Washington County Public Health recently released its progress report on its Community Health Improvement Plan (HIP) which includes its priorities for nutrition and food systems and physical activity across the lifespan.

In this five-year plan that ends in 2020, the two priorities have combined to form one coalition as Washington County Public Health Administrator Danielle Pettit-Majewski shares what they are working on now, “We have recently taken a shift with our wellness coalition. I’m actually really excited about it, we are partnering with Wellmark’s Healthy Hometown Coalition and so we have had a consultant who comes in for free, this is the service that Wellmark provides, and gives us some structure and we really are focusing how we can move more, eat well, and basically have more social cohesion, feel better.”

Pettit-Majewski adds how Wellmark’s coalition is helping Washington County move forward, “With those standing foundations we are figuring out how we can build upon what is already working well in Washington County and how we can expand on that and where we can improve. And so we’re really trying to look at it in terms of subgroups. How can we focus on eating well in our restaurants, in our homes, in our schools, in our workplaces, what are the small changes that we can do? What are the things that we can do to move more regarding trails or being able to walk in community buildings. How can we think of small changes that will impact change for everyone.”

To read Washington County’s Health Improvement Plan 2018 progress report click here.