5-2-1-0 continuing with $10,000 grant to MP

The Iowa Department of Public Health is continuing 5-2-1-0 in Mt. Pleasant this year with an additional $10,000 grant given to fund the initiative available Oct. 1.

The funds will be used to increase physical activity, healthy eating and an overall healthy lifestyle for children in the community in partnership with Healthy Henry County Communities. Last year, HHCC identified five centers as recipients for the 5-2-1-0 grant, which encourages people to eat five fruits and vegetables daily, spend two hours or less on recreational screen time, participate in one hour of physical activity and drink zero sugary drinks.

'They want to push the communities who have already put so much effort to continue funding,” said Kansha Tiwari at an HHCC meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 2. Tiwari works with Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Commission in with IDPH to implement 5-1-2-0 in communities across Iowa.

Last year, 5-2-1-0 worked with Little Panthers Preschool, Head Start & Child Development, The REC Center after school program, Family Medicine and New London Daycare. Each grant recipient was required to make policy changes to their handbook to support 5-2-1-0 initiatives such as reducing screentime and promoting a healthier lifestyle.

Thanks to the grant, Little Panthers Preschool was able to purchase new playground equipment; Family Medicine received new TVs for their waiting room to promote 5-2-1-0 messaging; and The REC Center got new equipment for their after-school program.

While Tiwari said there is limited information from IDPH at the moment for how this year's grant funds can be used, she threw out some ideas such as hosting community kitchen classes for healthy eating, board games in the library for less screen time and city sidewalk improvements.

Another element HHCC is considering implementing into their strategic plan is 'Healthy Hometown” through the Iowa healthiest state initiative and sponsored by Wellmark.

Wellmark Community Health Manager Jim Cushing presented the board with a proposal to adopt 'Healthy Hometown” in Mt. Pleasant and other areas of Henry County. Wellmark is a sponsor of the program as an insurance company because of the underlying health conditions unhealthy eating habits and a sedentary lifestyle can cause, Cushing explained. The program is free.

Healthy Hometowns is a set of adoptable initiatives tailored for each community. It has five key principals: evidence-based techniques, sustainable environment and policy change, behavioral economics and broad population and measurables. The focus of these initiatives is to eat well, move more and feel better.

There are over 100 evidence-based interventions cities can choose from to fit their needs such as implementing healthy vending machine policies, no smoking in parks or in Mt. Pleasant's downtown district and nicotine-free campuses. These are initiatives are implemented through policy changes and create sustainable environments.

Behavioral economics is making the healthy choice easy. For example, Cushing noticed in the cafeteria at the Henry County Health Center, water was the No. 1 choice for most customers. HHCC Director Kelly Carr explained that's because they rearranged the beverages to put water at eye level and make it more easily reachable.

Healthy Hometowns is not a wellness challenge program, Cushing said. It's about 'utilizing the environment to make (healthy habits) a sustainable behavior,” he said.

'Healthy Hometown would be a great support to what your community is already doing,” Cushing said. 'This contributes to thriving hometowns. You want folks to continue to live here, you want people to move in … there's a lot of great benefits here.”

Cities who participate in Healthy Hometown also have the opportunity to be awarded a $5,000 grant.

Dr. Amy Michelle Willcockson, Director of Live Healthy Iowa, who joined the meeting via speakerphone, encouraged HHCC to adopt the Healthy Hometown initiative.

'I love the strategic master plan they put together,” Willcockson said. 'To have a framework and umbrella everything falls into that is well laid out is essential to success and longevity … The only downside is you have a lot going on, so you have to decide.”

HHCC board President Anita Hampton was also in favor of having a master plan for the city through Healthy Hometown.

Carr said a master plan could put more pressure on the city to implement changes for a healthier community, adding it could prioritize some of the projects HHCC pitches to City Administrator Brent Schleisman.

'I think doing that process would help guide our efforts and keep everyone on the same page,” Carr said. 'Right now, planning meetings and topics, discussions and speakers falls a lot on me.”

The board will vote on whether or not to adopt Healthy Hometown at their November meeting.

The next HHCC meeting is Tuesday, Nov. 6, at the Iowa State Extension Office.