WHO WE ARE

Based in Washington, D.C., Leadership for Healthy Communities is a $10-million national program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation designed to support local and state government leaders nationwide in their efforts to reduce childhood obesity through public policies that promote active living, healthy eating and access to healthy foods. We focus, in particular, on policy efforts that can improve nutrition and increase physical activity among children at high risk for obesity, especially African-American, Latino, Native American, Asian American and Pacific Islander children living in low-income communities. The efforts we support are expected to help the Foundation achieve its goal of reversing the childhood obesity epidemic by 2015.

WHAT WE DO

We work with organizations representing elected or appointed officials from local, county, regional or state governments to achieve six primary goals:

1. Educate state and local government leaders about the impact of public policies on the health of children and communities;
2. Create tools and materials that help governments implement active living and healthy-eating strategies;
3. Facilitate cooperation between state and local leaders;
4. Build peer support networks for leaders engaged in preventing childhood obesity;
5. Help leaders gain public support for preventing and addressing childhood obesity through high-impact activities, like town-hall meetings, public hearings, workshops and trainings; and
6. Engage diverse policy-makers and community members in strategies to promote healthy eating and active living.
   

WHY WE DO IT

America is in danger of raising the first generation of children who will live sicker and die younger than the generation before them. Obesity rates have skyrocketed among both children and adults, as have rates of related illnesses like type 2 diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and asthma. These illnesses disproportionately affect African-American, Latino, Native American, Asian American and Pacific Islander children living in low-income communities. Obesity also poses a tremendous financial threat to our economy and our health care system. Researchers estimate the epidemic costs our nation $117 billion annually in direct medical expenses and indirect costs, including lost productivity and absenteeism. Leadership for Healthy Communities works with local and state government leaders because they make important decisions that affect people’s opportunities to eat healthy foods and be physically active within their communities. At first glance, you might think these daily decisions are about budgets, laws, regulations or zoning, but they are also about sidewalks, bike trails, playgrounds, recreation centers, school meal programs, neighborhood farmers’ markets and fast-food billboards near schools. We help government leaders make the connection between their policy priorities and decisions and the health of their constituents—and we support them in their efforts to create healthier communities.