Active and Healthy Living

The obesity epidemic has created an urgent public health challenge, bringing alarming increases in chronic disease.  Overweight and obese people face increased risk of Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and a host of other serious health problems.  And pediatricians today are diagnosing more cases of these formerly adult conditions in children.  In fact, public health experts point to rising rates of obesity and overweight among youth in warning that, unless current trends change, kids born today will have a shorter lifespan than their parents.   

Local governments have a vested interest in addressing this challenge, given the impacts of obesity on health-care costs, quality of life, and productivity at the local level.  Cities, towns, and counties also have real opportunities to promote healthy living.  Local governments’ land use and zoning authority, for example, enables them to shape the way communities are designed and built.  That in turn gives them an influential role in improving residents’ access to healthy foods and their ability to be physically active.

The International City/County Management Association (ICMA) is addressing this issue through its involvement in Leadership for Healthy Communities, a national program formerly known as Active Living Leadership. It is a $10 million national program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation that supports state and local government leaders in efforts to reduce childhood obesity through public policies that promote active living, healthy eating, and access to healthy foods.  As a partner in this initiative, ICMA supports government leaders in their efforts to create and implement policies, programs, and places that achieve these goals.

Most recently, ICMA has partnered with the National Association of Counties (NACo) and the American Association of School Administrators (AASA) to promote collaboration among local governments and schools in their efforts to combat youth obesity.  Their Healthy Communities Network initiative, which started with a full day of facilitated dialogue among local leaders in three U.S. communities in 2007, continues with ongoing technical assistance to these communities.  And the network is expanding as the partners reach out to additional communities.

To learn more about ICMA’s work on active living or healthy eating, visit the subtopics within this section.  For more information about Leadership for Healthy Communities, visit http://www.leadershipforhealthycommunities.org.

ICMA members who are interested in ongoing peer exchange and technical assistance related to healthy communities can join the ICMA Healthy Communities Ambassadors network.

For more information contact Christine Shenot at cshenot@icma.org or Anna Read at aread@icma.org.

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Advice

	A Blueprint for Action: Developing Livable Communities For All Ages Year: 2007; Pages: 75.
	A Blueprint for Action: Developing Livable Communities for All Ages Year: 2007; Pages: 75.

Local Government Innovations

	Golf Course Serves Entire Community Year: 2006; Pages: 3.
	Active Living Strategies- Warwick Township, PA, Case Study Year: 2006;
	Mayor's Challenge to Improve Fitness Year: 2004;
	City Lends Electric Bicycles Year: 2002;

Sample Government Documents

	Schools Element in Comprehensive Plan Year: 2007;
	Coral Gables Farmers Market Sample Policies Year: 2007; Pages: 7.
	Community Garden User Agreements Year: 2006; Pages: 2.
	Local Food Purchase Policy for Woodbury County, Iowa Year: 2006;
	Hearts N' Parks Site Program Abstract Year: 2005;

Reports and Articles

	How Flu Travels Year: 2009; Pages: 2.
	The Built Environment: Designing Communities to Promote Physical Activity in Children Year: 2009; Pages: 8.
	Retirees: A New Economic Development Strategy Year: 2009; Pages: 2.
	Growing Motivation: Residents support local economy by purchasing locally grown products Year: 2009; Pages: 4.
	Support the Farm Stand to Feed "Locavores" and the Economy" Year: 2009; Pages: 5.

Awards

	Strategic Leadership and Governance Program Excellence Award, (populations 10,000 to 49,999) Year: 2008; Pages: 3.
	2008 Community Health and Safety Program Excellence Award, (populations 50,000 and greater) Year: 2008; Pages: 2.
	2007 Community Health and Safety Award Little Rock, Arkansas Year: 2008; Pages: 2.
	2007 Commumity Health and Safety Award Roseville, California Year: 2008; Pages: 2.
	2007 Community Health and Safety Award, 10,000 to 49,999 Year: 2008; Pages: 2.

Case Studies

	Emergency Response and Traditional Neighborhood Street Design Year: 2008; Pages: 12.
	Local Government-School District Collaboration: Sample Documents Year: 2008;
	Active Living Strategies- Amherst, MA Case Study Year: 2006; Pages: 5.
	Pedometers from the Library Year: 2003; Pages: 1.
	Making City More Walkable Year: 2003;

Ordinances

Duluth City Ordinance - Keeping Chickens in the City Year: 2008; Pages: 3.

ICMA Publications About Active and Healthy Living

	Comparative Performance Measurement: FY 2008 Data Report   This report includes actual performance data gathered from nearly 200 cities and counties across the United States and Canada who participate in the Center for Performance Measurement™ (CPM).
	Comparative Performance Measurement: FY 2007 Data Report   This report includes actual performance data gathered from nearly 200 cities and counties across the United States and Canada who participate in the Center for Performance Measurement™ (CPM).
	Creating a Culture of Health: A Manager's Guide to Improving Employee Health and Reducing Health Care Costs   This strategic guide is designed to help city and county managers develop programs and engage employees in activities that emphasize health promotion and disease prevention.
	Comparative Performance Measurement: FY 2006 Data Report   This annual report of the ICMA Center for Performance Measurement includes more than 220 tables and charts showing local governments’ performance in fifteen service areas.
	Comparative Performance Measurement: FY 2005 Data Report   SOLD OUT. The 2006 annual report will be available soon. Please see Item no. 43486.

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