Marion County to Promote Healthy Fundraisers

 

As a participant in the Healthy Communities Project, the county received a $97,000 grant from the Department of Human Services to work with schools on policy changes that will promote healthful behaviors among school-age children.

 

Tonya Johnson, community health development manager with the health department, said Marion County received $32,500 in the first year of the project for assessment and development of a three-year plan and $65,000 for the second year, the implementation phase.

 

The three overarching goals of the project are to increase access to healthy food choices; increase opportunities for physical activity; and decrease access to tobacco.

 

“One objective for schools based on our assessment was helping them put in their wellness policies a discouragement for using candy or food in general as rewards,” Johnson said. “There are so many other things that don’t tie to food, such as pencils, stickers, extra time at recess. The North Marion School District has developed a terrific list of awards that it distributed to teachers and school staff.”

 

Marion County has 10 school districts, Johnson said. The project is launching with two districts: North Marion and the Salem/Keizer School District.

 

At 28 percent, Marion County’s obesity rate is higher than the statewide average of roughly 25 percent, Johnson said, and stroke and cancer rates also have been higher than elsewhere in the state.