By Crystal D. Swann, and Martin L. Harris, NACo, Joint Center for Sustainable Communities
November 17, 2003

The Joint Center for Sustainable Communities, the partnership between the United States Conference of Mayors and National Association of Counties (NACo), has partnered with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) to assist mayors and county officials in addressing pressing local problems of declining community health and physical inactivity. Obesity, exacerbated by physical inactivity, is among the leading preventable cause of health related problems in America, costing localities an estimated $117 billion in unnecessary health costs. As the level of government most directly responsible for absorbing the exorbitant health care costs and increased risks associated with physical inactivity, local officials have a vested interest in addressing this challenge.

Much of the effort will be focused on providing local elected and appointed officials with assistance in making their communities more conducive to active living. -Active Living- allows the integration of physical activity into the daily routines of life. To enhance individual health, the goal is to accumulate at least 30 minutes of activity into each day in any of a variety of ways, such as walking or bicycling for transportation, exercise for pleasure; playing in the park; working in the yard; taking the stairs; and using recreational facilities. Because active living incorporates physical activity into the daily routine of human life the partnership focuses on issues that have a direct bearing on day to day living, including school siting, bicycle and pedestrian security, neighborhood safety, transportation, planning and zoning.

All levels of government share the responsibility for addressing these issues. Therefore, a broad-based coalition of state and local government organizations have come together through the Active Living Leadership (ALL) initiative based at San Diego State University to develop coordinated approaches that provide citizens with increased opportunities for healthy, active living. Joining the Conference of Mayors and NACo as partners in the initiative are the International City/County Management Agency, National Conference of State Legislatures, the Local Government Commission, and the National Governors' Association.

Over the coming year, the Conference of Mayors and NACo will develop educational materials designed specifically for local decision makers to assist them in promoting active living, particularly among children. We will work to broaden the understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing local leaders on issues related to physical activity and health, conduct a series of informational sessions to significantly bolster the effectiveness and awareness of local government leaders on health and physical activity issues, and bring local leaders and practitioners together in multi-jurisdictional partnerships that assist communities in becoming more conducive to active living.

In this era of increasingly tight budgets, taking steps to reduce unnecessary health expenditures by providing citizens with opportunities to live healthier, more physically active lives is one thing local officials can do that will have an immediate positive impact.

Conference President Hempstead (NY) Mayor James A. Garner who has made sustainable communities his priority for his year as President stated that "Mayors as the CEOs of cities and employers are charged with informing our citizens about the dangers of inactivity. We must empower our communities to take charge of their health and we must provide them, where possible, with the tools to make that happen through safe streets, walkable neighborhoods, and information for informed decision making."

In discussing the health challenge facing communities, Joint Center Co-Chair, NACo President Karen Miller, a Boone County (MO) Commissioner said, "In recent years, we-ve seen a startling rise in obesity related diseases, including the onset of type-two diabetes in children. If this pattern continues unchecked, the cost to counties will be huge, impacting not only to our budgets, but also the quality of life that our citizens will be able to enjoy. As leaders, we should do what we can to allow our citizens to be physically active. We can't make anyone walk to the grocery store or church, and shouldn't try to. However, we can and should make sure that our communities are as safe and inviting as possible for them to do so if they choose to."

In cooperation with RWJF, and its Active Living Leadership partners, the Joint Center will be working to assure that county officials and mayors possess all of the education and tools necessary to create healthier, more active, more sustainable communities.

To learn more about the national Active Living Leadership initiative, go to www.activelivingleadership.org. For more information on the Joint Center-Robert Wood Johnson Foundation partnership, contact Crystal D. Swann, Assistant Executive Director for Conference of Mayors at 202-293-7330 or cswann@usmayors.org or Martin L. Harris, Joint Center Director (202) 661-8805 or mharris@naco.org.