Healthy Communities Program Ontario

Through CDC’s Healthy Communities Program, communities are working to reduce the serious problem of chronic diseases in the United States. They do this by changing the places and organizations that touch people’s lives every day—schools, work sites, health care sites, and other community settings.

Healthy Eating. Fresh from the Farm Fresh from the Farm, Healthy Fundraising for Ontario Schools is a pilot project offering a new approach to fundraising for schools, selling fresh Ontario fruit and vegetables to the community, while supporting healthy eating and Ontario's farmers. Foodland Foodland Ontario is a consumer promotion program. The Ontario Physical and Health Education Association (Ophea) is a non-profit organization with a mandate to support healthy schools and healthy communities through quality programs, partnerships and advocacy. Program Background. In 2006 the Healthy Communities program was created as a central point of contact for health-related issues throughout the County. We provide technical assistance to communities throughout the County, giving specific recommendations for policy and environmental strategies to improve residents’ health. Community Health Ontario (CHO) is the voice of the LHIN-funded community sector, a strategic partnership between Addictions and Mental Health Ontario (AMHO), the Alliance for Healthier Communities, the Canadian Mental Health Association - Ontario Division (CMHA ON) and the Ontario Community Support Association (OCSA).

Chronic Diseases and Their Risk Factors

Today, half of American adults have at least one chronic disease, such as—

Ontario Healthy Communities Coalition

• Heart disease.
• Stroke.
• Diabetes.
• Cancer.
• Obesity.
• Arthritis.

Through CDC’s Healthy Communities Program, communities are working to reduce the serious problem of chronic diseases in the United States. They do this by changing the places and organizations that touch people’s lives every day—schools, work sites, health care sites, and other community settings. The Healthy Communities Outreach Program is a comprehensive, community-based outreach program designed to assist families, children and pregnant women to find appropriate services. Through this program, patient navigators connect families with resources to obtain treatment for medical, dental, vision, mental health and developmental problems.

Chronic diseases make up 7 of the 10 leading causes of death in the United States. They cause pain, illness, and limits in daily activities.

Several factors raise a person’s risk of chronic disease, including—

• Tobacco use and exposure.
• Lack of physical activity.
• Poor nutrition.

The Healthy Communities Program helps to prevent chronic diseases by working to reduce health risk factors. It also supports efforts to attain health equity—that means making sure all people can reach their full health potential.

Working Together to Reduce Chronic Diseases

CDC, local and state health departments, national organizations with ties to local communities, and community leaders and groups are joining forces to make local changes that support good health across the United States.

Learn more about the Healthy Communities Program’s national networks for community change and investments in communities.

Also find tools and resources that help communities make effective changes for better health.

Cdc Healthy Communities Program

A History of Investing in Community Health

Since 2003, CDC’s Healthy Communities Program (formerly known as the Steps Program) has invested in local efforts to prevent chronic disease. It has seen some exciting outcomes. Communities have shown great energy, ideas, and the desire to make the local changes needed to reduce the chronic disease burden.

Healthy Communities Program Colorado

Read about the Healthy Communities Program’s success stories and the program’s methods for monitoring and evaluation.