Communities

Health Connections’ Fit & Healthy Coalition is a group of community members who convene monthly to address the public health issues of tobacco use, youth obesity, underage drinking, drug abuse, and other health topics pertinent to the community. The focus of the Fit & Healthy Coalition is to help build and maintain healthier communities.

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Through the Healthy Retailer Initiative, Health Connections works with small, independent retailers to help create a store environment that promotes healthy consumer choices. For example, rather than having a cardboard cut-out of a NASCAR driver holding a six pack of beer, there are posters displayed showing local youth athletes skate boarding, running, skiing or playing soccer with the message, “ LIVE HEALTHY: Making small choices every day to eat healthier and be more active all add up to a big change for the better.”

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Out of 369 Hartford residents surveyed, 324 or 87.8% responded that they would like to see Hartford’s parks be tobacco-free, which would include both smoking and smokeless tobacco products. Health Connections and a group of Peer Projects teens from Hartford High School have recommended to the Hartford Select Board to amend the current Park Ordinance to include the banning of tobacco products, which currently prohibits the use of alcohol and drugs at its parks. Our work continues on this very important health issue.

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Schools  

Health Connections is in school classrooms talking to students of all ages about tobacco use, alcohol, drugs, and the importance of healthy eating, exercise and limiting the electronic screen time each day. Health Connections has helped schools establish school gardens both as a teaching tool and as a way of getting locally grown food into the school’s lunch program.

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Peer Projects is a teen group at Hartford High School that involves teens in a variety of health promotion/health prevention projects. Health Connections works with Peer Projects to do a wide variety of tobacco related projects, including presenting to 5th and middle school youth on why they choose not to smoke, engaging their peers in activities that raise the awareness of the dangers of tobacco use, and helping to provide resources to students and staff who want to quit tobacco use.

Individuals / Families

Health Connections collaborates with area hospitals to offer the Fresh Start Tobacco Cessation Program in local communities so individuals have easier access to quitting tobacco. Fresh Start is a model tobacco cessation program developed by the American Cancer Society. Fresh Start is a 4-week, 1 hour a week program that is FREE to participants. Please contact Health Connections if you are interested in participating in a program:

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“ Participants receive FREE supplies of the patch, gum, and/or lozenges to help them quit.” Please contact…

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info@myhealthconnections.org or (802) 457-4780.

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As a member of the Upper Valley Healthy Eating Active Living Partnership (H.E.A.L.), Health Connections distributes the H.E.A.L's monthly newsletter to parents of elementary school students. The newsletter educates parents on healthy eating tips, creative ways to keep kids physically active, and the impact of electronic screen time and sweetened drinks on youth's weight.