The Washoe County ACHIEVE Community (2010 – 2011) Local policies and the physical environment [they create] influence daily choices that affect our health.

The Washoe County ACHIEVE Community (2010 – 2011)

“Local policies and the physical environment [they create] influence daily

choices that affect our health.” CDC, July 2009

Jennifer M. Hadayia, MPAPublic Health Program Manager

Washoe County Health District

What is ACHIEVE?

• ACHIEVE stands for Action Communities for Health, Innovation, and EnVironmental changE

• Part of the CDC’s Healthy Communities Program launched in 2003

• Five national partners: NACCHO, NACDD, NRPA, SOPHE, and YMCA

• Local implementation of the research showing that policy and environmental change most effectively and equitably improves behaviors related to chronic disease

• A national designation and two-year grant award

• Recognition that Washoe County has the infrastructure and track record for effective policy change to prevent chronic disease

What is ACHIEVE?A nationally-tested program model:

1. CHART. A leadership team of influential policy-makers

2. CHANGE. A CDC-developed policy needs assessment tool measuring ~65 different policies in 5 areas (physical activity, nutrition, tobacco, CDSM, and leadership) in 4 sectors (CBO, worksite, healthcare, schools/district)

3. CAP. A written Community Action Plan outlining policies to be addressed

4. Implementation of proposed policy changes, including at least one Big “P” and one little “p” related to chronic disease risk factors

Washoe County CHART

County Commission

County Manager’s Office

Community Development

District Board of Health

Library System

Parks & Open Space

Public Works

Senior Services

School District

UNR

Cooperative Extension

Chamber of Commerce

Nevada Health Care Coalition

Join Together Northern Nevada

Truckee Meadows Tomorrow

Chronic Disease Coalition

Boys & Girls Club

Medical Society

KNPB

Washoe County CHANGE

• Overall. 15 sites assessed in 4 sectors plus Community-At-Large and School District (June – August 2010)

• Methods. Secondary data review & document archiving; multiple key informant interviews; observational checklists & site-visits

• Scales. Policy (1 to 5); Environment (1 to 5); percent score per module per site (0% to 100%); average and S.D. per sector

• Benchmarks. 60% and over = asset; under 60% = need; low policy + high environment = “low hanging fruit”

• Results. Community-At-Large; School District; and youth-serving entities (schools & CBOs)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

PhysicalActivity

Nutrition Tobacco Use ChronicDisease

Leadership

Per

cent

age

Policy

Environment

Washoe County CHANGE

Community-At-Large

0

1020

30

4050

60

70

8090

100

Policy Environment

Per

cen

tag

eWashoe County CHANGE

School District

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Physical Activity Nutrition Tobacco Use Chronic Disease Leadership Afterschool

Per

cen

tag

e

High SchoolElementary SchoolPrivate School

Wellness/Health CenterResource CenterCommunity-at-large

Washoe County CHANGE

Youth Serving Organizations - Policy

Washoe County CHANGE

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Physical Activity Nutrition Tobacco Use Chronic Disease Leadership Afterschool

Per

cen

tag

e

High SchoolElementary SchoolPrivate SchoolHealth Wellness CenterResource CenterCommunity-at-large

Youth Serving Organizations - Environment

Washoe County CHANGEConclusions

• Nutrition is lowest scoring area overall for CAL; conversely, it is the greatest area of need for the community as a whole.

• District score for policy is higher than environment score (though both exceed benchmark) suggesting inconsistent policy implementation.

• Overall, YSO environment scores exceed policy scores, suggesting the presence of “unofficial” policies and high readiness for codification.

• All YSO physical activity, nutrition, and tobacco environments exceed benchmark, but only about half exceed benchmark for policy. This suggests high readiness for expanding written policies in these areas.

• The afterschool module scored low overall, suggesting another area of need.

Washoe County CAP• Vision. Making Good Health Easy

• Mission. Fill gaps in community-wide nutrition and physical activity policies.

• Goals. (2-year outcomes)

1. Increase the percentage of Washoe County adults who are at a healthy weight. (4% increase)

2. Increase the percentage of Washoe County children who are at a healthy weight. (4% increase)

3. Improve chronic disease prevention infrastructure in Washoe County

Washoe County CAP• Objectives. (1-year outcomes)

1. Customize a model healthy food plan for Washoe County

2. Facilitate worksites and CBOs to adopt a nutrition or physical activity policy using CHANGE selection criteria

3. Incorporate obesity prevention strategies as a priority of the Regional Planning Governing Board

4. Facilitate preschool providers in adopting a wellness policy

5. Facilitate organizations that provide out-of-school-time (OST) in adopting a wellness policy

6. Launch efforts to engage parents and families in promoting child wellness

7. Expand the role of the Chronic Disease Coalition

Washoe County CAP• Tangible Outcomes

1. A healthy food plan for Washoe County

2. Revised Regional Planning Criteria

3. New worksites and CBOs with expanded wellness policies

4. A model Preschool Wellness Policy

5. A model OST Wellness Policy

6. A community engagement initiative for parents and families

7. Expanded Chronic Disease Coalition activities

The Washoe County ACHIEVE Community (2010 – 2011)

For More Information:

Nationally: www.achievecommunities.org

Locally: www.gethealthywashoe.com

Click: Coalition, thenACHIEVE