This fall, nearly 170 partners from across the state came together to celebrate the Illinois Alliance to Prevent Obesity’s (IAPO) successes, network and connect, and provide input into the strategic direction for IAPO in the years ahead.
A diverse array of nonprofits, local health departments, state agencies, hospital systems, community-based organizations, academics and health providers hailing from 30 counties – representing the entire length and breadth of Illinois, including organizations that work statewide – convened in Bloomington-Normal to celebrate the 4th anniversary of IAPO’s formation.
The IAPO Obesity Action Roadmap priorities were discussed throughout the event, including: Active transportation, increasing access to local foods, improving school nutrition, promoting worksite wellness, reducing consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, enhancing physical education, and supporting local-level coalitions. IAPO works to reduce obesity rates in Illinois by 2018 through changes in our policies, systems and environments that influence health.
The conference opened with welcomes from Julie McCoy, McLean County Wellness Coalition, Normal Mayor Chris Koos and Alma Rodríguez, The Chicago Community Trust.
Elissa Bassler, IAPO’s Executive Director and CEO of the Illinois Public Health Institute, gave an overview of IAPO and led a panel in a discussion on IAPO’s progress, which included Ann Marchetti, DuPage County FORWARD Initiative, Malik Nevels, J.D., Illinois African American Coalition for Prevention, Sandra Noel, Governor’s Council on Health & Physical Fitness and Marjorie Sawicki, St. Louis University.
Conference attendees then heard an inspiring keynote address by populist radio personality, writer and former Texas Agriculture Commissioner Jim Hightower, networked and connected throughout the day, and participated in an array of exciting breakout sessions, including:
Click on session titles to access information and resources:
Morning session: Healthy and Active Communities Network (HACN)Facilitator: Christy Filby, Two Rivers YMCA / Statewide Alliance of YMCAs
Description: The Healthy & Active Communities Network (HACN) is a peer learning network of local coalitions and community partnerships working towards sustainable improvements in healthy eating and active living through policy, systems and environmental change. To strengthen the connection and foster further alignment between local, community-based efforts and statewide work, HACN and IAPO merged in 2014. This session provided partners with an overview of HACN, followed by an interactive discussion on how HACN can best support local obesity prevention initiatives. This early morning session primed partners for a day of discovering new opportunities to collaborate, exploring innovative initiatives occurring across the state and networking.
Presenter: Jackie Lanier, Illinois State University / McLean County Wellness Coalition
Opportunities for engagement:
- To learn more, the next HACN quarterly call on Thursday, November 13, 1:00-2:00pm.
- Interested in getting involved? Email for more information.
Facilitators: Adam Becker, Consortium to Lower Obesity in Chicago Children & Michael Isaacson, Kane County Health Department
Description: This session explored best practices in creating healthy food and beverage environments in worksites, parks and municipalities, and hospitals. New state and local opportunities for limiting the marketing of unhealthy food to children were also explored and participants had a opportunity to discuss their work and provide input into IAPO’s work in these areas for the year ahead.
Presenters: Adam Becker, Consortium to Lower Obesity in Chicago Children; Amanda Kelley, American Heart Association; Colleen Lammel, Chicago Park District; Michael Walker, Aramark Retail Manager for Advocate Health
Session Highlights:
A) Welcome & Overview by workgroup co-chairs Adam Becker, Consortium to Lower Obesity in Chicago Children & Michael Isaacson, Kane County Health Department
Institutional Changes to Reduce SSB Consumption:
- Overview and worksites: Presentation by Amanda Kelley, American Heart Association
- Healthy municipal/park environments: Presentation by Colleen Lammel, Chicago Park District
Resource: Preventing Chronic Disease Community Case Study
2. Healthy Hospital Environments: Presentation by Michael Walker, Advocate Health System
Resource: Healthy Beverage Toolkit for Healthcare
B) Limiting marketing of unhealthy foods: Presentation by Adam Becker, Consortium to Lower Obesity in Chicago Children
Resources:
Sugary Drinks F.A.C.T.S. Food Advertising to Children & Teens Score
Cereal Food F.A.C.T.S. Food Advertising to Children & Teens Score 2014
Fast Food F.A.C.T.S. Food Advertising to Children & Teens Score 2013
Opportunity for continued engagement:
- Interested in joining this workgroup? Contact for more information.
