The American Planning Association – Illinois Chapter (APA-IL), in partnership with the Illinois Public Health Association (IPHA), have partnered with planners and health professionals in Jackson County, IL to receive grant funding to integrate health into local planning efforts (press release here). Congratulations to Jackson County! The Illinois coalition was 1 of 17 selected from across the Nation:

1. Nutri-Bike-Ajo Coalition, Ajo, Arizona

2. Design 4 Active Sacramento, Sacramento County, California

3. Healthy Communities Coalition of Eagle County, Eagle County, Colorado

4. Delaware Coalition for Healthy Eating and Active Living, Kent County, Delaware

5. Jackson County Healthy Communities Coalition, Jackson County, Illinois

6. Thomas County Coalition, Thomas County, Kansas

7. Kentucky Rural Health Coalition, Bullitt, Henry, Oldham, Shelby, Spencer & Trimble Counties, Kentucky

8. Baltimore Greenway Trails Coalition, Baltimore, Maryland

9. Healthy Communities Coalitions, City of Helena, City of East Helena and Helena Valley in Lewis and Clark County, Montana

10. Centralina Health Solutions Coalition, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina

11. ACHIEVE Wellness Lake County, Lake County, Ohio

12. Pathways to Health, Tulsa County, Oklahoma

13. Umatilla County Plan 4 Health Initiative, Umatilla County, Oregon

14. Mount Hope Coalition to Increase Food Security, Mount Hope Neighborhood, East Side of Providence, Rhode Island

15. Plan4Health Tarrant County, Southeast Fort Worth, Texas

16. Active Transportation Community of Interest, Puyallup Watershed in Pierce County, Washington

17. Shawano and Menominee Counties Health in Planning Coalition, Shawano & Menominee Counties, Wisconsin

This is the second year of funding for the Plan4Health program, bringing the total number of coalitions working to improve community health to 35. Last year, 18 coalitions included 2 from Illinois: the B-Well Bensenville Plan4Helath Coalition and the Kane County Planning Cooperative. The APA-IL/IPHA will continue to administer the grant and collaborate with both of Illinois’ winners. We are very excited about this new opportunity to form new relationships with other organizations in the public health field. The result of our efforts will help Illinois residents live healthier lives and continue to forward the APA-IL’s efforts to make great communities happen in Illinois!

#APAILnews #Plan4Health