Our focus areas starting in 2018. 

Community Policy

This group works at the community level to create conditions that improve community design and access to healthy places through one built environment, food policy or tobacco policy.

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Chair: Andrew Lawson, City of Arkansas City

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Resident/Community Well-Being

Establishing one community project per year for each focus area to engage individuals, increase awareness of healthy lifestyles and sharing successes are goals of this subcommittee. 

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This group is challenged to mobilize residents in the community to sign the Pathways to a Healthy You Pledge to be more engaged in their own health and to participate in community events and other healthy eating, active living and tobacco-free activities.

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Co-Chair: Joan Cales, Winfield Public Library

Co-Chair: Sarah Werner, Winfield Area Chamber of Commerce

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Food Retail & Restaurants

Tasks for this group include engaging local grocery stores and/or other local food retail locations (such as gas stations, dollar stores and corner stores) in the community to sign the Pathways to Healthy Foods Pledge, complete a store assessment, and adopt healthy strategies. 

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Working with restaurants to sign the Pathways to a Healthy Restaurant Pledge, complete restaurant assessment, and adopt healthy strategies is also a focus of this group. 

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Co-Chair: Kerri Falletti, Cowley First

Co-Chair: Becky Reid, K-State Research & Extension

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Healthcare

This subcommittee engages the hospitals and  primary health care providers to sign the Pathways to a Healthy Provider Pledge and implement a strategy, such as health action planning or a wellness contract, with patients to help them take action to increase physical activity, healthy eating and tobacco-cessation.

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Chair: Sarah Bryant, William Newton Hospital

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Schools

The schools subcommittee works with schools/school districts to reach "Modeling" level in at least one wellness policy in each of the following categories: Physical Activity or Integrated School Based Wellness, AND Nutrition or Nutrition Promotion and Education, as outlined in the KSDE Kansas School Wellness Policy Model Guidelines for a minimum of one elementary school, one middle school/junior high school, and one high school* in the community's school district(s). It is the goal of this group to cover every grade level, K-12, with one physical activity and one nutrition policy. 

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Co-Chair: Lorri Greenlee, USD 465

Co-Chair: Lori Schwartz, USD 470

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Work Sites

Engaging employers in the community to sign the Pathways to a Healthy Workplace Pledge is a chief focus for this group. Employers are encouraged to attend the WorkWell Kansas "Foundations" training and select additional "Physical Activity," "Healthy Foods" and "Tobacco" trainings. Employers can then work to implement a comprehensive work site wellness plan for a minimum of one focus area.

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Chair: Charissa Finch, City-Cowley County Health Department 

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Communications 

This group manages external communications for RISE Cowley to ensure the public at large learns of opportunities available and receives education about healthy lifestyle choices. 

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Co-Chair: Sarah Bryant, William Newton Hospital 

Co-Chair: Andrew Lawson, City of Arkansas City