Prince George's County Health Department

Healthy Eating, Active Living (HEAL) Workgroup

Vision: The Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) Workgroup envisions Prince George’s County as a place where everyone has access to fresh, nutritious food and environments that promote good health, wellness and active living

HEAL Workgroup Co-Chairs

Anthony Nolan: Chief, Special Programs Division, Department of Parks and Recreation, Prince George's County
Jessica Moise: Vice President of Health Strategies, American Heart Association

HEAL Workgroup Contact

Email: pghac@co.pg.md.us

HEAL Workgroup Meeting Information

The third Wednesday of every other month from 12:00-1:30pm. Please email pghac@co.pg.md.us for more information.

Heal Workgroup Indicators

Take a look at some of the health indicators related to the Healthy Eating Active Living Workgroup for residents of Prince George's County, Maryland.

Compared to MD Counties, Prince George's has a value of 76.1% which is in the worst 25% of counties. Counties in the best 50% have a value lower than 69.9% while counties in the worst 25% have a value higher than 74.5%. Compared to MD Counties, Prince George's has a value of 76.1% which is in the worst 25% of counties. Counties in the best 50% have a value lower than 69.9% while counties in the worst 25% have a value higher than 74.5%.

Adults who are Overweight or Obese

Compared to MD Counties, Prince George's has a value of 35.5% which is in the 2nd worst quartile of counties. Counties in the best 50% have a value lower than 33.1% while counties in the worst 25% have a value higher than 36.9%. Compared to MD Counties, Prince George's has a value of 35.5% which is in the 2nd worst quartile of counties. Counties in the best 50% have a value lower than 33.1% while counties in the worst 25% have a value higher than 36.9%.

High Blood Pressure Prevalence

Compared to MD Counties, Prince George's has a value of 11.1% which is in the 2nd worst quartile of counties. Counties in the best 50% have a value lower than 11.0% while counties in the worst 25% have a value higher than 12.1%. Compared to MD Counties, Prince George's has a value of 11.1% which is in the 2nd worst quartile of counties. Counties in the best 50% have a value lower than 11.0% while counties in the worst 25% have a value higher than 12.1%.

Adults with Diabetes

County: Prince George's

(Compared to MD Counties)

HEAL Workgroup Meeting Highlight

HEAL Work Plan Progress

GOAL: Promote HEAL in county policy and zoning

By March 2020, the HEAL workgroup will develop a framework for identifying healthy food priority areas in Prince George’s County.

Mar
2020

Identify and onboard partners to provide data on food retailers and transportation needs.
Research and develop metrics for food retailer, transportation, and income data.
Identify data sources and a point of contact for each data source.

By September 2020, the HEAL workgroup and partners will develop and launch the first version of a publicly accessible GIS map to display fast food/quick service restaurant density and healthy food resources and retail outlets for communities in Prince George’s County.

Sep
2020

Identify and define key terms for what it means to be identified as a healthy food restaurant, retail outlet, and fast food/quick service restaurant, etc.
Document existing (data) resources and identify additional data needed for GIS mapping of food retailers.
Add layers to GIS map tool.
Gather feedback from municipal leaders on map.
Revise and finalize GIS map based on stakeholder feedback.

By November 2021, complete an assessment report for at least one healthy food access priority community.

Nov
2021

Secure funding for research assistant and community engagement activities
Gain commitment of community and university partners who will provide resources for this effort.
Identify potential food access priority communities for study
Select healthy food priority area for assessment
Identify, collect, and add additional secondary data the existing Healthy Food Priority Areas map.
Use Photo Voice methodology to capture community members personal stories food environment experience.
Work with partners to collect data.
Work with partners to analyze data.
Publish and disseminate results.

By December 2021, enhance the map and develop a system with stakeholders to ensure the healthy food priority areas map is routinely updates as new data become available.

Dec
2021

Gain written commitment by partners outlining how annual updating will be completed.
Add landbank layer to map to display vacant county properties that can potentially be used to increase access to healthy foods
Add additional demographic data census tracts to provide an overview of the population for potential businesses and service providers
Add restaurant layer to provide information on food retail landscape for potential developers and business owners
Add information on which food retailers accept WIC and SNAP
Augment map with resident perspectives to co-create solutions that benefit the food landscape in their community

By June 2022, provide technical assistance to at least one agency or organization in Prince George's County to begin implementing new policies or processes to advance the institutional procurement of healthy, sustainable, and locally grown foods and formally adopt the Good Foods Purchasing Policy through County Council.

