Improving Physical Activity and Nutrition through Public-Private Partnerships

Public Health Institutes (independent, nonprofit organizations) represent a new way of addressing the most challenging current and emerging population health issues. Through entrepreneurial leadership, convening multi-sector partners from across the public health system and strong organizational and programmatic capacity, institutes are finding new ways to improve the health of the population in their states though innovative partnerships. One of the most challenging current population health issues is obesity, a public health crisis that must be addressed through engaging multiple sectors in implementing proven, evidence based strategies. Institutes create and convene multi-sector partnerships with many partners such as federal agencies, state and local health departments, community organizations, faith-based organizations, legislatures, universities, school districts, heath care providers and other state governmental agencies (transportation authorities, welfare and aging, among others). Together, they have implemented proven strategies on the state and local levels such as direct interventions with vulnerable populations, creating excellent information for decisions makers and providing support for implementing critical policy change. This session will give an overview of the roles of institutes in addressing the obesity epidemic through public-private partnerships and highlight three examples of successful partnerships that have resulted in stemming the tide of obesity among vulnerable populations as well as increase awareness and resources to address this issue. Representatives from Arkansas, Oregon and Texas will share strategies for comprehensive statewide approaches to addressing this issue through public-private partnerships.