Healthy Lifestyles Committee (HLC)

Choosing Health!
 
Committee Sponsor—Hayes Green Beach Memorial Hospital
Committee Chairperson—Maureen Hillary, RN

For the past 13 years, the Healthy Lifestyles Committee (HLC) has been developing and supporting programs to promote health and wellness in the Tri-County area as well as providing the advisory framework for the the Choosing Health!® campaign. The HLC includes representatives of organizations throughout the Capital Area that are dedicated to promoting healthy behaviors and well-being. Membership on the Healthy Lifestyle Committee is open to the public. The HLC reports its activities to the Board of Directors of the Capital Area Health Alliance.
 
For further information about the Healthy Lifestyles Committee and/or the Choosing Health!® campaign, and how you can be a part of the movement, please contact the Alliance.
 

Spring Choosing Health!® Rally 2015

The Capital Area Health Alliance partnered with Community Partners in Health to host the Spring Choosing Health!® Rally on Saturday, May 2, 2015, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Fenner Nature Center. Attendees discovered community resources that are available during the spring and summer to help their pursuit of healthy lifestyles. Over 530 kids and adults came out to sign up for over 35 local organizations’ programs, learn more about healthy eating and physical activity, play games, take mini fitness classes, and go for a walk around Fenner's trails.
 

2015 Accomplishments of the Healthy Lifestyles Committee

Recipient of Michigan Health & Wellness 4 x 4 Plan Grant

The Capital Area Health Alliance and its partners, including the Ingham County Health Department, were awarded one of six 2013 Health & Wellness 4 x 4 Grants, offered by the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH). Of the 27 applicants received by MDCH, only six were chosen. The Alliance was renewed for funding for the 2014 4 x 4 Grant.

The 4 x 4 Tool focuses on knowing measurements and improving behaviors that impact our health. Using the 4 x 4 Tool means: knowing four key health measures that are closely tied to several chronic diseases (body mass index [BMI], blood pressure, cholesterol level, and blood sugar level) and practicing four key healthy behaviors (maintain a healthy diet, engage in regular exercise, get an annual physical examination, avoid all tobacco use). 

The Alliance and its partners will engage community organizations and leaders to support the implementation of the 4 x 4 Plan; create environments in multiple sectors to increase the availability of healthy food and access to physical activity in alignment with 4 X 4 goals; and use 4 x 4 campaign messages to conduct and coordinate a multi-faceted community-wide campaign alerting the population at large to the chronic disease and obesity crisis. The expected result of these activities will be increased public awareness and knowledge, increased healthy behaviors, and a healthy community supported by area organizations.
 
The grant funding from the Michigan Department of Community Health will be for $122,500 over 12 months. The application for funding was supported by dozens of local organizations, without whom this application would not have been successful.
 
 
MDCH Director Jim Haveman with CAHA Executive Director Valerie Glesnes-Anderson
at the Press Conference for the unveiling of the MI Healthier Tomorrow Campaign.
January 23, 2013
State Capitol Building
 

Choosing Health!® the Movement

The Choosing Health!® campaign works to “create a culture of Healthy Lifestyles” by highlighting the full range of existing health and wellness programs available in this region. The movement is a year-round campaign that provides existing programs a fresh platform to display their activities and invite community members to choose those programs to help people achieve their healthy lifestyle goals. The Choosing Health!® movement focuses on four issues:
  • Encouraging physical activity
  • Increasing healthy eating
  • Preventing substance abuse and tobacco use
  • Promoting mental health
The Healthy Lifestyles Committee, as part of the Capital Area Health Alliance, provides the organizational framework for Choosing Health!®. In their monthly meetings, HLC Chairperson Maureen Hillary, RN, and committee members concentrate on the overall design of the campaign to structure the Choosing Health!® movement and the development of an anchoring website. To facilitate establishment of the movement, a year-round series of events highlights existing community programs that engage the widest possible range of programs, businesses, faith communities and the general public in the community-wide effort to improve lifestyles.

This event was attended by over 100 community leaders in health care, government, education, business and advocacy who enthusiastically shared ideas to shape the community’s future healthy lifestyle agenda. Attendees were invited to participate to hear about the progress of launching and growing the Choosing Health!® movement.
 
They were asked to help shape the campaign to achieve maximum effect in engaging our community members in improving health. They also learned about the 2013 Michigan Health and Wellness 4 X 4 Grant. The consensus vision of the group was for the Healthy Lifestyles Committee of the Capital Area Health Alliance to facilitate the Choosing Health!® movement to enable enhancement and symbiosis of existing community programs and resources to promote healthy living and wellness in the region through collaboration, outreach, and branding, and incorporate the 4 X 4 Tool in further implementation.

Choosing Health!® Fall/Winter Rally—January 18, 2014, Lansing Mall, Lansing, MI.

The Fall/Winter Choosing Health!® Rally was combined with the Winter Warm-Up Kick-Off, in partnership with Community Partners in Health (CPH). The Kick-Off and Rally were organized by HLC and CPH to promote use of existing community resources and programs to achieve better health, showcasing the 2014 Winter Warm-Up and Blues Community Challenge. The event attracted over 400 people and featured Health Officer Renee Canady, State Rep. Andy Schor, and Bishop Joseph Futch Jr. (St. Joseph Tabernacle Church).

