Today, the Public Health Foundation (PHF) is pleased to announce the winners of the 2013 "I'm Your Community Guide!"  Contest, which is designed to identify model practices for implementing the evidence-based strategies outlined in The Guide to Community Preventive Services (The Community Guide). Each of the organizations below has demonstrated effective and efficient use of the evidence-based strategies outlined in The Community Guide to make positive impacts on their communities. PHF is pleased to showcase their success stories and continue our efforts in promoting The Community Guide.

 

The Maricopa County Department of Public Health (MCDPH) in Arizona has been awarded first place for their story, “Creating the Maricopa County Health Improvement Plan with Stakeholders and Evidence-Based Approaches.” MCDPH used The Community Guide to enhance the implementation of evidence-based practices (EBPs) throughout MCDPH. Specifically, MCDPH used The Community Guide to develop a database of 800 itemized public health-related EBPs. MCDPH also used The Community Guide to develop the Maricopa County Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP). Learn more about their success with The Community Guide.

 

The Sedgwick County Health Department in Kansas used The Community Guide to implement “Walktober: From Baby Steps to Leaps and Bounds” - a community-wide campaign to increase physical activity and was awarded second place for their story. Walktober promoted walking during the month of October to increase daily levels of physical activity in order to decrease risk for diabetes, cardiovascular disease and other chronic diseases.  The Sedgwick County Health Department’s implementation of Walktober in schools increased from 3 schools in 2009 to 14 schools in 2012. Walktober’s implementation in worksites increased from 1 worksite to 7 worksites over the same period of time. Learn more about their success with The Community Guide.

 

Third place was also awarded to the Sedgwick County Health Department in Kansas, Office of Health Promotion: Tobacco for their entry, “Getting the Drift...Clearing the Air in Multi-unit Housing.” The Sedgwick County Health Department used the evidence-based recommendation of smoking bans and restrictions from The Community Guide to achieve an increase in smoke-free multi-unit dwellings in their community. The program achieved a 300% increase in the number of multi-unit dwellings with smoke-free policies in at least one of their residential buildings. The number of dwellings increased from 3 in December of 2011 to 12 in July of 2012. Learn more about their success with The Community Guide.

 

Visit The Community Guide website for updated findings and recommendations from the Community Preventive Services Task Force to improve health and prevent disease in your community.

 

Promote The Community Guide by distributing Community Guide bookmarks or pens.  Contact Edward Kyle to request up to 100 free bookmarks or pens for your use.