Promoting health is a cause worth uniting for

It's self-evident. If your organization wants to make a difference, get some partners. Going it alone just doesn't work any more.

The Lake County Family YMCA understands the importance of how partnerships and coalitions can positively and proactively address critical community concerns.

Dave Hayward, president and CEO of the Lake County YMCA, along with State Rep. Kathy Ryg, recognized the critical need for the community to come together in a bid to address our nation's growing health crisis. It is characterized by headlines that read: "Fifty-nine million adults are obese" and "Half of all deaths in America can be attributed to preventable exposures such as physical inactivity and tobacco use." Most startling is the projection, based on current data, that this will be the first generation of children whose life expectancy is less than their parents.

Hayward added, "One of the most important health issues in the country today is America's epidemic of obesity and inactivity. "Activate America," a nationwide YMCA initiative, focuses on the nation's largest network of non-profits who are committed to encouraging healthy lifestyles."

Hayward made a presentation at a recent meeting of the Lake County After School Coalition. "The best and most effective way to address a crisis of this magnitude is through community collaboration, representative of the broad spectrum of agencies, business, hospitals, educational and governmental entities," he said.

He told the group about the formation of a community-wide initiative called "Healthy Lake County," which is currently in the formative stages. Hayward and Ryg asked for support from all the organizations they represent: villages, school districts, park districts and service organizations. "The response was positive and I am hopeful that together we can make a difference," Hayward said.

Scott Davis, director of the Fremont Public Library District and a member of the Lake County After School Coalition, was present for Hayward's presentation.

"I was very impressed," he said. "The evidence of the need was compelling. When you think about it, many organizations are invested in the health of their constituents. For example, here at the library we regularly have health-related programs for kids and adults. In fact, they're very popular. Recently, we had to cancel a program called 'A Yoga and Tea Experience' because of bad weather. There was a clamor for us to reschedule it, which we did. It filled up immediately. If all of the organizations collaborated and jointly advertised what the others are doing, we would have a much larger impact in the community. I recently learned that Mano a Mano is already presenting health programs in Spanish at the Round Lake Area Library. I got in touch with them and now they will be presenting similar programs at the Fremont Public Library. Libraries can help groups find out what's happening and work together more effectively."

Ryg, co-chair of the Lake County After School Coalition, thinks "Healthy Lake County" has real promise to impact the health of families, especially children. "We want to build on the success of existing programs and invite more people to participate in healthy living programs such as Healthy Kids Day on April 12," she said.

You can listen to my conversation with Ryg about this initiative on my podcast this week at www.sarahlong.org.

"Healthy Lake County" is planning a series of events this year with an ongoing program of educational activities and screenings. If your organization has an interest or a stake in the health of the children in our community, consider getting involved. Contact Dave Hayward at (847) 367-6797 or dhayward@ymcalakecounty.org for more information.