HAA Case Study: City of McCrory

Obesity causes or exacerbates numerous chronic diseases and conditions that can lead to death, including diabetes and hypertension. In an effort to address the obesity epidemic in Arkansas, the governor-led Healthy Active Arkansas (HAA) initiative was launched to provide a 10-year framework with phased goals to increase the percentage of Arkansans who are at a healthy weight. As part of this initiative, and supported by funding from the Blue & You Foundation for a Healthier Arkansas, the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement (ACHI) convened 10 meetings in 2017 and 2018 to engage, recruit, and activate a network of local champions to assist in meeting these goals.

This study, featuring the city of McCrory’s health initiatives in partnership with local organizations, is part of a series of case studies highlighting success stories from the HAA Statewide Learning Network.

Key takeaways

As mayor of McCrory since 2003 and an enthusiastic Healthy Active Arkansas Ambassador, Mayor Doyle Fowler has made significant strides to improve the health of residents and the local economy through partnerships with local organizations. Under Fowler’s leadership, the city of McCrory has partnered with various local organizations to improve the health of residents and the local economy. Some of these partnerships include:

• The Woodruff County Health Improvement Coalition, a community wellness initiative with 15 local partners and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
• The Warehouse, a monthly partner-sponsored project that provides a food pantry, clinical screening services, nutrition education classes, cooking demonstrations, and prescription assistance.