2012 Hometown Health Improvement Sustainability Conference

Today, February 28, and Wednesday, February 29, the Arkansas Department of Health Hometown Health Improvement (HHI) Section will host its 4th Annual HHI Sustainability Conference at the Wyndham Hotel in North Little Rock, AR. Pre-Conference Workshops will be available on Writing SMART Objectives and Social Media beginning at 9am. The Conference will begin at 11:30am with a welcome and overview of Healthy People 2020 by Andi Ridgway, HHI Branch Chief and Principal Investigator with the Arkansas Department of Health.

A luncheon panel of experts will discuss “Building Health Communities in the Face of a Changing Landscapes” and address key issues such as: increasing health care costs and the widespread lack of insurance coverage, increasing obesity and related chronic diseases, and changing demographics and health inequity. Dr. Maya Rockeymoore, the President and CEO of Global Policy Solutions in Washington, DC, will provide a keynote address titled, “In Search of Apples: Building Health Across Communities”. Concurrent Sessions will be available on both days.

This Conference is targeted toward guiding coalitions, community members and other interested parties to help all Arkansans have a healthier future by implementing the following objectives within their coalitions and/or communities:

(1) To assist communities to develop, implement and monitor a community health improvement plan using Healthy People 2020 goals and objectives that are based on community priorities;

(2) To engage multiple sectors to take actions to strengthen policies and improve practices that are driven by evidence;

(3) To highlight community successes in a variety in venues.