HHCC releases annual report, looks at impact of healthy eating and substance abuse prevention programs

BY BRYCE KELLY

Mt. Pleasant News

Healthy Henry County Communities (HHCC) recently released its annual report spanning from July 2014 to June 2015. The HHCC board, which is comprised of a diverse committee of Henry County officials from various businesses and organizations, focused their efforts on six main areas of concern this year including healthy eating, active living, substance abuse prevention, tobacco-free living, child abuse prevention and parent education.

With a roughly $500,000 budget to work with, HHCC obtained funds from a variety of grants, donations, organizations and fundraisers. HHCC also reported a 30-member board in their report.

?One of my favorite aspects of HHCC is the fact that it is always evolving,? said HHCC coordinator, Kelly Carr in a statement within the report. ??When success is achieved, we rely on the strong partnerships we have formed over the years with Henry County Health Center and the Henry County Extension office to sustain programs we helped develop.?

Among all of HHCC?s areas of concern, it is perhaps healthy eating that it is most known for throughout the community. As part of HHCC?s ?Your Plate. Your Health? program last fiscal year, Henry County eateries including Keo?s, Cindy?s Kitchen at Twin Lakes Golf Course, SiP, Quiznos and Subway all achieved the ?Your Plate. Your Health.? designation.

HHCC also continued selling healthy food options for the third year in a row at the Henry County Fair; and the second year in a row at the Midwest Old Threshers Reunion.

The Henry County Substance Abuse Coalition, a drug prevention organization within HHCC, dedicates its efforts to reducing, preventing and eliminating substance abuse among Henry County youth. Among some of its larger events, the Coalition reported reaching roughly 280 high school and college athletes as part of its Game Plan Conference, which was held in conjunction with Iowa Wesleyan University.

The Coalition also continued its partnership with the Iowa State Patrol to carry out alcohol compliance checks on retailers throughout the county to cut down on alcohol sales to minors.

In conjunction with the Coalition, Henry County Tobacco Prevention reported serving all four school districts within Henry County, as well as Iowa Wesleyan University. As a result of the Coalition?s efforts, the University as well as all four districts, have adopted working tobacco-free/nicotine-free policies, which include efforts to ban electronic cigarettes on campus grounds.

As part of its active living, it was reported that over 400 members of the Henry County community attended the second annual Healthy Halloween Walk at East Lake Park.

HHCC also coordinated with the City of Winfield and Henry County Planning and Zoning to develop hiking and bike trail maps in the Winfield Activity Park.

With regard to parent education and child abuse prevention, HHCC continued its long-standing efforts to provide educational classes to both English and Spanish-speaking parents; as well as networks to identify and prevent child abuse in the county.

For more information on HHCC?s continuing efforts, visit their website at www.HealthHenryCounty.org, or call 319-385-6523.