Johnson County Alliance for Healthy Kids (JCAHK)

Johnson County, a community choosing healthy habits to build healthy generations.

When the coalition formed in 2011, coalition members chose to focus on promoting healthy lifestyles so children in their community will not struggle with being overweight or obese. The coalition promotes healthy lifestyle education for children through nutrition, physical fitness and resilience and empowering families with healthy living information through community opportunities. Childhood obesity is a complex health issue driven by factors such as environment, community, family behaviors, and ability to make healthy lifestyle choices¹. Healthy lifestyles programming can help prevent chronic diseases and long-term illnesses, helps foster a positive self-awareness and improve mood, and help improve a child's capacity to learn at school ^{2, 3}.

¹Cook Children's (2018). Community Health Needs Assessment: Community-wide Children's Health Assessment and Planning Surveys

Strategic plan objectives

Foster collaborative approaches and partnerships to promote children’s health.
Build community awareness through information and resource sharing to promote children’s health.
Strengthen knowledge and skills for children and families that improve children’s health and well-being and empower families to thrive.
Educate and support providers and community leaders who will share knowledge and skills with children and caregivers within their reach.

Our focus areas

Gardening – the coalition supports local gardens so children have a hands-on opportunity to grow what they eat. Gardens are built to accommodate each site partner's individual needs.
5210+ Every Day – 5210+ Every Day promotes tips that encourages children and families to make healthy food choices and daily healthy living behaviors.
Healthy Lifestyle Awareness Campaigns – the coalition partners work with community leaders and service organizations to promote healthy living awareness campaigns to children and families throughout the year.

Coalition resources

Join our coalition

Attend coalition meetings to receive updates and learn about volunteer opportunities.
Plan, facilitate or attend community-driven events.
Help develop and maintain positive key messaging of nutrition, physical fitness and mental resilience.
Host or support gardening activities for children.

Questions or comments

Dora Garcia

If you have any questions or would like more information about our program, please email Dora Garcia.