Charles City awarded $30,000 to encourage healthy eating and active living

To The Press

Charles City is among 14 communities selected across Iowa to receive funding to promote a healthy lifestyle through better food choices and more activity.

The county will receive $30,000 in its first year participating in “5-2-1-0 Healthy Choices Count!” through the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services.

“5-2-1-0 Healthy Choices Count! is a nationally recognized, evidence-based framework to promote the daily recommendations of five servings of fruits and vegetables, two hours or less of recreational screen time, one hour or more of physical activity, and zero sugary drinks,” according to a news release from the program.

The goal of 5-2-1-0 Healthy Choices Count! is to work with parents, teachers, child care providers, health care providers and business leaders to increase physical activity and healthy eating through policy and environmental change.

The department worked with a local steering committee consisting of representatives and contributions from the city of Charles City, Charles City Community School District, Floyd County Department of Public Health, Floyd County Medical Center, TLC day care and ISU Extension, according to the news release.

The steering committee looked at local needs to decide on projects for first year funding and agreed to focus on accessibility improvements at local schools.

First year projects include a new ADA-accessible swing at Lincoln Elementary School and an ADA-accessible swing and outdoor sensory playground equipment to be installed at the Charles City Middle School.

First year funding also included a new water fountain and water bottle filling station that has been installed in the gym of the North Grand Building for children at TLC child care and everyday users of the facility.

“After conducting a community and school assessment with parents, school staff and community stakeholders, our steering committee identified that our ADA equipment was lacking at Lincoln Elementary and the middle school campuses,” said Bethany Bjorklund, school nurse with Charles City Community School District.

“Our playgrounds are open to the public, and the equipment we selected is for all children of all ages and ensures our students with disabilities have the opportunity to enjoy being outside with their classmates,” she said.

By working with communities to implement 5-2-1-0 strategies, Iowa Department of Health and Human Services aims to promote health equity, increasing opportunities for everyone to live the healthiest life possible by addressing social, economic and environmental barriers that impact health.

“This grant has facilitated collaboration between community partners to provide sustainable, equitable opportunities for the children of the community to improve their health and well-being, which we know will have a ripple effect on the entire community,” said Jill Connell, ARNP Floyd County Medical Center Clinic.

Past projects around Iowa include outdoor workout equipment installed at a local park in Sergeant Bluff; snowshoes, ice skates and skate trainers for community members to rent in Spencer; and an installation of ADA-compliant water stations around Ottumwa.

The following grants were awarded to Iowa communities for 2024:

First Year $30,000 Awards:

• Charles City, Floyd County.
• Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie County.
• Humboldt, Humboldt County.
• Tipton, Cedar County.

Second Year $15,000 Awards:

• Davenport, Scott County.
• Olin/Anamosa, Jones County.
• Perry, Dallas County.
• Sioux City, Woodbury County.
• Tama/Toledo, Tama County.

Third Year $8,000 Awards:

• Centerville, Appanoose County.
• Keokuk, Lee County.
• Leon, Decatur County.
• Oskaloosa, Mahaska County.
• Postville, Allamakee County.

Funding for 5-2-1-0 Healthy Choices Count! is provided by the state of Iowa Health and Human Services Appropriations for Childhood Obesity Prevention. For more information on 5-2-1-0 Healthy Choices Count! go to hhs.iowa.gov/5210 or www.iowahealthieststate.com/5210-resources.