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$3 Million CDC Grant Will Expand Efforts to Build a Healthier Birmingham
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Minority Health and Health Disparities Research Center (MHRC) won a competitive grant of nearly $3 million from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to reduce the gap in chronic diseases between African Americans and Whites in Birmingham by improving nutrition and physical activity in underserved African American communities. The project, “Birmingham REACH for Better Health,” is a partnership between UAB, the Jefferson County Department of Health, United Way of Central Alabama, Freshwater Land Trust, Birmingham YMCA, REV Birmingham, Safe Routes to School, and the C ... continue reading »
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Double Your SNAP Dollars for Healthy Food
If you are a SNAP (food stamp) recipient, you may be able to get an extra $20 per market day of fresh fruits and vegetables for every $20 in SNAP benefits you spend. The 2014 pilot projects at East Lake Farmers Market and Norwood Market are over now that the markets are closed; stay tuned for plans for 2015. Click here to see a list of up-to-date mobile market stops: http://www.eastlakemarket.org/ To see a short film on food insecurity in Birmingham and efforts in Birmingham’s East Lake neighborhood to improve healthy food access and consumption, click the link below: http://vimeopro.com/user3732648/digital-city-2014/video/94114446 ... continue reading »
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More Trails in Jefferson County, More Places to Get Active
Implementation of the Jefferson County Red Rock Ridge and Valley Trails System Plan got major boost in 2012 when the U.S. Department of Transportation awarded $10 million to the City of Birmingham to develop 29 miles of trails, bolstered by $5 million in matching funds from a partnership of local supporters. Earlier in 2014, the City of Birmingham hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony for the first segment, an extension of the Civil Rights Trail running from downtown Birmingham through portions of the Smithfield, East Thomas and Enon Ridge neighborhoods. This segment of the trail system includes new sidewalks, bike lanes, educational Civil Rights ... continue reading »
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New Health Action Partnerships Priorities for 2015, Guided by Community Matters 20/20
In 2014, the Jefferson County Department of Health led a comprehensive community health assessment in Jefferson County, called Community Matters 20/20. pubThe Community Matters 20/20 Steering Committee reviewed the Community Health Assessment data and draft strategic issues informed by the community. FIVE Strategic Issues or priority areas were identified. These Strategic Issues shaped Community Health Improvement Plan, enabling Jefferson County to achieve the Community Matters 20/20 vision that “Jefferson county, Alabama is an inclusive, thriving community of healthy and connected people.” This assessment led to the formation of a fiv ... continue reading »
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Five smoke-free cities and why this matters
Since 2011, five cities in Jefferson County have advanced comprehensive protections against secondhand smoke exposure in all worksites, restaurants and bars. That covers 43 percent of the county and the largest city in the state — Birmingham (212,000 people), Midfield (5,365), Vestavia Hills (34,033), Fultondale (8,380) and Bessemer (27,456). At an event to celebrate this achievement, Birmingham City Council member Johnathan Austin explained why this matters to him: “As chairman of the public safety, my number one charge is for the health and safety of all the citizens of Birmingham. Looking at something as comprehensive as this w ... continue reading »
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Safe Routes to School
For many children in the Birmingham area, streets are unsafe to walk and sidewalks can be few and far between. Besides safety concerns, children are not getting enough physical activity in their day. This is where the Safe Routes to School of Central Alabama comes in. The National Center for Safe Routes to School is focused on improving children’s safety while walking and biking to school. Here in Jefferson County, Safe Routes to School of Central Alabama (originally funded through a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Healthy Kids Healthy Communities grant, and supported by the Health Action Partnership) is also addressing issues of childhood obe ... continue reading »