General About the Organization/Mission

From the website, "WNC Healthy Kids is a population health program of WNC Health Network, an association of hospitals and health departments in our region. The program is designed to reduce and prevent childhood obesity in Western North Carolina. Sixteen rural Appalachian counties are collaborating on this program, including Buncombe, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, Yancey and the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians."

WNC Healthy Kids is funded through The Duke Endowment and the Community Foundation of WNC; the program received a planning grant from the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust in January 2009.

Basic Info

Issues of Focus

WNC Healthy Kids seeks to:

• Set goals and track outcomes on a broader scale than any one agency, or even agencies in any one county, could do alone

• Foster intra-region communication of best practices, mentoring and support
• Engage a broad range of traditional and non-traditional partners
• Promote and build on evidence-based research and model practices
• Draw public attention to key messages promoting physical activity and nutrition
• Promote Western North Carolina as a healthy region

Programs and Projects 

5-2-1 Almost None- A program designed to support conversations about healthy habits and places that support healthy weights in children and families.  The message and program tools are available free to use for individuals and organizations seeking to promote healthy living.

Databases- WNC Healthy kids shares information about existing obesity prevention efforts and programs within its service area.

Early Childhood Initiative - The program provides resource kits with resources and engaging children's materials used to keep children occupied in medical provider waiting areas.

BMI Collection

Partners and Frequent Collaborators

• The North Carolina Center for Health and Wellness at UNC-Asheville
• NC Center for Healthy Aging at MAHEC
• Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC) Health Sciences Library
• Healthy Carolinians Partnerships - Western Region
• North Carolina Public Health Incubator – Western Partnership
• Be Active Appalachian Partnership
• Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation – Kids in Parks
• Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project (ASAP)
• NC Cooperative Extension in WNC
• YMCA of WNC
• YWCA of Asheville
• Community Care of WNC
• Partnership for Children NC
• Head Start programs in WNC
• Cherokee Choices
• Mission Children’s Hospital
• Western Carolina Medical Society

Future Developments for This Wiki

Develop history of organization