Healthy HotSpot: Connect to places for healthy living

The Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH) and the CBS Community Partnership Division (CBS) have combined forces to connect residents to places that make healthy living easier. CCDPH and CBS successfully launched the Healthy HotSpot campaign in June 2015 with ads on television, radio, buses, the internet and outdoor billboards that ran through September 2015 and started again in May 2016. This year, Healthy HotSpot is building upon past successes by adding mediums like Mobile Plus and E-mail Direct that both can effectively reach specific target markets. The goal of the ad campaign is to raise awareness about how the places we live work, learn, worship, play and receive healthcare can promote healthy living, and the generating interest is evidenced by increased traffic to HealthyHotSpot.org. View ads>>

Completing Our Streets

Complete Streets is a strategy proven to help ensure that walking, bicycling, public transit and other forms of active travel are considered every time a municipality builds or repairs a street. Repaving a road, for example, provides a municipality the opportunity to stripe a bicycle lane. Six municipalities in the Healthy HotSpot Technical Assistance Program recently adopted a Complete Streets approach, and two more are expected to join soon. All will host pop-up Complete Streets events for community members this summer. If you are interested in streets that support active travel, see the Complete Streets Toolkit or contact Hanna Kite at Active Transportation Alliance. Learn more>>

Find it, Fix it, Fund it: A lead-elimination action drive

The National Center for Healthy Housing (NCHH) and the National Safe and Healthy Housing Coalition recently launched a bold new campaign to eliminate lead poisoning. Citing increased national “will to take action” in the wake of the water crisis in Flint, Michigan, the organizations are promoting a 3-point plan to find lead hazards in our communities; fix lead hazards in homes by employing both short- and long-term strategies to protect children from exposure; and fund investments in children and communities. You can learn more about the campaign’s recommendations, including the broad healthy homes and child development initiatives it supports, and sign on as a supporter. Check it out>>