Presented by IAPO’s workgroup on Childhood Nutrition and Physical Activity in Educational Settings
Facilitator: Mark Peysakhovich, American Heart Association, Midwest
Description: Participants in this session learned about new state requirements related to school wellness, including several changes underway to enhance physical education (P.E.) and work to implement the USDA’s Smart Snacks in schools requirements, specifically the requirements around healthy fundraising in schools. An interactive panel of P.E. and fitness experts from across the state discussed best practices in enhancing P.E. and led participants in a discussion about how to best work with schools to improve P.E. practice. State advocacy opportunities around healthy school fundraising, as well as tips for implementing healthy fundraisers, were also discussed.
Presenters: Mark Bishop, Healthy Schools Campaign; Dale Brown, Illinois State University; Erin Kennedy, OSF Healthcare; Heidi Knoblock, Action for Healthy Kids; Sandy Noel, Governor’s Council on Health & Physical Fitness; Dan Phelps, Hononegah High School; Deb Vogel, Illinois Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance; Paul Zientarski, DuPage FORWARD Initiative
Session Highlights:
Welcome & Overview by workgroup co-chair Mark Peysakhovich, American Heart Association, Midwest
Section One: From Program to Policy: An overview
- Presentation: Overview: The learning connection by Heidi Knoblock, Action for Healthy Kids
- Workgroup progress: Updates on P.E. (including the new IL P.E. laws!) and healthy fundraising by workgroup co-chairs Mark Peysakhovich, American Heart Association, Midwest and Sandra Noel, Governor’s Council on Health & Physical Fitness
Section Two: Enhancing Physical Education in Schools, Local Implementation Panel
- Presentation by Deb Vogel Illinois Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance
- Presentation: Naperville and statewide assistance by Paul Zientarski, DuPage FORWARD Initiative
- Presentation: ISU partnership with McLean County by Dale Brown, Illinois State University
- Presentation: Coordinated school health efforts that enhance P.E. by Erin Kennedy, OSF Healthcare
- Presentation: Hononegah physical education by Dan Phelps, Hononegah High School
Resources:
- At-a-glance guide on the new Illinois Goals & Standards for Physical Development and Health
- Enhanced P.E. fact sheet
- Get Fit & Flourish: Enhanced Physical Activity Manual
- Enhanced P.E. Resource Guide
- For more on the Enhanced P.E. Task Force, www.isbe.net/EPE/default.htm
Section Three: Healthy Fundraising and Foods
- Presentation by workgroup co-chair Sandra Noel, Governor’s Council on Health & Physical Fitness
- Presentation: Overview of new federal competitive foods rules and local advocacy opportunities for implementing healthy fundraising by Mark Bishop, Healthy Schools Campaign
Resources:
- Healthy fundraising handout
- Alternatives to food rewards handout
- Healthy celebrations handout
Opportunities for continued engagement:
- Access recordings of the Oct. 1st and Oct. 9th webinars on the new standards.
- Interested in joining this workgroup? Contact for more information.
Facilitator: Meg Cooch, Statewide Alliance of YMCAs
Description: This session looked at innovative and evidence-based models that integrate community-based obesity prevention and treatment services with clinical health systems through new data collection and referral systems, and integrated payment models. An overview of statewide health system transformation efforts was provided and participants discussed the integration work happening in their own communities, challenges they face, and a vision for the future.
Presenters: Elissa Bassler, Illinois Public Health Institute; Mary Elsner, Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics; Kara Gallagher, Kish Health System; Enrique Salgado, Harmony Health Plan; Connie Spreen, Experimental Station
Session Highlights:
A) Overview of Clinical Workgroup Goals around integration by workgroup co-chair Mary Elsner, Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics
Resources:
B) Integration of Community-Based Obesity Prevention and Clinical Systems:
Presentations by Mary Elsner, Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Kara Gallagher, Kish Health System, Enrique Salgado, Harmony Health Plan and Connie Spreen, Experimental Station
Resources:
- Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, Informational Notice to Providers
- Summaries of community-based obesity prevention programs:
- Description of YMCA Diabetes Prevention Program
- Description of MEND
- Description of Complete Health Improvement Program (CHIP)
- Description of SHAPEDOWN
Opportunity for continued engagement:
- Interested in joining this workgroup? Contact for more information.
