The Creating Healthy Communities Program (CHC) is committed to preventing and reducing chronic disease statewide. Through cross-sector collaboration, we are activating communities to improve access to and affordability of healthy food and increase opportunities for physical activity where Ohioans live, work, and play. By implementing sustainable evidence-based strategies, CHC is creating a culture of health. CHC is funded by a federal Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant administered by the Ohio Department of Health. The CHC program goal is to reduce the preventable risk factors for chronic conditions such as hypertension, high cholesterol, and diabetes.

Equity Statement: Health equity is achieved when all people in a community have access to affordable, inclusive, and quality infrastructure and services that, despite historical and contemporary injustices, allows them to reach their full health potential.

CHC Principles

• Sustainable and equitable investments: CHC invests in policies, projects, places, and people to create and sustain equitable, inclusive opportunities for healthy eating and active living.
• Self-awareness and empathy: Everyone involved in CHC prepares to engage in the work by strengthening self-awareness and empathy.
• Community-led solutions: Community members experiencing health inequities or social marginalization partner with CHC to amplify their collective power and lead solutions for their community.
• Organizational partnership: Organizations partner with CHC to align with and direct resources toward community members’ vision and priorities.
• Coordinator responsibility: CHC Coordinators approach their relationships and the work with humility, transparency, dependability, and respect for others.