Using Data to Raise Healthier Children in Fort Worth
February 26, 2010
Posted by chcablogadmin in : Community Benefit, Leadership
I wanted to share excerpts from an article Rick Merrill authored for his local newspaper. Rick challenged the Fort Worth community and area businesses to partner with him to reach a goal of raising healthier kids by 2020. Guided by data, the 10-year initiative is bold and ambitious. I am certain we will all want to follow his progress! In Rick’s original submission, he signed his name “Keeper of Promises to Children”— isn’t that what each of you is as well?
— Don
Rick Merrill
For the first time in history, the life expectancy of children in North Texas will be less than that of their parents or grandparents. We know that one in four of them is suffering from asthma, but we aren’t sure why and haven’t done enough to reduce the incidence of this debilitating disease. With the unique information now made available through our Community-wide Children’s Health Assessment and Planning Survey (CCHAPS), we can look deep into the health issues facing our children and gain the powerful knowledge we need to change the critical course we are on.
We know that our “Decade of the Child: Healthy Children 2020” initiative is ambitious and will require community partners and resources beyond our walls.
Let’s imagine it’s the year 2020 and together we have significantly lowered the incidence of asthma, obesity, abuse, accidental injury, dental problems, and other pediatric illnesses. It’s 2020, and our region is known as one of the healthiest places in the nation to raise children. Think of what that could mean for our businesses and local economy. Think about the dollars we could save on health care. Most importantly, think of what that outlook would mean for the future of our own children!
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