Make It Local

On April 1, 2015, the Healthy Savannah coalition received a one-year Plan4Health grant from the CDC via the American Planning Association and American Public Health Association to increase opportunities for Chatham County residents to engage in healthy behaviors, specifically eating healthy foods. Project strategies include a food system needs assessment, a healthy food distribution and retail implementation plan, and a policy promoting equitable access to healthy food.

To learn more about what is going on in the community check out the  Plan4Health NewsLetter

Major causes of morbidity and mortality in Chatham County are related to unhealthy diet, a determinant of chronic disease that this project addresses. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in Chatham County, accounting for 3,348 deaths from 2009 to 2013. Diabetes is rapidly growing, affecting roughly 10 percent of residents. Twenty-seven (27) percent of adults are obese. Twenty (20) percent of the population reports they did not have access to a reliable source of food during the past year. About 75% of adults in the Coastal Health District, which includes Chatham County, consume less than 5 fruits and vegetables servings daily according to the Georgia Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. The project will reach at-risk populations in Chatham County, which largely reside within the City of Savannah. These include low-income, minorities, and the uninsured.