Ohio has a successful history of working in healthy eating and active living policy systems and environmental change (PSE) through implementation of evidence-based strategies to address health disparities related to poor nutrition, physical inactivity, and obesity. ODH funds 22 subgrantees through its Creating Healthy Communities Program and 18 subgrantees through HEAL Capacity Building to implement PSE that increases access to healthy foods and opportunities for active living in Ohio’s communities that have been marginalized. Ohio is the seventh-most populous state in the nation, with approximately 11.8 million residents in 2020. Ohio is also one of the least healthy states, ranking 43rd in population health, 37th in healthcare spending, and 47th in health value according to the Health Policy Institute of Ohio’s 2021 Health Value Dashboard. The estimated prevalence of obesity is significantly higher among populations with the lowest income and lowest education. Key activities for Year 1 include the following: Nutrition/Food Service Guidelines (FSG) – Leverage CHC and HEAL subgrantees to promote FSG in worksites and community settings; Develop standardized trainings on FSG implement FSG and charitable food systems guidelines; and continue healthy vending efforts at ODH headquarters while beginning conversations with other state agencies. Nutrition/Fruit and Vegetable Voucher Incentive and Produce Prescription (PRx) Programs – Support the management and implementation of the WIC/Infant Vitality PRx program in counties with high infant mortality rates; support the implementation of the Diabetes Self- Management Education and Diabetes Prevention Program PRx; provide technical assistance to REACH and HOP recipients implementing these strategies and initiating conversations with state Medicaid Program and statewide partners around state benefit coverage for PRx. Physical Activity – partner with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to advance the
2019 Ohio Trails Vision; partner with the Ohio Association of Regional Councils (OARC) Transportation Committee to align active transportation priorities with regional projects, including providing a health equity lens for infrastructure funding from Ohio Metropolitan Planning Organizations and explore the development of a lending library of materials for demonstration projects. Breastfeeding – Expand the reach of the workplace and ECE breastfeeding support programs to counties with the highest prevalence of obesity; expand training and technical assistance on the recently expanded PUMP Act; offer the Certified Lactation Specialist training and scholarships to expand and diversify lactation professionals in Ohio with priority given to individuals of color. Early Care and Education, Nutrition, Physical Activity, Breastfeeding and Farm to ECE – Develop and offer free professional training opportunities for ECE healthcare professionals which reinforce healthy eating and active living activities, such as the Ohio Healthy Program (OHP), Parenting at Mealtime and Playtime, Farm to ECE, and the Cooking Matters curriculum; explore opportunities to incorporate OHP directly in the Ohio Step up to Quality system as well as improvements recommended by the 2020 CDC State Licensing Scorecards for Embedding High-Impact Obesity Prevention Standards in Early Care and Education.