Program Impact

Seventy-six percent of awardees engaged in interventions to limit tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure. Examples of these interventions included educating on the benefits of indoor/outdoor smoke-free policies, creating tobacco-free environments, and protecting people from secondhand smoke exposure.

Example: North Carolina

The Challenge: Approximately 20% of the adult population—more than 1.4 million individuals—are current cigarette smokers. Across all states, the prevalence of cigarette smoking among adults ranges from 9.3% to 26.5%. The state of North Carolina ranks 38th for residents using tobacco among all states.

The Goal: North Carolina residents living in private and Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)-supported rental housing will have access to smoke-free environments.

Activities and Impact: Through efforts supported by CTG, more than a million North Carolina residents now have increased protections from secondhand smoke exposure in county government buildings, local municipal government buildings, indoor public places, parks, multiunit private and HUD-supported rental housing, and college campuses. Beginning January 1, 2014, Partnership Property Management (PPM) of Greensboro, which oversees a 9,500-unit portfolio of largely HUD-supported housing in 5 states including North Carolina, implemented smoke-free multiunit housing protections.

Example: Maryland

As of June 2013, the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene increased access to tobacco-free or smoke-free environments for approximately 570,000 Maryland residents living in 19 counties. With more smoke-free stadiums, state universities and colleges, and county government buildings, Maryland residents can breathe easier because of increased protections from secondhand smoke exposure. The Maryland Stadium Authority (responsible for Oriole Park at Camden Yards and M&T Bank Stadium for the Baltimore Ravens), the University System of Maryland, and county governments in Dorchester, Harford, and Kent have all put into action changes to reduce Maryland residents’ exposure to secondhand smoke and increase the number of areas providing smoke-free air.

Ninety-seven percent of awardees focused their strategies on addressing nutrition policies, standards, or guidelines through a variety of activities. These activities included supporting healthy vending options, improving nutrition standards to meet national guidelines, and focusing on reducing sodium content in food products. These efforts benefited more than one-third of Americans who are obese. They also have the potential to decrease medical treatment costs associated with obesity-related diseases that currently amount to approximately $147 billion annually in the United States.

Example: Texas

The Challenge: In 2012, only 30% of Texas adults reported having consumed fruits at the recommended level of two or more times per day—and, more than 65% of residents in the state of Texas are obese.

The Goal: Texas residents will have increased access to healthy food and beverage options.

Activities and Impact: As of June 2013, 254,800 residents in 7 Texas counties (Burnet, Presidio, Starr, Hale, Hood, Parker, and Hopkins) have increased access to healthy foods through expanded community gardens, participation by local farmers in farmers’ markets, and produce donations to organizations serving different populations. Starr County in South Texas has increased access to fresh fruits and vegetables for its residents through community gardens and a mobile farmers’ market. One community garden yielded more than 500 pounds of tomatoes and 300 pounds of squash in a single harvest season for use in salad bars in school cafeterias. In addition, the mobile farmers’ market sold an average of 1,500 pounds of fruits and vegetables monthly to residents within identified food deserts. In Hood and Parker Counties, local churches also provided low-income residents with fresh fruit and vegetable boxes.

Example: Iowa

The Challenge: Only 27.5% of Iowa adults reported having consumed fruits at the recommended level of 2 or more times per day—and only 21.9% of adults reported having consumed vegetables at the recommended level of 3 or more time per day. In addition, an estimated 65.4% of adults in Iowa are either overweight or obese, making Iowa one of the most obese states in the country.

The Goal: Iowa residents will have improved access to healthy food and beverage options.

Activities and Impact: As of June 2013, an estimated 113,000 Iowans have increased access to healthier food and beverage options. Several work sites and community locations across the state have implemented changes to increase the number of healthy options available. The Black Hawk County Board of Supervisors implemented a wellness policy that increases access to healthy foods and drinks in all county-owned facilities. More healthy options are also available in restaurants, convenience stores, and other community locations across the state. In Woodbury County, Sioux City, increased the number of healthy options available at concession stands located at the city’s swimming pools and recreation center. In addition, several healthy foods were added to the menu at the Tyson Event Center, a large event arena that holds up to 10,000 people.

Ninety-seven percent of the awardees’ strategies focused on increasing access to physical activity opportunities to all community members. These strategies included interventions such as improving physical education and school wellness policies to meet national standards, and increasing opportunities for recess, intramural, and other physical activity opportunities outside traditional physical education classes.

Example: Maryland

The Challenge: In 2012, an estimated 23% of Maryland’s adults reported that they had not engaged in any physical activity during the past month. In addition, 65.4% of adults are overweight or obese.

The Goal: Maryland residents will have increased access to physical activity opportunities throughout the state.

Activities & Impact: As of June 2013, nearly 129,000 Maryland residents in target communities have more opportunities to be physically active at work and school, and in childcare settings. The Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene collaborated with communities across the state to support worksites in their efforts to provide safe and supportive environments for physical activity.

Seventy-six percent of awardees engaged in comprehensive approaches to improve community designs to promote physical activity. These comprehensive approaches included enhancing access to public transportation, assessing the effect of community changes, and engaging in urban design.

Example: Missouri

The Challenge: In the southwestern corner of Missouri, where Springfield is located, 25% of residents have high blood pressure, more than 30% are obese, and almost 8% have diabetes.

The Goal: Residents of Springfield, Missouri will have improved access to healthy and safe physical environments.

Activities & Impact: The Ozarks Regional YMCA in Springfield, Missouri, implemented the Let’s Go Smart initiative to encourage residents to make wiser transportation choices, whether it’s walking, biking, riding the bus, or driving. The initiative focused on educating the public about transportation options, active living, and the value of improving the built environment to support physical activity. In support of the initiative, Springfield implemented Complete Streets principles to support all forms of transportation and conducted an assessment of opportunities for walking in the community.

Seventy-six percent of awardees implemented clinical and community preventive initiatives that focused on heart disease, tobacco use, dental care, diabetes, and obesity. Approximately 86% of awardees focused their activities on high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, 60% of awardees used community resource extensions and linkages to connect patients and practitioners with preventive resources. This work will help to benefit the 1 of 3 Americans who have high blood pressure, among whom only 47% adequately control their high blood pressure.

Example: Minnesota

The Challenge: In 2011, despite ranking as one of the healthiest states in the nation, approximately 26% of adults in Minnesota reported having high blood pressure.

The Goal: Minnesota will provide an additional 700,000 residents with access to a clinical preventive service system that improves management of high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

Activities & Impact: As of June 2013, an estimated 700,000 Minnesota residents have increased access to services that improve control of blood pressure and cholesterol. Both traditional and community clinics in Minnesota are focused on improving quality measures for blood pressure and cholesterol control in support of CTG’s strategic direction related to chronic disease prevention.

Example: Montana

Ten community health centers and two rural health clinics in Montana completed blood pressure and cholesterol quality improvement projects. As of June 2013, more than 31,000 patients have increased access to these improved clinical and community preventive services.

Twenty-three percent of awardees addressed social and emotional wellness.

Example: California

The Challenge: Currently, an estimated 15% of adults within the metropolitan area of Los Angeles have been identified as binge drinkers. In addition, an estimated 16% of adults are limited in their daily activities because of mental or emotional problems.

The Goal: Increase access to preventive screening services for depression and problem drinking for residents of Los Angeles County with low socioeconomic status.

Activities & Impact: The county worked to increase the number of clinic sites within the county ambulatory care network that put into action standard protocols for screening individuals for depression and problem drinking. The county is also working to provide brief interventions for many of those suffering from depression, problem drinking, or both.