Letters to the Editor for Nov. 19, 2010

A new effort to promote health

The Baker County Health Department (BCHD) is forming a Community Health Action Response Team (CHART) to build and expand community partnerships and policies that work to prevent, detect and manage chronic diseases.  This team will help local health officials plan population-based approaches to reducing the burden of chronic diseases most closely linked to physical inactivity, poor nutrition and tobacco use.  Such chronic diseases include arthritis, asthma, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, obesity and stroke.

By utilizing a population-based approach to address chronic disease, CHART will focus on fostering new partnerships between public health and community partners in order to examine policy, environmental and system changes that influence the prevention and management of chronic diseases. The team will use assessment tools to conduct a robust community needs evaluation in order to build a three-year community action plan to address prevention, early detection and management of chronic diseases where people live, work, play, and receive care. 

If you are interested in participating in the Healthy Communities Assessment, BCHD is holding its first CHART meeting at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2010 at the Baker County Public Library, 2400 Resort St.

Chrissy Martin, Healthy Communities Coordinator,

Sheila Orr, R.N.

Baker County Health Department