Jacksonville Community Called
to Fight Childhood Obesity

More than 100 healthcare providers, community and parent organizations, business professionals, educators, public health officials and concerned citizens gathered today to hear the results of a nine-month effort to determine a plan for reducing childhood obesity in Jacksonville.

The report, 2009 Healthy Kids, Healthy Jacksonville: A Community Call to Action, defines priority actions and steps that can be taken to reduce and ultimately reverse the health epidemic in Jacksonville.

Operated through the Duval County Health Department, the Healthy Jacksonville Childhood Obesity Prevention Coalition, in partnership with the Health Planning Council of Northeast Florida, led community meetings, work groups and focus groups to recommend the best practices for solving the problems that often lead to childhood obesity.

In the Community Call to Action Plan, specific recommendations for how to reduce childhood obesity are outlined for:

• City of Jacksonville

• Healthcare systems and providers

• Schools

• Early childhood advocates and providers

• Community, faith and youth organizations

• Media and marketing community

• Employers 

“Childhood obesity is a health issue with multiple causes,” said Donald George, M.D., Nemours and co-chair, Healthy Jacksonville Childhood Obesity Prevention Coalition.  Because of this, involvement from multiple sectors of the community is needed to reach a solution.  By working in tandem toward the same ultimate goal, Jacksonville will win the fight against childhood obesity.”

This effort is made possible thanks to support from The Blue Foundation for a Healthy Florida‘s statewide initiative called Embrace a Healthy Florida, which supports community-based programs that promote change in families and parenting, child care centers and schools, neighborhood recreation opportunities and other influences on the accessibility of healthy food and physical activity.  Jacksonville is one of five cities in Florida selected to develop community action plans to reduce childhood obesity.

At the event, The Blue Foundation announced future grant opportunities for local organizations to accomplish the objectives outlined in 2009 Healthy Kids, Healthy Jacksonville: A Community Call to Action.

Healthy Kids, Healthy Jacksonville: A Parent's Guide to Growing a Healthy Child

This guide will help you find programs,
services and community assets to help you connect your children.

Call 904-253-2520 to request a copy of the plan or resource guide.

Whole for One, Skim for All! Click here for a flier for families and physicians about the importance of children drinking no fat milk.

Duval County Health Department
900 University Blvd. N.
Jacksonville, FL 32211
253-1000

Copyright ©  2003 Duval County Health Department. All rights reserved.