Facilitators: Marjorie Sawicki, Saint Louis University & Wes King, Illinois Stewardship Alliance
Description: This session examined the intersection of nutrition, local food systems, and food security initiatives and laid the groundwork for IAPO’s work in this area for the year ahead. Agricultural leaders shared practices for extending the growing season to increase the availability of local foods to consumers throughout the year. Four initiatives from across the state shared their experiences in developing innovative partnerships for improving food security and access to healthy locally-produced food. Following the presentations, participants discussed strategies for continuing to expand this work across the state
Presenters: Dave Bishop, PrairiErth Farm; Kerri Calvert, Illinois State University; Donna Camp, Eastern Illinois Foodbank; Dan Kenney, DeKalb Community Gardens; Deborah Halperin, Illinois Wesleyan: Action Research Center; Elizabeth Patton-Whiteside, East Side Health District
Session Highlights:
- Welcome and overview by workgroup chair Marjorie Sawicki, Saint Louis University & session facilitator Wes King, Illinois Stewardship Alliance
- Strategies for extended growing season
- Presentation: Local & Sustainable: Making it work on the farm by Dave Bishop, PrairiErth Farm
3. Cross-sector efforts on healthy food access
- Presentation: McLean County Wellness Coalition, by Kerri Calvert and Deborah Halperin, McLean County Wellness Coalition
- Presentation: Urban Gardening Resources 101 by Elizabeth Patton-Whiteside, East Side Health District
- Presentation by Donna Camp, Eastern Illinois Foodbank
- Presentation: DeKalb County Community Gardens: Providing Access to Locally Sustainably Grown Fresh Food to People in Need by Dan Kenney, DeKalb County Community Gardens
Resources:
- Local Foods workgroup webpage
- Healthy Farms, Healthy People Symposium Policy and Research Agenda Report
Opportunity for continued engagement:
- Interested in joining this workgroup? Email for more information.
Facilitator: Melody Geraci, Active Transportation Alliance
Description: Interested in learning about how to change the built environment? This session provided insights on how communities can assess their built environments, create plans and policies that support active transportation and health, and implement changes to the built environment that enhance health and well-being. The session walked through components of the change process, provided information on some assessment tools, policy and planning methods, and examples of change, and also provided information on upcoming advocacy opportunities at the federal and state level.
Presenters: Jamie Arteaga, Consortium to Lower Obesity in Chicago Children; Marissa Dolin, Active Transportation Alliance; Melody Geraci, Active Transportation Alliance; Gabe Lewis, Champaign County Regional Planning Commission; Joanne Mitrenga, Tri-Town YMCA
Session Highlights:
- Intro: The Connection Between Built Environment and Health
Presentation: Active Transportation for a Healthier World by workgroup co-chair Melody Geraci, Active Transportation Alliance
2. Changing the Built Environment: Assessment, Planning, Policy, and Implementation
a) Assessment: CLOCC walkability assessments
Presentation: CLOCC’s Neighborhood Walkability Assessment by Jamie Arteaga, Consortium to Lower Obesity in Chicago Children
b) Assessment: CHLI assessment
Presentation: The CHLI Process: Community Healthy Living Index by Joanne Mitrenga, Tri-Town YMCA
2. Planning: Municipal pedestrian/bike planning
Presentation: Planning 101 by Marissa Dolin, Active Transportation Alliance
3. Policy: Complete Streets
Resource: The Illinois Bike Plan
4. Putting it all together: Implementation
Presentation: Implementation of Active Transportation in Champaign-Urbana by Gabe Lewis, Champaign County Regional Planning Commission
Opportunity for continued engagement:
- Interested in joining this workgroup? Contact for more information.
Facilitators: Adam Becker, Consortium to Lower Obesity in Chicago Children & Connie Spreen, Experimental Station
Description: Many states and communities, including Illinois, have demonstrated convincingly since 2008 the impact of double value coupon programs in helping to increase fruit and vegetable purchases by SNAP (LINK) participants. This session explored the link between farmers markets and obesity prevention, and presented national and local outcomes and current efforts related to doubling the value of fresh and healthy foods sold at farmers markets. LINK Up Illinois program managers, local farmers, and health advocates led participants in a discussion about how Illinois can expand and fund this incentive program for LINK participants across the state.