Event publicity. An invitation was issued to the entire tri-county area for this event. Over 19,000 Rally fliers were distributed to Capital Area residents, including students in nine school districts. CAHA sent a press release to all local media outlets. The Delta-Waverly Community News, Grand Ledge Independent, and Lansing State Journal printed articles about the Rally, and a number of media outlets and community organizations announced the Rally on their community events calendars. The event was also promoted and covered by WLNZ 89.9, City Pulse Radio, CAM TV, and WILX News Channel 10.

Choosing Health!® Spring/Summer Rally—June 8, 2013, The Armory & St. Joseph Tabernacle Church, Lansing, MI.

The Spring/Summer Rally was the fourth Choosing Health!® Rally organized by HLC to promote use of existing community resources and programs to achieve better health. The event attracted over 400 people and featured Health Officer Renee Canady, State Rep. Andy Schor, and Bishop Joseph Futch Jr. (St. Joseph Tabernacle Church).

Event publicity. An invitation was issued to the entire tri-county area for this event. Thousands of Capital Area residents saw fliers, including students in four school districts. Cumulus Radio produced a segment promoting the rally and aired it during news boradcasts on six local radio stations. WLNZ 89.9 promoted the rally on Coffee Break with Jack & Karen. Public access television channels HOMTV and City TV produced produced a Public Service Announcement (PSA) promoting the rally, featuring State Reps. Andy Schor and Sam Singh. The station ran the PSA frequently and shared it with other media outlets. The Lansing State Journal, City Pulse, and State News announced the event in their community calendar columns. Many CAHA and HLC members announced the event in their communication materials. CAHA sent a press release to all local media outlets. The event was covered by WLNS News Channel 6, WILX News Channel 10, and the Lansing City Pulse. 

Choosing Health!® Fall/Winter Rally—October 21, 2012, Pattengill Academy, Lansing, MI.

The October 2012 Rally was the second annual Fall/Winter event and third rally dedicated to connecting individuals with existing community resources to lead healthier lives, drawing in hundreds of people to participate.

Event publicity. An invitation was issued to the entire tri-county area for this event. Thousands of Capital Area residents saw fliers, including students in five school districts. The event was advertised on community calendars and on two traffic banners. Many CAHA and HLSC members announced the event in their communication materials. CAHA sent a press release to all local media outlets. The rally was covered by two area TV stations, including FOX 47 News.

Choosing Health!® Spring/Summer Rally—May 20, 2012, Hawk Island Park, Lansing, MI.

The Spring/Summer Rally was the second Choosing Health!® Rally organized by HLSC to promote use of existing community resources and programs to achieve better health. The event attracted over 400 people and featured Becky and Mark Dantonio, Sparty, and WFMK’s Monica Harris.
 
Event publicity. An invitation was issued to the entire tri-county area for this event. Thousands of Capital Area residents saw fliers, including students in seven school districts. WKAR produced a Public Service Announcement (PSA) promoting the rally. The station ran the PSA frequently and shared it with other media outlets. The Lansing State Journal announced the event in its community calendar column. Many CAHA and HLSC members announced the event in their communication materials. CAHA sent a press release to all local media outlets. The event was covered by radio, newspapers, and television stations and resulted in a video for Choosing Health!® on YouTube.
 

HLC Activities Planned for 2014

  • Creating a Culture of Healthy Lifestyles and Community Leaders Breakfast—Fall 2014. Planning for this symposium is underway. The event will highlight community collaboration and initiatives and discuss the success of the Choosing Health!® movement, opportunities for collaboration to create a culture of wellness in our community and promote the 4 x 4 Plan, and the gaps in resources and programming in the Capital Area.
  • Implementation of the MI Health and Wellness 4 x 4 Grant. As the recipient of one of six 4x4 grants awarded in the state, the Healthy Lifestyles Committee will continue to work to implement the objectives of the grant and promote the 4 x 4 Plan in our community.
  • Website Development. An initial review has indicated that several Healthy Lifestyle websites are now functioning in communities throughout the U.S., such as Oklahoma City, OK, Tallahassee, FL, Calhoun County, MI, Cape Fear, NC, Tulsa, OK, and several others. A website will be assembled that offers information about area organizations that are Resource Partners in Choosing Health!® and informs community members about Health and Wellness opportunities through the 4 X 4 Plan.
  • Adoption of the Choosing Health!® Logo by Area Organizations. Part of the Choosing Health!® movement process is to encourage area organizations to adopt Choosing Health!® as an asset for their health and wellness objectives. For instance, Lansing Community College (LCC) has named their health and wellness program—“Choosing Health!® at LCC.” Choosing Health!® will also be used by Capital Area District Libraries. A goal of the movement is to have this registered brand become ubiquitous.
  • Healthy Lifestyles Committee. All of the above-cited work will occur with the advice of the HLC, which meets monthly on the second Wednesday of each month at 8:00 am at the Michigan Osteopathic Association in Okemos, MI. You are welcome to join us in this exciting process.