Public Health – Seattle & King County is pleased to announce that, together with Seattle Children’s Hospital and the Healthy King County Coalition (HKCC), on September 25th 2012 we jointly received a two-year, $3.6 million grant from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). With these monies, we will work collaboratively with youth, families and communities in south Seattle and south King County on policy and system change for obesity prevention and tobacco control, particularly among youth.

Overview

• Seattle Children’s Hospital, Public Health – Seattle & King County (PHSKC), and the Healthy King County Coalition (HKCC) will closely partner with governments, schools, hospitals, low-income housing groups, as well as childcare and youth organizations to improve environments and improve opportunities for health.
• Areas of focus include the cities of Auburn, Burien, Des Moines, Kent, North Highline, Renton, SeaTac and Tukwila, and the Seattle neighborhoods of Beacon Hill, Georgetown, and South Park. This area has a combined population of over 479,000.
• The partnership of a major child health care organization (Seattle Children’s), a public health department (PHSKC), and a network of 30 organizations working to prevent chronic disease and eliminate health inequities (HKCC), together with the communities of south King County, brings together the resources needed to change communities and empower residents and organizations to become healthier.
  
• The grant funding lasts from October 2012 – September 2014, but by helping communities, institutions, and organizations make healthier options the easiest choices. It is expected that this work will have both immediate and long-term health benefits.
• The work builds on the Communities Putting Prevention to Work federal stimulus fund investment in King County between 2010 and 2012.

Focus areas

The grant will focus on helping communities, institutions, and organizations develop and change policies and environments for better obesity prevention and tobacco control in three areas:

• Nutrition
  • Increase availability and promotion of healthful and locally produced food and drinks across schools, hospitals and other public institutions.
  • Reduce sugary drink consumption through youth engagement, an awareness campaign and beverage policy change support for organizations and institutions.
• Physical Activity
  • Increase physical activity in schools, childcare and afterschool programs.
  • Help communities modify land use and planning policies to better support biking, walking and transit use.
  • Improve access to public spaces for active recreation.
• Tobacco
  • Implement smoke-free policies at parks and public housing.
  • Create channels for youth media advocacy and leadership development that combat tobacco use.

  Demographic focus

  • Many south Seattle and south King County residents smoke more and are carry more excess weight than their counterparts in other parts of King County.
  • GTC will enable collaborative work and create healthier places for residents disproportionately burdened by health and social inequities.
  • High interest and engagement exists from families, schools, cities, hospitals and others to work together to create sustainable, positive changes that support youth and families in being healthy.
  • The grant’s work will reduce tobacco use and improve weight, nutrition and physical activity, especially among children and families in these communities.

  CTG Small Communities Program

  Funded by the Affordable Care Act’s Prevention and Public Health Fund, the CTG Small Communities program supports State and local governmental agencies and community–based organizations in the implementation, evaluation, and dissemination of evidence–based community health activities to reduce chronic disease rates, prevent the development of secondary conditions, address health disparities, and develop a stronger evidence–base of effective prevention programming. The overarching purpose is to prevent heart attack, stroke, cancer, diabetes and other leading chronic disease–related causes of death or disability through a variety of “policy, environmental, programmatic, and, as appropriate, infrastructure” interventions to promote healthier lifestyles.

  Tobacco use statistics

  • In 2010, King County students who reported smoking cigarettes in the past 30 days included 4 percent of 8th graders, 9 percent of 10th graders and 15 percent of 12th graders.
    • This translates to at least 10,000 middle and high school cigarette smokers. Youth with the highest cigarette smoking rates are American Indian/Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian/ Pacific Islander and Hispanic/Latino. Source: PHSKC, 2012.
  • In 2012, 10 percent of King County adults smoked, plus an additional 2 percent use smokeless tobacco products. Adult smoking rates are highest among African-Americans, low-income residents and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual groups. Source: PHSKC, 2012.

  Obesity statistics

  • One in five youth in King County is overweight or obese. Rates are highest among males, youth of color and those in south King County. Source: PHSKC, 2012.
  • The prevalence of obesity puts children at greater risk of suffering severe obesity as adults and developing heart disease, type 2 diabetes and other obesity-related illnesses.
  • More than one-third of U.S. adults (35.7%) are obese. CDC, 2012.
  • 20% of adults in King County are obese (BMI > 30). A higher population of adults in the south Seattle and south King County focus area – 27% – are obese. PHSKC, 2009.

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