HSI Monthly Momentum - August 2024
The Iowa Healthiest State Initiative’s programs and events strive to create awareness and provide solutions to improve the physical, social and mental well-being of Iowans. Every month through Monthly Momentum, we’ll share what our team did through our four main programs Make It OK, Double Up Food Bucks, Produce Rx, and 5-2-1-0 Healthy Choices Count! the month prior to realize that mission! There are tons of ways to get involved whether your passion is mental, social, or physical health, so join us in ensuring every Iowan can live their healthiest life, and don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media so you never miss a thing!
Healthiest State 14th Annual Walk
Registration for the Healthiest State 14th Annual Walk on October 2nd opened on August 1st! The Annual Walk invites Iowans around the state to get out and walk for 30 minutes on October at their schools, workplaces, homes, and in their communities to inspire a healthier future for Iowa.
Iowans can register a walk wherever they live, work, or play for free below to help us hit our 3 goals in 2024:
1,000 total registered walks
At least one walk in all 99 counties
and $5,210 raised for HSI
The fun doesn’t stop when you sign up! We’ve made resources to make walk day even more fun including certificates for kids and communication tools for workplaces. Early care sites can join the Active Early Care Challenge for a chance to win $500 for their site! Finally, don’t forget to see if your school made it into the 2024 School Mascot Challenge and help vote them to the $1,000 prize!
In the Community
The HSI team was busy at events across the state in August. On August 8th, we were joined by Governor Kim Reynolds, Lt. Governor Adam Gregg, the Iowa Historical Society, and a crowd of fair goers for the Opening Day Walk to kick off the Iowa State Fair! HSI also sponsored Barnyard Yoga at the Iowa State Fair, where Iowans got up close and personal with the cutest animals the fair has to offer.
You might have seen our Office Manager, Kayla, at the Back-to-School Celebration for Des Moines Public Schools. There, we shared information about 5-2-1-0 Healthy Choices Count! and Make It OK with teachers and staff.
Make It OK
With the return to school, Make It OK has been featured at 3 different vendor fairs including Iowa Jobs for America's Graduates (IJAG), Des Moines Public School's Back to School Bash, and Waukee CSD Staff Benefits and Well-Being Fair. Mental health has never been such an important topic, and reducing stigma in schools helps start crucial conversations with students to Make It OK in Iowa!
Double Up Food Bucks
Double Up Food Bucks added two new sites in August. We were excited to welcome CMC Farmers Market (Cedar Rapids) and Global Food Project Market (Iowa City) to the Double Up Food Bucks family! As new sites, they'll be able to help SNAP users double their SNAP dollars by matching up to $250 for bulk purchases.
5-2-1-0 Healthy Choices Count!
The speakers for the 2024 5-2-1-0 Healthy Choices Count! Summit were announced! A wide variety of topics will be covered at the Summit on October 23rd including phone free schools, making intentional partnerships, and the tie between movement, fun, and learning! Check out the amazing lineup of speakers and keep an eye out for registration opening on September 9th!
We also launched a new calendar of monthly 5-2-1-0 Features for early care sites, schools, parents, and health care sites to share to inspire healthy habits through fun facts and engaging activities!
Produce Rx
In August, we asked to hear impact stories from families in the Iowa Produce Prescription Program. Parents of kids in the pediatric program said that the monthly education and produce vouchers offered by the program have helped with eating healthier snacks (especially green veggies), setting health goals, and inspiring the whole family to become more engaged with their nutrition.