Last Update: November 2020
Author: Physical Activity and Nutrition Program, Vermont Department of Health
DUE TO COVID-19, THERE IS NO HY1 2020 UPDATE FOR THIS PERFORMANCE MEASURE.
This performance measure documents the number of municipal projects completed (bi-annual count) that improve access to healthy food. This data is reported by Vermont Department of Health Office of Local Health staff who support leaders in their communities to implement evidence based strategies toward this goal. Examples of projects completed:
According to the CDC's Recommended Community Strategies to Prevent Obesity, environmental changes to improve access to healthy food are evidence based strategies for reducing rates of overweight and obesity. These strategies are among the most sustainable ways to make long term, population based impacts.
The Vermont Department of Health has identified specific strategies for Vermont communities to implement to increase access to healthy food, and provides funding and technical assistance, such as training and sharing best practice, to help support community efforts.
These strategies are to establish:
The Vermont Department of Health will continue to support these efforts by providing leadership and expertise on how communities can embed these strategies into all of their planning and development projects and by continuing to identify and share models that work in rural communities.
Vermont Department of Health Office of Local Health staff will work with their community partners throughout the year to move their strategies toward completion, see “Performance Measure: Number of municipal strategies being implemented to increase access to healthy food".