Since its inception, the Healthy Weight Task Force has successfully reached out to the community to increase awareness and initiate healthy lifestyle changes. The group has held several community events promoting a fitter lifestyle and highlighting the health risks tied to obesity. Those initiatives include:
Facilitating partnerships with Lowell Public Schools and the Safe Routes to School Program
- The Massachusetts Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program promotes healthy alternatives for children and parents in their travel to and from school. It educates students, parents and community members on the value of walking and bicycling for travel to and from school. The Lincoln Elementary, McAuliffe and Moody Elementary have encouraged increased physical activity through the Safe Routes to School partnership. (http://www.commute.com/schools.shtml).
Increasing awareness and access to sustainable, local foods and Farmers Market in the City of Lowell
- Grant Funding supporting collaboration with Revolving Museum and the Teen Arts Group (TAG). Promoting local foods through youth art work.
- HWTF members manned a booth throughout the Farmers Market season providing information, awareness about nutritious food options balanced with increasing physical activity strategies.
- UMass Lowell Community Health Students with UMass Lowell physical therapy faculty to engage UMass Lowell students with local farmers markets and increasing awareness of eating local on a college campus.
- Through the partnerships established by the HWTF, Lowell General Hospital and the United Teen Equality Center (UTEC) pulled together to offer a local farmers market on LGH’s campus. This market encouraged LGH employees to not only buy locally, but also encouraged them to make healthy decisions and increased their access to fresh, local, and healthy foods.
- Ongoing research and data collection about the perceptions of Lowell citizens about Farmers Markets.
- Lowell General, UMass Lowell faculty and students are supporting a garden to produce local foods in an effort to increase nutritional choices at Lowell General Hospital. The LGH garden will be tended by employees and community volunteers.
Collaborative partnerships supporting increased physical activity for children and family through community programs
- Afterschool “Get Fit” program was a partnership with Edith Norse Middle School 21st Century Afterschool Program, Lowell General, UMass Lowell Physical Therapy Department. UMass Lowell students and faculty joined with Lowell General staff to provide interactive and educational activities to increase physical activity for Rogers Middle School students.
- UMass Lowell faculty and student collaborated with LCHC Community Wellness program to support training for community workers
- Manual for Afterschool program was developed as part of a partnership with a Lowell Public School teacher and UMass Lowell faculty and students.
- The Pediatric Create your Weight Program was funded through the American Heart Association Community Impact Grant. The 10-week program designed including kids and family learning about improving nutrition, increasing physical activity and encouraging a healthy lifestyle for a healthy weight. The program was a collaborative effort with Lowell General Hospital staff, UMass Lowell physical therapy faculty and students.
- The City of Lowell, LGH, LCHC and UMass Lowell collaborated on a Lowell Walks map. The map provides mileage and routes to encourage walking as the easy and accessible choice.
Community Wide Awareness Campaign
- The healthy weight task force has strategically developed a community wide awareness campaign.
- Community Media – Community awareness on local cable stations (what channel) and through monthly ethnic media articles.
- Community Wide Presentations to parent and school groups are aimed to increase awareness and knowledge about increasing physical activity and improved nutrition.
