Investing in Kentucky's Future

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Children are

Kentucky’s Future

Community health coalitions in seven communities around the Commonwealth have partnered with the Foundation to reduce chronic disease risk factors so that today’s children will grow into healthier adults. Through the Foundation's Investing in Kentucky’s Future initiative, the IKF grantee communities have enacted policies, systems change and strategies to support healthy eating, active living, and resilience.

In 2016, IKF coalitions contributed to numerous policy changes in their schools and communities, such as complete streets, shared use agreements, and healthier foods at school and parks. These policies accompanied improvements to community and school infrastructure supporting physical activity (e.g. walking paths in schools, sidewalks to schools, playgrounds, sports courts). Schools in the communities have implemented nutrition, physical activity and resilience-building curriculums. Youth engagement has been strong and led to youth health councils, youth participation on coalition boards, and youth involvement in the development of the strategies.

Highlights of IKF grantees work in 2016 include:

Breathitt County: The Breathitt County Health Planning Council for Children implemented physical activity and nutrition curriculums Planet Health and Take 10! in five schools. They expanded the backpack program to additional students and included low sodium options and more fruits and vegetables. The Breathitt County Youth Health Council has been actively engaged in community physical activity events (e.g. 5k runs; and the Weigh, Walk and Go physical activity campaign); school peer social marketing campaigns: Rethink your Drink, Eat Smart; and coordination with other local youth groups. The Parks and Recreation department, through shared-use agreements with the schools, has increased its youth sports league activities, adding girl’s youth volleyball for the first time.

Clinton County: The Clinton County Healthy Hometown Coalition installed Fit Trail stations at Mountainview Park, added a toddler playground to the playground equipment installed at the park last year, and began work on the multipurpose field and walking track at the elementary school. The Be Active Club is now at all schools in the district, increasing physical activity for all kids. Clinton County leveraged additional funding through grants and from the Kentucky Department of Education to improve child nutrition and introduce changes for healthier eating in the schools.

Grant County: The Fitness for Life Around Grant County (FFLAG) Coalition’s IKF initiative, called Starting with Children, has continued to transform the cities in Grant County with improved basketball, tennis, and volleyball courts, walking paths at school, sidewalks to school, and complete streets policies to complement the built environment changes. Safe Routes to School has been included in a city transportation plan. Schools have expanded active workstations, including standing desks, mini exercise bikes, and desk exercise bike pedals, and added a school garden. Grant also has been working on nutrition policies with the school wellness councils.

Louisville Metro: The Bounce Coalition is addressing the issue of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), and expanded to more pilot schools in the Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) system, training all school staff and out-of-school time providers on ACEs and supporting resilience in children.

Bounce has partnered with Louisville Metro Government (LMG), JCPS and other organizations to provide a youth certification program. Bounce has increased public awareness around ACEs, leading to policy changes (e.g., LMG Office of Youth Development now requires ACES training for any agency executive working with youth and receiving LMG financial support). Bounce led the establishment of the Building Resilience in our Community’s Kids (BRICK) network in Louisville to foster collaboration among stakeholders in many different fields, to coordinate trauma-informed interventions.

McLean County: The Partnership for a Healthy McLean County Coalition installed new playground and fitness equipment at Myer Creek Park and a walking track at McLean County Middle School was completed. Training on SPARK physical activity curriculum took place and Marie Gatton Philips – Sacramento Elementary was given the equipment and began implementation of the program. School Health Assessments were conducted and analyzed and the coalition hosted a Regional Health Council meeting.

McCracken County: The Purchase District Area Connections for Health Coalition held its groundbreaking celebration for the Health Park in Paducah that, when completed, will have a walking trail, fitness equipment, community gardens and the playground that was already installed through the contribution of the Rotary Club and the work of hundreds of volunteers. The coalition also trained school and Paducah Parks Services Department staff on the CATCH physical activity and nutrition program, and initial implementation of the program began in the Paducah school system.

Perry County: The Perry County Wellness Coalition began implementation of their Kids on the Move! initiative. In its first-year of implementation, the coalition has completed the student and teacher IKF Physical Activity and Nutrition Behavior Survey, establishing the baseline measures for their work. They have also hired a project director and a School Wellness Coordinator, and strengthened the relationship with senior leadership at the two school districts and four-pilot schools where the project is being implemented. The initial work established with the schools includes involving youth in the development of school vegetable gardens and installing group stranding desks in classrooms in Hazard Middle and Robinson Elementary schools.