Area residents to discuss local health issues
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on September 29, 2014 1:46 PM
Fifty representatives from businesses and organizations with an interest in improving the county's health will meet this week to share ideas, expertise and suggestions.
The Healthy Wayne Task Force, which last year launched GoWayneGo, a countywide effort to motivate residents to adopt a healthier lifestyle, hopes to take the idea to the next level.
Wayne was chosen by NACo, the National Association of Counties, as one of six counties across the nation to conduct a community dialogue on improving the county's health.
Professional coaches and facilitators from NACo, in partnership with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute's national County Health Rankings and Roadmaps, will guide the all-day session Thursday at the Lane Tree Golf Club.
This is considered the next step in the evolution of the local task force, said Andrea Freile, the healthy community coordinator, who was hired as part of the NACo effort. If the grant goes through for the project to continue, her role will become full-time and the job will be based out of Wayne Memorial Hospital, she said.
Key players in the initiative include Goldsboro Pediatrics, the city Parks and Recreation Department, the hospital, the county Health Department, WATCH and United Way.
In May 2013, a group of nearly four dozen people representing 18 agencies were convened by the Wayne County Board of Commissioners to discuss outcomes of the 2012 Community Health Needs Assessment. After several discussions from a group of professionals and community members, two priorities were identified that could benefit residents and sustain the economic vitality of the community -- increasing physical activity and improving nutritional awareness.
The Healthy Wayne Task Force sprung from the idea. And in turn, the GoWayneGo initiative. The community-driven effort encouraged residents to seek a more active lifestyle and invest more time in making healthier food choices.