In November 2008, Leadership for Healthy Communities conducted a workshop for Spartanburg and Greenville Counties, SC. After the workshop, Spartanburg community leaders representing a range of diverse interests – city and county officials, educators, school officials at all levels, local non-profits and philanthropic foundations – came together to form a community taskforce to address childhood obesity. Over the past year, Spartanburg’s Childhood Obesity Taskforce has achieved a number of successes including the following:
Determined the rate of childhood obesity and overweight in Spartanburg County,
Formed a partnership with the seven school districts in the county,
Supported a collaborative university-based research project concerning healthy eating,
Secured a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities grant in conjunction with partnering organizations. The four-year grant will allow Spartanburg to seek policy and environmental changes that improve opportunities for physical activity and access to affordable healthy foods in four areas of the county: the Northside of the city of Spartanburg, the Boiling Springs area of the county and the towns of Woodruff and Pacolet.
Supported the endorsement of a county-wide pedestrian and bicycle master plan by Spartanburg city and county councils and town councils in Inman, Pacolet, and Woodruff.
Completed a strategic planning process to set five-year goals and priorities.
Began the process of developing a resource guide of initiatives, programs and organizations that aim to reverse the rising trend of childhood obesity in Spartanburg County.
