Reducing Health Inequities through Policy, Systems and Environmental Change: The Blue Island Story

Current literature lacks the power to set a clear direction for policy based obesity prevention interventions for underserved populations. However, a need exists for population prevention strategies to tackle the obesity epidemic in these communities. This presentation identifies and selects effective strategies for community level interventions based on the work done under a national prevention program and presents guiding principles for structuring essential partnerships and relationship building.

Blue Island, Illinois is a 4.5 square mile city with a population of 23,706 residents that is located southwest of Chicago, IL. Blue Island is primarily comprised of minorities; 50% of its residents are of Hispanic descent and 30% are African American. Blue Island is a poor community. The median household income falls well below national, state and county averages. Unemployment sits at 14.5%, up from 8% in 2000. Over 25% of the 25 year and older population in Blue Island has not completed a 12th grade education (compared to 13.8% and 14.9% at the state and national levels respectively).In 2010, 22% of households in Blue Island were enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. All schools participate in the National Lunch Program.

In 2011, the Blue Island Community Health Coalition was founded to provide assistance and oversight in the development of policies, guidelines and programs critical to the promotion of healthy lifestyles and the reduction of health disparities. This presentation will describe a prevention program overseen by the Coalition designed to improve health outcomes in an underserved Illinois community.