Thomas County Healthy Living (TCHL) seeks to improve the health of Thomas County residents by adopting policies that promote safe streets designed with pedestrians in mind; improve healthy food and beverage offerings for schools, workplaces and public facilities; and educates community members about the County’s goal to be the “healthiest county in Kansas.”
The coalition planned to do this using key strategies:
The TCHL project provides champions with a variety of supports and assistance that are customized to the needs they have determined and activities they are implementing to meet those needs. For example, when the TCEWC wanted to ask the Thomas County Commission to consider installing water bottle coolers in County worksites, the TCHL project developed a short survey and compiled the data to establish the need and desire of County employees to have bottled water dispensers. TCHL staff also researched and provided the language for the healthy vending policy TCEWC presented to the Commission. In the case of private small businesses, TCHL project contacted the “wellness coordinators” and provided infused water and healthy snack suggestions and recipes that they could consider providing for their employees and customers. Our job is make sure that champions are empowered and prepared to educate and advocate for policy, system and environmental changes.
Check out the resources below and visit the Thomas County Coalition website to learn more about their work!
Success story: April 2017 Success story: October 2016 Fact sheet: April 2016
In the News:
Coalition Members
NKCSA
Thomas County Coalition
Thomas County Health Department
Thomas County Extension
Citizens Medical Center & Foundation
Colby Free Press
Pioneer Memorial Library
Colby Public Schools
Kids Port Childcare
Keesa Photography
Colby / Thomas County Chamber of Commerce
Thomas County Economic Development
Thomas County Community Foundation
NW KS Juvenile Services
Active Transportation Group