HEALTHY INCENTIVES
posted on Thursday, January 20, 2022
Polk County Produce Prescription Program wins award from U.S. Conference of Mayors
Des Moines recognized during 2022 Childhood Obesity Prevention and Environmental Health and Sustainability Awards
The U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) and the American Beverage Foundation for a Healthy America (ABFHA) announced Des Moines as one of nine recipients of the 2022 Childhood Obesity Prevention and Environmental Health and Sustainability Awards. Des Moines and the Polk County Produce Prescription Program will receive a $175,000 grant to continue its work addressing health, wellness and environmental health for children and families across the community.
The Polk County Produce Prescription Program (PCPPP), a partnership between the City of Des Moines, Iowa Healthiest State Initiative, Broadlawns Medical Center and local retailers, will connect food-insecure children with diet-related diseases (diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular, etc.) and their families to medical providers that write prescriptions for free fruits and vegetables, while delivering nutrition education and collecting and monitoring biometrics on a routine basis.
“Over the last decade, the Conference’s partnership with the ABFHA Foundation has made it possible for dozens of cities across the country to innovate when it comes to improving health and wellness for children and families. The nine cities winning awards this year demonstrate the continued leadership mayors are showing to create healthier cities. For mayors, these issues are deeply personal to our communities, and we look forward to continuing this work for years to come,” said Tom Cochran, CEO and executive director of USCM.
The other eight U.S. cities receiving 2022 grant awards are:
Denver
Orlando
Baltimore
Montgomery (AL)
Bridgeport (CT)
White Plains (NY)
Salisbury (NC)
Daytona Beach
Mayor Frank Cownie was in attendance at the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Washington, D.C. and accepted the award on behalf of Des Moines. Full descriptions of the 2022 Childhood Obesity Prevention and Environmental Health and Sustainability Awards winning programs can be found at: www.usamyayors.org
The Polk County Produce Prescription Program was launched in August 2021 after receiving grant funding from the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines and Mid Iowa Health Foundation. Between August 1 – December 31, 189 individuals participated in the program and nearly $14,000 in vouchers were redeemed for fresh fruits and vegetables.
