Welcome to the Working on Wellness Environments Blog! 

Working on Wellness Environments (WOW-E) is a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention funded High Obesity Program (HOP). The HOP funds land grant universities to leverage community extension services to implement evidence-based strategies that increase access to healthier foods and safe, accessible places for physical activity. (CDC Implementation Guide)

The goal is for all populations – regardless of age, education, environment, gender, income, race/ethnicity or sexual orientation – to obtain equal opportunities to be healthy. This should be specifically tailored to their needs, environment, and unique characteristics. (CDC Implementation Guide)

There are three important sectors that will be used to coordinate these efforts: Communication, nutrition/food systems, and physical activity. Communication will help engage, inform, and educate coalition and community members to make healthy living easier by joining listservs and participating in webinars. Coalition members will also write and adopt organizational level healthy nutrition standards in institutions such as hospitals, after-school and recreation programs, health centers, faith-based organizations, food pantries, and early care education. (CDC Implementation Guide) In addition, coalition members will collaborate with partners and subject matter experts to improve the food system and increase access to healthier foods by attending workshops, requesting technical assistance, and acquire tool kits to work in teams and community groups to improve local food systems: distribution, procurements and sales, food hubs and outlets, purchasing collective, innovative practices. Finally, coalition members will learn best practices for organizational and community opportunities to develop active-friendly routes by improving local connectivity and active friendly routes and places through planning, policies, and environmental design. (CDC Implementation Guide)

The WOW-E team is composed of several subject matter experts in the areas of nutrition, physical activity, food systems, early childcare education, technical assistance providers and educators, and local county agents from Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and Prairie View A&M Extension, in addition to other state agencies.

WOW-E is currently active in four counties: Hudspeth, Maverick, Starr, and Webb. Using policy, system, and environmental interventions identified by local leaders and groups conducting local assessments, policy changes will be implemented for a healthier, more active way of living.

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