Investing in Our Communities: A Partnership between Municipal Leagues and Community Stakeholders

Eight in 10 American voters believe childhood obesity is a serious problem. The incidence of childhood obesity has tripled in the past three decades and today more than one-third of children ages 10-17 are obese or overweight. The projected economic consequences are enormous as health-care costs rise as a result of chronic conditions caused by obesity and children grow into unhealthy members of America's future workforce, impacting productivity.

State municipal leagues can play an important role in partnering with local leagues and communities to advocate for and implement policy and environmental changes that will help build healthy communities at the local level. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Center to Prevent Childhood Obesity is working with state municipal leagues in both Arkansas and Mississippi to help reverse the childhood obesity epidemic by changing public policies and creating healthier environments in schools and communities - especially those most impacted by this epidemic.

The purpose of the session: •Highlight the role that both state and local municipal leagues play in working with communities to improve local nutrition and physical activity environments through policy and environmental changes. •Describe the process of building multi-sectoral partnerships and collaboration •Provide examples of promising practices for improving community wellness and planning •Demonstrate the link between state policy decisions and local implementation. •Distinguish between the processes for advocating for institutional or legislative policy changes. •Offer evidence and examples supporting the impact of policy and environmental change initiatives on improving health outcomes.