Creating Healthy Communities

Mission: Activating community-led solutions to create sustainable change in policies, places, and population health.

Vision: Vibrant Ohio communities where everyone has access to healthy food and opportunities for active living.

Health 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.

To learn more about the Creating Healthy Communities initiative and its statewide impact, please click here.

Creating Healthy Communities 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 relationship and the work with humility, transparency, dependability, and respect for others.

Creating Healthy Communities Success Stories

Learn how we’ve increased access to food through the WIC program at the new Center Street Market – read our success story here!

Coalition Evaluation Results

Learn more about the coalition and those who represent the community involved in it – click here!

Get Involved!

If you are interested in getting involved with Creating Healthy Communities, or for more information on the CHC programs, please contact Cory Pierce at 740-692-9182 or by email at cpierce@marionpublichealth.org

Marion Food Pantry Map

Our Food Access Action Team has developed a map showcasing the area’s food pantries. Check it out and for more information, please click on the link!

Marion County Resource Guide

2023 Marion County Healthy Communities Objectives

Healthy Eating

Farmer’s Market – Enhancement of one Farmer’s Market to increase healthy food access for Marion County residents
Farm to Institution – Local students and faculty will see an increase in locally grown fresh produce into their diets while at school
Food Access Policy and Planning – A Food Access Action Plan will be developed to focus on addressing food insecurity with a concentration on data collection and dissemination, education, and awareness of local food systems

Active Living

Park & Playground – in Marion County, CHC will work to increase the number of adults/youth that have access to places for physical activity through the establishment of a new neighborhood park
Bike & Pedestrian Infrastructure – Downtown residents will see an increase in access to physical activity opportunities as a result of bike and pedestrian infrastructure improvements
Multi-Use Trail – Marion City North-End will see an increase in the number of adults who have access to places for physical activity with the completion of one multi-use trail and the installation of trail enhancements

Community & Coalition Development

Activating Community Partners & Residents – The Marion County Coalition will activate and empower local residents and partners to address the needs of our community by working collaboratively to create lasting community change
Health Equity – The local coalition will increase education and awareness surrounding health disparities and inequities in our community and focus on evidence based interventions that reach those most disproportionately impacted
Livability – Together we are building community pride! We are working to create a safer, healthier, and more inclusive community where residents have access to the resources they need to thrive and prosper

Past Projects

2022

Grandview Estates Playground

From 2020 – 2022, CHC helped establish a new park and playground at Grandview Estates to promote active living and exercise for children. In addition to playground equipment, a shelter was also installed for community events.

Center Street Market & WIC

In 2022, CHC was able to help advocate for and facilitate the acceptance of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) at the newly opened Center Street Market. Recipients of WIC are able to use their benefits at the market to purchase fruits, vegetables, baby food, formula, an

2021

Buckeye Food Alliance at OSUM

Working in conjunction with Buckeye Food Alliance of OSUM, CHC was able to help establish new food guidelines in their pantry. These guidelines implemented a color-coded system to help patrons prioritize and select healthier food options. Additionally, funding allowed for the pantry to purchase new refrigerators and freezers to store more healthier food options.

Produce Prescriptions

In 2021, CHC established a partnership with the Center Street Community Health Center and the newly opened Center Street Market to establish a Produce Prescriptions program. This program identified a group of individuals living with diabetes in order to prescribe regular fruit and vegetable offerings to them. Resulting from this program, several participants saw a reduction in weight and blood sugar levels, as well as gained significant nutrition education that was supplemented in addition to their prescriptions.

2020

CHC Coalition

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic began, and health department staff were reassigned from their regular duties. Despite this shifting of roles, the CHC coalition was able to continue work throughout the year without a coordinator directing them. The coalition proved imperative to the work of CHC while the health department navigated through pandemic response.

Downtown Marion

CHC was able to work with Downtown Marion to increase the number of youth and adults who have access to places for physical activity through the increase in worksite active commute support improvements. These improvements included the installation of bike racks and wayfinding signage.

2019

Village of Morral Park and Playground

In 2019, CHC was able to work with the village of Morral to help revamp their park. This included the replacement of mulch around park equipment. Additionally, a tobacco-free policy was adopted to ensure that the youth and adults utilizing the park can enjoy doing so without having to worry about the dangers of secondhand tobacco use.

Marion Senior Center

The Marion Senior Center was identified as an area in need of improvements for access to physical activity for our senior population. As a result, a new sidewalk and pickleball court was constructed at the location for local residents to utilize and reach their physical activity goals.

Page last updated: November 17, 2023