Everyone has a role to play in reducing childhood and adult obesity. Involvement from all levels of government, schools, community organizations, and families is key to ensuring a healthier future for America. People all across the country have started moving. From community gardens to fun fitness programs in schools, communities are doing their parts to make the goal of healthier living a reality.

Last week, ten teams from across the country were selected to participate in the next phase of the Healthy Weight Collaborative, created by the Affordable Care Act and supported through the Prevention and Public Health Fund.

The Healthy Weight Collaborative is a partnership between the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), an Agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the National Initiative for Children’s Healthcare Quality (NICHQ). Together HRSA and NICHQ have embarked on a nationwide effort focused on the prevention and treatment of childhood and adult obesity. HRSA and NICHQ are working with a consortium of organizations to establish a national Prevention Center for Healthy Weight. The Prevention Center’s mission is to work with communities to promote positive primary care, public health and individual change to reverse the obesity epidemic facing our nation.

The ten teams selected to participate in the next phase include:

• Boston Children’s Hospital (Massachusetts)
• Greater Rochester Obesity Collaborative (New York)
• St. Charles Health Council (Virginia)
• Community Health Improvement Partnership (Florida)
• Nationwide Children’s Hospital/Ohio State University (Ohio)
• ArCare (Arkansas)
• Children’s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics (Missouri)
• Yellowstone City County Health Department (Montana)
• Scripps Family Medical Residency Program (California)
• Lincoln County Health Department (Washington)

The selected teams will participate in a variety of activities to expand obesity treatment and prevention efforts beyond the walls of a clinician’s office and into the community. They’ll work with states, tribes and other interested groups to develop practical approaches that link primary care, public health, and communities to prevent and treat obesity for children and families.  Using established quality improvement methods, the Prevention Center will provide training and technical assistance to the selected teams.

Click here for more information regarding the Healthy Weight Collaborative. Any questions regarding the Collaborative can be sent to info@collaborateforhealthyweight.org