Spanish Peaks Outreach Clinic receives $39,660 from LiveWell Colorado

HUERFANO– Spanish Peaks Outreach Clinic has announced that Huerfano County has been named one of four new “LiveWell Communities” by LiveWell Colorado, a nonprofit committed to reducing and preventing obesity by promoting healthy eating and active living. The Clinic received $39,660 from LiveWell Colorado to develop and lead a coalition focused on improving Huerfano County residents’ access to healthy foods and opportunities for active living in order to reduce obesity rates.
“This funding is awarded to communities who have solid plans to affect positive change through strategic education and action,” said Maren Stewart, president and CEO of LiveWell Colorado. “We look forward to working with Spanish Peaks Outreach Clinic to advance community-level strategies that will make the healthy choice the easy choice for all Huerfano County residents.”
The funding supports a LiveWell Coalition in Huerfano County through a one-year mobilization and planning process. During this stage, LiveWell Huerfano County will work in partnership with local stakeholders to develop a long-term community strategic plan that will lay out strategies and guide future activities related to obesity prevention and reduction. At the end of this year-long planning cycle, LiveWell Colorado may invite new communities to apply for additional funding to support long term strategy implementation.
LiveWell Huerfano County joins more than 20 LiveWell Colorado Communities including three other newly named communities, LiveWell South Adams County, LiveWell Globeville Elyria-Swansea and LiveWell Northeast Denver, as beneficiaries of LiveWell Colorado’s community investment strategy. This marks the first time the statewide nonprofit has awarded funds to new community coalitions since officially becoming a 501(c)(3) in 2009.
LiveWell Colorado supports community coalitions across Colorado in developing and executing sustainable local initiatives designed to promote healthy eating and active living. In addition to multi-year financial support, LiveWell Colorado provides technical assistance and opportunities for shared learning and collaborations. Since 2006, the community investments program has directly benefited more than half a million Coloradans.
The four new LiveWell Colorado Communities were chosen as funding beneficiaries because of each coordinating agency’s proven success implementing other multi-stakeholder campaigns and expertise engaging the community in coalition-based work. Community need based on demographics and geography also played a role in funding decisions.
“We are excited about becoming a LiveWell Community and the prospect of bringing our many assets together under one umbrella by creating a plan that will benefit our entire County,” said Debbie Channel, Clinic Manager of Spanish Peaks Outreach Clinic.
Cindy Campbell has been designated as the LiveWell Huerfano County Coordinator. The planning process will involve looking at schools, parks and trails, sidewalks for walking and biking, community centers, and other areas that are identified as supporting healthy eating and active living. Community members will have an opportunity to participate in the planning. Anyone who would like more information about participating can call Cindy at the Outreach Clinic (719-738-5200).
According to the U.S. Surgeon General, obesity is the single greatest public health threat to the nation. In fact, poor nutrition and lack of physical activity are the second leading preventable causes of death in the U.S. and Colorado. Colorado’s adult obesity rate has doubled since 1995. Although Colorado is considered the leanest state for adults, it is ranked 23rd for childhood obesity, and is rising at the second-fastest rate in the nation.
For more information about this initiative, visit www.livewellcolorado.org.
About LiveWell Colorado:
LiveWell Colorado is a nonprofit organization committed to preventing and reducing obesity in Colorado by promoting healthy eating and active living. Leading a comprehensive approach, LiveWell Colorado inspires and advances policy, environmental and lifestyle changes that aim to provide every Coloradan with access to healthy foods and opportunities for physical activity in the places they live, work, learn and play. LiveWell Colorado’s strategic funders and partners include the Colorado Health Foundation, Kaiser Permanente, the Kresge Foundation, and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.