New directory links local health issues associations in every Kentucky county
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 22, 2013) — The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky has compiled an update of its statewide directory of local groups working on health issues. The Kentucky Health Coalitions Directory now includes 208 health groups. Last year’s first-ever directory listed nearly 150 coalitions.
Whether they are called health coalitions, collectives, consortia, associations or networks, people are joining forces to work on health-related challenges. The groups have differing levels of organization and are pursuing various goals. Some are increasing access to healthy food and physical activity; others are planning needed screenings and education for people at risk for serious health problems like cancer, diabetes and other chronic diseases; yet others are improving working conditions through smoke-free ordinances.
“These are local residents working on solutions to health issues where they live, work and raise their families,” said Susan Zepeda, president/CEO of the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky. “Their work spans a broad spectrum of issues that contain a common thread: to improve health in the community and our state. These groups represent local health change efforts.”
The foundation’s aim in creating the directory of health groups is to raise awareness of these efforts and to foster collaboration, build local capacity, provide technical assistance to these groups and celebrate their successes.
Local coalitions have been documented in all 120 Kentucky counties. Additionally, statewide, national and even international coalitions doing work that impacts Kentucky are included in the directory.
To see the directory, click here. The foundation will periodically update this information.
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