Jun
2022

Send a memo requesting the Department of Family Services to consider adopting the Good Foods Purchasing Policy
Secure funding for one agency to complete the Good Foods Purchasing Policy baseline assessment

GOAL: Address metabolic syndrome and behavioral health by increasing access to and support of healthy living programs and resources within the county

By June 2021, gain commitment of key stakeholders needed (including a funder) to implement a Produce Rx pilot in Prince George’s County.

Jun
2021

Create promotional materials for Produce Rx.
Create list of partners for outreach and assignments for PRx subcommittee.
Complete first round of partner outreach.
Engage with high priority partners.
Collect documentation needed to solidify partners' commitments.
Secure funding for pilot ($25k from Anthem Foundation, $25k from Amerigroup)

By November 2021, increase participation in programs that increase physical activity for seniors by enhancing outreach to and engagement with older adults in the county.

Nov
2021

Partner with at least five new organizations for ongoing cross-distribution of communications about programs for seniors.

By December 2021, enroll participants in a Food-As-Medicine pilot voucher program

Dec
2021

Create program enrollment and onboarding materials
Select and onboard physician practices to participate
Hire bilingual community health worker to staff program

By December 2022, gain commitment of key stakeholders and funding to expand the Food-As-Medicine pilot program

Nov
2022

Identify challenges from initial pilot and create plan to address those challenges

By December 2022, facilitate at least two long-term partnerships among healthy eating, active living, and behavioral health partners

Dec
2022

By December 2021, host six virtual resource fairs among healthy eating, active living, and behavioral health partners
By December 2021, support an integrated system of care through the creation of a resource portal that addresses diabetes and behavioral health

Healthy Eating, Active Living (HEAL) Workgroup

HEAL Workgroup Co-Chairs

HEAL Workgroup Contact

HEAL Workgroup Meeting Information

Heal Workgroup Indicators

County: Prince George's

(Compared to MD Counties)

HEAL Workgroup Meeting Highlight

Identify and onboard partners to provide data on food retailers and transportation needs.

Research and develop metrics for food retailer, transportation, and income data.

Identify data sources and a point of contact for each data source.

Identify and define key terms for what it means to be identified as a healthy food restaurant, retail outlet, and fast food/quick service restaurant, etc.

Document existing (data) resources and identify additional data needed for GIS mapping of food retailers.

Add layers to GIS map tool.

Gather feedback from municipal leaders on map.

Revise and finalize GIS map based on stakeholder feedback.

Secure funding for research assistant and community engagement activities

Gain commitment of community and university partners who will provide resources for this effort.

Identify potential food access priority communities for study

Select healthy food priority area for assessment

Identify, collect, and add additional secondary data the existing Healthy Food Priority Areas map.

Use Photo Voice methodology to capture community members personal stories food environment experience.

Work with partners to collect data.

Work with partners to analyze data.

Publish and disseminate results.

Gain written commitment by partners outlining how annual updating will be completed.

Add landbank layer to map to display vacant county properties that can potentially be used to increase access to healthy foods

Add additional demographic data census tracts to provide an overview of the population for potential businesses and service providers

Add restaurant layer to provide information on food retail landscape for potential developers and business owners

Add information on which food retailers accept WIC and SNAP

Augment map with resident perspectives to co-create solutions that benefit the food landscape in their community

Send a memo requesting the Department of Family Services to consider adopting the Good Foods Purchasing Policy

Secure funding for one agency to complete the Good Foods Purchasing Policy baseline assessment

Create promotional materials for Produce Rx.

Create list of partners for outreach and assignments for PRx subcommittee.

Complete first round of partner outreach.

Engage with high priority partners.

Collect documentation needed to solidify partners' commitments.

Secure funding for pilot ($25k from Anthem Foundation, $25k from Amerigroup)

Partner with at least five new organizations for ongoing cross-distribution of communications about programs for seniors.

Create program enrollment and onboarding materials

Select and onboard physician practices to participate

Hire bilingual community health worker to staff program

Identify challenges from initial pilot and create plan to address those challenges

By December 2021, host six virtual resource fairs among healthy eating, active living, and behavioral health partners

By December 2021, support an integrated system of care through the creation of a resource portal that addresses diabetes and behavioral health