Leadership for Healthy Communities (LHC), a national program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation in which ICMA is a longstanding partner, has unveiled an electronic toolkit that can help local government managers address the obesity epidemic with policies, programs, and practices that increase opportunities for active living and improve access to healthy foods.

The LHC Action Strategies Toolkit includes promising and evidence-based approaches to improve children’s health and reduce childhood obesity in states, municipalities, and schools nationwide. ICMA and 10 other prominent policy-maker organizations were instrumental in creating the toolkit and in the preface of this comprehensive resource, the executive directors of these organizations express their commitment to work collaboratively across all levels of government to build healthier communities. ICMA’s work with the National Association of Counties and the American Association of School Administrators since 2007 to promote collaborative efforts among elected and appointed city, county, and school leaders reflects that goal.

Leadership for Healthy Communities was created to support local and state leaders nationwide in their efforts to promote healthy, active communities and access to affordable healthy foods. The Action Strategies Toolkit is available at www.leadershipforhealthycommunities.org/actionstrategies.