Encouraging Better Health in Franklin and Grand Isle Counties
RiseVT is a collaborative, community-wide campaign designed using the Vermont Prevention Model (socio-ecological model). This broad community campaign intends to impact the health of Franklin County residents by targeting policies, infrastructure, education, the environment, and culture within municipalities, worksites, schools and families. RiseVT is leveraging a strong social media presence to reach as many people across Franklin and Grand Isle counties as possible.
As a focus, key indicators have been selected that will continually work to increase physical activity and healthy eating in the community:
- Increase the overall health of residents by decreasing the percentage of overweight and obese individuals;
- Increase the number of employers offering a wellness program in which greater than 50% of the employees participate;
- Expand resources for biking and walking
- Increasing fruit and vegetable consumption;
- Decrease the number of people with no leisure time physical activity;
- Increase the number of students walking/biking to school; and
- Increase smoke-free/tobacco-free environments
RiseVT is engaging businesses, schools, and municipalities and has built a strong presence at local events and initiatives. RiseVT health advocates regularly participate in infrastructure meetings, sidewalk committees and recreation committees. A number of mini-grants have been awarded to help communities build new playgrounds and skating rinks and to purchase snow-shoes that are available for use at local libraries.
Embracing Healthy Lifestyles
RISE VT encourages and celebrates healthy behaviors, targeting families, schools, worksites, municipalities and child care settings. Participants can work to achieve higher RISE VT status levels. Simple actions earn bronze level status, but as RISE VT participants implement stronger or more impactful changes, they move up the continuum earning silver, gold and platinum RISE VT level status.