Presenters: Adam Becker, Consortium to Lower Obesity in Chicago Children; Danny Burke, Corey Chatman and Connie Spreen, Experimental Station; Marjorie Sawicki, Saint Louis University
Session highlights:
- The link between farmers markets and obesity by Marjorie Sawicki, Saint Louis University
- National best practices and evidence on double-value
Presentation: LINK UP Illinois by Connie Speen, Experimental Station
3. Local efforts, progress & outcomes by Danny Burke and Corey Chatman, Experimental Station
Opportunities for continued engagement:
- To stay in touch on this topic, email .
Facilitators: Elissa Bassler, Illinois Public Health Institute & Johnathon Briggs, Public Communications Inc.
This session provided an overview of the IAPO Rethink Your Drink campaign and the Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) Act, including an overview of the research that supports the campaign, key information about the contents of the HEAL Act legislation, and a summary of coalition strategies for the months ahead. Public Communications Inc. (PCI) helped participants build the skills they need to talk about the campaign in their communities, networks and the media, including information on key messages, techniques for engaging with the media, and how to answer tough questions about the campaign.
Resources: Rethink Your Drink campaign
- Rethink Your Drink webpage
- RTYD brochures (English & Spanish)
- RTYD posters (English & Spanish)
- Sugar Shocker post cards
Resources: Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) Act
- Bridging the Gap report – Taxing Sugary Drinks: Will this really result in job losses?
- Estimating the Potential Impact of Sugar-Sweetened and Other Beverage Excise Taxes in Illinois
Opportunities for continued engagement:
- Individuals can sign up to support the Rethink Your Drink/HEAL Act campaigns
- Organizations can endorse the HEAL Act
- Contact if you are interested in ordering Rethink Your Drink materials for community education
Description: Are you interested in policy, systems and environmental change, including legislative change, but don’t know where to start? This session was for you! Bukola and Samir demystified the policy-making process in this workshop by teaching the ins-and-outs of policy-making and the Illinois legislative process. Participants learned the difference between advocacy and lobbying, how to talk to legislators, and how they can participate in the policy-making process at the state level.
Opportunities for continued engagement:
- Individuals can sign up to support the Rethink Your Drink/HEAL Act campaigns
- Organizations can endorse the HEAL Act
Description: If you can tell your story and connect to others, you can create an impact. This session helped participants learn what makes a story compelling, what types of stories they can tell using their process and outcome data, and how to craft their stories for use with funders, advocates, media and decision-makers.
Description: There’s often an implicit assumption that obesity prevention efforts will address obesity disparities since low-income and minority populations are disproportionately impacted by obesity, but how can we be sure we’re taking an approach inclusive of structural factors contributing to obesity? This session featured a panel of experts researching and practicing at the intersection of obesity and health equity discussing their work, approaches, tools and resources for addressing obesity disparities. The panelists led participants in a discussion about their work and how we can work together to achieve health equity.
Presenters: Allison Hasler, Illinois Department of Public Health; Angela Odoms-Young, University of Illinois at Chicago; Malik Nevels, J.D., Illinois African American Coalition for Prevention; Maria Oquendo-Scharneck, AgeOptions
Presentations:
- Presentation: Making Southern Illinois Healthier by Allison Hasler, Illinois Department of Public Health
- Presentation by Malik Nevels, J.D., Illinois African American Coalition for Prevention
- Presentation: Addressing Health Disparities in Obesity: Practices for Taking a Health Equity Approach by Angela Odoms-Young, University of Illinois at Chicago
- Presentation: Addressing Health Disparities in Obesity: Impact on Older Adults by Maria Oquendo-Scharneck, AgeOptions
Resources:
- CDC Health Equity Toolkit
- Seattle King County Equity Assessment
IAPO: Opportunities for continued engagement
From engaging in workgroup discussions on topics that matter to you and your community, to visiting legislators to ask for their support of legislation, there are many ways to participate in the Illinois Alliance to Prevent Obesity.
- Endorse the IAPO State Obesity Action Roadmap
- Join an IAPO workgroup – email for more information
- Individuals can sign up to support the Rethink Your Drink/HEAL Act campaigns
- Organizations can endorse the HEAL Act
- To learn more about policy-specific campaigns, contact
- Engage with IAPO online – ‘Like‘ IAPO on Facebook, follow @PrevObesityIL on Twitter and sign up to receive our newsletters & action alerts!