Omaha's response
In 2006, the Board of Directors of Alegent Health asked its corporate leaders to provide community leadership in addressing childhood obesity in this community. To that end, Alegent staff led by Dr. Molly O'Dell and Mikki Frost, joined with Our Healthy Community Partnership (OHCP) to begin a community based endeavor. OHCP is a healthy community initiative created over ten years ago, with the mission to improve the health and wellbeing of individuals and families in Douglas County. The 33 member collaboration includes major hospital systems (including Alegent), major insurance companies, the local health department, the largest school districts, medical schools, and public and private organizations.
The two organizations co-sponsored a Decision Accelerator on December 6 and 7, 2006. This strategic planning process included over 75 community constituents who participated in passionate dialogue and strategic planning focused on what our Metropolitan Omaha area should and could do to impact the growing epidemic of childhood obesity over the next decade. At the end of the two days, the participants' crafted this shared vision:
In 2011 Omaha is nationally recognized as a collaborative model achieving measurable improvement in fitness and nutrition of children.
At the Decision Accelerator, six areas of focus, or planks, were identified and specific strategies and implementation timelines were articulated. The following plank committees were formed to implement these plank goals:
- Evaluation
- Physical Environment
- Physical Activity
- Nutrition
- Resources
- Social Marketing
Next Steps
Each of the plank committees is currently working to identify its focus and priorities. Over the next several months each committee will build upon the work of the Decision Accelerator develop a strategic plan, with goals, action steps, timelines, measures of success and resource needs. The Executive Committee will undertake its strategic planning in August, with the ultimate goal that by this fall a comprehensive strategic plan for Activate Omaha Kids will be in place and ready to implement.
As we move forward, the committees will need administrative, research, communication, technical, evaluation and facilitation support and resources. Established leadership and infrastructure of Active Omaha Kids will be necessary for sustainability. A strategy for funding the implementation of the strategic plans will also need to be developed.
