Community Obesity
Task Force (COTF)
(serving Charlottesville-Albemarle
County and Surrounding Area)
Barbara Yager, RD, MEd
Joyce Green Pastors, RD, MS, CDE
Childhood Obesity Task Force
Convened by the Thomas Jefferson Health District in
1999
Mission: Create a supportive community that fosters
healthy weight and overall fitness for children and
their families
Name changed to Community Obesity Task Force in
2009 to address community-wide obesity as
recommended by the MAPP assessment and
becoming an independent 501-c3
Who Came to the Table?
Partnerships forged between healthcare, school,
university, and community sectors
4 Focus Areas targeted by COTF
• Schools
• Community
• Health care Professionals
• Media
School Initiatives
School Nutrition Standards
School Wellness Policies
Governor’s Scorecard
Vending Machine Policy
Healthy Snack Pyramid
P.E. teacher nutrition training
School-based COTF grants for nutrition and activity projects
PEP grants
Champions grant (CATCH: after-schools)
Community Initiatives
Safe Routes to School
Local Motion
Youth Physical Activity Resource Guide
Family Health and Fitness Camp
Community gardens and cooking classes
Community walking programs
Bike mentor and community bike program
Quick Start tennis program
But the Challenges Remain….
Taking Stock of Where We Are …
Fiscal and organizational independence
Committed volunteer leadership – no dedicated staff
Many active partners doing ‘their part’ – need
collaboration, coordination, communication
Need for ‘master plan’ to mobilize community
Develop plan for evaluation
Why an assessment?
Why now?
Environmental ENACT
Nutrition &
Activity
Community
Tool
What is ENACT?
Each strategy is complemented by practical how-to
information including: tools, resources, policies
www.preventioninstitute.org/sa/enact
Assessing Community Physical
Activity using ENACT
Priority Current
Community Activity Strategies
(H, M, L) Status
1. Complete Streets: Complete the sidewalks and streets to support walking and
Medium biking in all neighborhoods. 4
2. Transit Oriented Design: Decrease car dependence while promoting
Medium community revitalization by investing in local shops, services, parks and
trails as attractive destinations for pedestrians, cyclists and public transport
3
users.
High 3. Safe Routes to School: Institute a Safe Routes to School program to improve
safety and promote walking and biking to school.
3
High 4. Active Recreation: Maintain and develop programming and facilities (including
park programs) for active play and recreation.
3
Low 5. Safe Communities: Promote overall community aesthetic and atmosphere of 4
safety to encourage outdoor physical activity and recreation.
www.preventioninstitute.org/sa/enact
www.preventioninstitute.org/sa/enact
How to Use ENACT
1. Assessment Tool:
Assess and select priorities for change
2. Planning Tool:
Learn about best practices and promising
approaches
3. Evaluation Tool:
Have a report card for a particular environment
Injury Free Coalition for Kids of Philadelphia
What we are learning…
• Who should be at the table? Bringing in new voices
• We are becoming better facilitators
• ENACT Assessment process is creating greater buy-in and
membership within our diverse coalition
Thank you!
Please share with us:
www.communityobesitytaskforce.org
Barbara Yager: Barbara.Yager@vdh.virginia.gov
Joyce Green Pastors: jag2s@virginia.edu