HHCC adopting Wellmark’s Healthy Hometown initiative

Healthy Henry County Communities is joining Wellmark's 'Healthy Hometown” initiative, which will require them to design a master plan to help the community 'eat well, move more and feel better.”

The Healthy Hometown initiative was introduced to HHCC's board in October. HHCC Director Kelly Carr said to the board during a regular meeting on Nov. 6, that they will be working with the initiative over the next three months to put together a healthy master plan.

'We want to make sure this is something we would use, that it fits for us and it's not just checking a box for (Wellmark), and adding stuff that really doesn't fit our community,” Carr said, adding that they can use tactics HHCC is already doing such as the Healthy Halloween Walk, HHCC's Healthy Choices sticker at the Old Threshers Reunion and healthy food options at the county fair.

'It would be helpful to have on paper that this is what our priorities are and have all (board members) be part of that decision-making process,” Carr said.

Healthy Hometown is a free program that helps communities adopt a set of healthy initiatives based from 100 evidence-based interventions.

During the HHCC meeting in October, Wellmark community health manager Jim Cushing explained that the initiative is to help the insurance company reduce costs by addressing underlying health conditions such as sedentary lifestyles and unhealthy eating habits.

Carr said it is important HHCC work with Wellmark because of the large grants they offer twice a year. A representative from Healthy Hometown will join HHCC's regularly scheduled meetings in December, January and February to create an action plan. The plan is due in February.

The initiative will involve the Mt. Pleasant Area Chamber Alliance, the City of Mt. Pleasant and other county entities, Carr said.