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Health Department Shares in Obesity and Tobacco Grant
The Knox County Health Department will be working with several other counties to get more residents to combat some growing problems in the area.

The Health Department learned this week that it will be receiving a $144,000 grant from the Illinois Department of Public Health for a program called "We Choose Health" -- dealing with things like obesity, diabetes, and anti-smoking.

Health Department Administrator Heidi Britton tells WGIL's Morning News the money is being shared with Fulton, Mason, and McDonough Counties for a good reason.

"This is an opportunity for us to provide resources and assist in planning efforts to increase the availability of healthy foods, promote physical active lifestyles, and reduce exposure to second-hand smoke, and to implement other health-focused programs," Britton said. "It's a multi-year grant. It encourages and supports obesity- and tobacco-prevention in Illinois communities."

Britton says the state encouraged local health departments to regionalize themselves in order to try and obtain the grant funds.

But she says that's a combined 137,000 residents that can be impacted by the program.

Work site wellness, smoke-free outdoor spaces, making roads accessible to use all users, and other things will be dealt with in "We Choose Health."
08 07 12 by Newsroom
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