Eastern Highlands Health District Receives Grant To Combat Chronic Diseases

The Eastern Highlands Health District Community Health Action Response Team has received a $100,000 grant from the American Planning Association through its Plan4Health program to combat two causes of chronic disease — lack of physical activity and lack of access to nutritious foods.

Plan4Health is a 15-month program that is designed to strengthen the connection between planning and public health. Seventy-five percent of the program’s funding supports local and state coalitions working to advance public health through better planning and partnerships. The program is implemented in partnership with the American Public Health Association (APHA) and represents a major new collaboration between planners and public health professionals. Funding for Plan4Health was provided through a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The Mansfield agency is one of 18 from around the country selected for the program.

“This is an exciting new opportunity to improve the health of our communities through diverse partnerships,” said Anna Ricklin, AICP, manager of APA’s Planning and Community Health Center. “Collaboration is key if we want to continue to create communities of lasting value that are equitable and healthy for all residents.”

Small and rural planning and zoning commissions often have limited capacity. In response, the Eastern Highlands Health District Community Health Action Response Team (C.H.A.R.T.) coalition will develop a toolkit aimed at assisting planning and zoning commissions with understanding how planning can impact long-term public health. The toolkit will also gather resources that can be used by local planning and zoning commission members to evaluate planning options and make decisions informed by their potential health impact. An important component of the funded project includes strategies aimed at increasing civic engagement and citizen influence over local planning and zoning decisions.

Coalition partners include, among others: Eastern Highlands Health District, Connecticut Chapter of the American Planning Association, Connecticut Public Health Association, Coventry STEPS, Town of Mansfield Department of Parks and Recreation, Town of Mansfield Department of Planning and Development, Town of Mansfield Department of Human Services, Town of Coventry Department of Planning and Development, Town of Coventry Department of Parks and Recreation, Town of Tolland Department of Planning and Development, Town of Ashford Department of Parks and Recreation, Tolland Family Resource Center, Visiting Nurses & Health Services of Connecticut, Hartford Healthcare at Home, Tolland Board of Education School Nurses, Hartford Healthcare at Home, and local residents.

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