With nearly one in three children and adolescents overweight or obese, at a cost of $14 billion annually just in direct medical costs, we must do all that we can to make every American community a healthier place to live.

Funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 that President Barack Obama recently signed into law provide state and local policy-makers with an opportunity to create healthier environments for children and families. To learn how recovery act funds can be used to increase opportunities for physical activity and access to healthy foods in your community, see our policy brief entitled Supporting Healthy Communities Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. All of the recommendations in the brief are supported by research and accompanied by examples of how similar funds have been used to achieve healthy eating and active living objectives. You can also see an overview of the policy brief, a sample op-ed that can be customized and submitted to local newspapers, a sample PowerPoint presentation that you can use to educate colleagues at conferences, and a video public service announcement that makes the case why supporting healthy communities is so important. 

Policy Brief: Supporting Healthy Communities Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.pdf

Chart: Overview of State and Local Funds to Support Healthy Communities in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.pdf

 Sample Op-Ed: Supporting Healthy Communities Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.pdf

Sample PowerPoint Presentation: Supporting Healthy Communities Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.ppt

Video Public Service Announcement: Children and Parents Speak to Policy-makers about Using Stimulus Funds.mp4

Other Resources

Past Webinar, June 29, 2009:  Economic Stimulus and Healthy Food Access: http://www.leadershipforhealthycommunities.org/content/view/386/

Past: Webinar, June 22, 2009: Increasing Physical Activity: The Economic Stimulus and Other Policy Options: http://www.leadershipforhealthycommunities.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=382

Past Webinar, May 19, 2009: Healthy Schools and the Economic Stimulus Presentations: www.leadershipforhealthycommunities.org/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=363

The National Trust for Historic Preservation's State-by-State Stimulus Spending Tracking Tool: www.preservationnation.org/resources/public-policy/perfect-storm/tracker

Creating Complete Streets with Economic Stimulus Spending: www.completestreets.org/stimulus.html