveable Communities.  

 The 2011 Growing Healthy Community project sites are:  

Five other communities submitted applications that were not selected for funding.  However, these communities will be eligible to receive technical assistance from ArCOP.  These communities are: