Reaching for a Healthier Marion County

What We Do

The CDC awarded the Marion County Public Health Department funds to address high chronic disease rates in Marion County through a program called Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH). Locally known as Reaching for a Healthier Marion County, this program aims to:

• Increase availability and access to fruits, vegetables and other nutritious foods
• Support breastfeeding in the workplace
• Increase opportunities for physical activity by making walking, biking or rolling safe, convenient and encouraged

Get more information about the national REACH program here.

For more information

Program Supports

Healthy Nudges
A program that works with food pantries to incorporate “nudges” to help guide pantry clients toward making healthier choices.

Fresh Bucks
A nutrition incentive program for individuals and families who use the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) — recognized as Hoosier Works/EBT in Indiana — increasing opportunities to purchase fruits and vegetables from local farmers, at participating Farmers Markets in Marion County and now at Safeway Food Stores. Fresh Bucks is part of the Double Up Indiana Network!
For more information, visit freshbucksindy.org

Produce Prescription (Rx)
Produce Rx is a partnership between the public health department, healthcare systems, and food retailers. It’s a county-wide Food As Medicine Initiative available to eligible participants, and helps foster healthier eating habits to prevent and manage chronic diseases, while improving nutrition security. Produce Rx provides a tool for healthcare professionals to refer their patients to receive nutrition education and financial incentives to purchase fresh vegetables and fruits.

Food Service Guidelines
Food service guidelines create an environment that makes the healthy choice the easy choice in hospital food retail venues.

Tactical Urbanism
Tactical Urbanism is a series of low-cost, temporary and community-led interventions designed to test traffic calming solutions, which make neighborhoods more walkable.

Workplace Breastfeeding Support
Breastfeeding parents need resources to help them successfully return to work while breastfeeding. We work with worksites to make sure their policies and locations are supportive of breastfeeding employees.

Employer’s Guide to Lactation Support
Time and Place to Pump at Work: Your Rights
Returning to Work