About Live Well:

Chronic diseases of the 21st Century — heart disease, diabetes, obesity, asthma and depression — can be impacted by surrounding environments.

There is a connection, for example, between the fact that the urban sprawl we live with makes no room for sidewalks or bike paths and the fact that we are an overweight, heart disease-ridden society. The policy, systems, and environmental work of Live Well should eventually help move Crawford County to a better placement in the health and wellness indicators.

Our goals:

Through healthful eating and regular physical activity, Crawford County residents will: 
  • Reduce their burden of disease;
  • Increase years of healthy life;
  • Reduce health disparities.

Our focus:

  • Administer and implement the Healthy Community Initiative Grant from the Kansas Health Foundation.
  • Establish an Active Transportation Board for Crawford County.
  • Develop an Active Transportation Master Plan for Crawford County.
  • Administer and implement an Eat Well Grant.

Our Executive Director:

Brad Stroud
620-704-0019
bstroud@crawfordcohd.org

Our history:


Live Well Crawford County began with the assistance of the Kansas Health Foundation in order to promote healthy lifestyle choices through education, motivation, and support for all generations.

Live Well has continued to grow and has established four task forces: Live Active, Eat Well, Breathe Well and Age Well. These task forces are targeted to improve the life of Crawford County citizens and help to prevent chronic diseases.

2006
Community Foundation of Southeast of Kansas is awarded a Nutrition and Physical Activity (NAPA) Grant from the Kansas Health Foundation. Focus: Form a health coalition to implement nutrition and physical activity improvements in Crawford County.

2007
Live Well Crawford County (LWCC) is established.

2008
LWCC hosts Health & Wellness Teacher In-service and Public Community Event. Collaborated with school superintendents, 700+ school staff and 20+ citizens attended.

2009
LWCC hosts Health & Wellness Learning Sessions at county schools. Held 60 after-school wellness sessions in school buildings such as strength building, eating right, Zumba, street management, gardening, aerobics, golf, tennis and biking.

2010
Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas is awarded a $45,000 3-year Nutrition and Physical Activity Project Grant from the Kansas Health Foundation. Focus: Created Live Well Coordinator position, raised awareness of LWCC and funded health initiatives:
  • Farmers markets
  • Youth TRYathlon
  • Community gardens
  • Healthy concession stands
  • Bicycle trail maps and trail benches 
  • School gardens

2012
Awarded a $125,000 4-year Healthy Community Initiative (HCI) planning Grant from the Kansas Health Foundation. Focus: Create an Active Transportation Advisory Council and develop a Master Biking/Walking Pedestrian plan for Crawford County
  • Visited various communities with street infrastructures that supported biking/walking
  • Hosted focus groups to learn community needs

2013
LWCC hosts Mark Fenton, a national public health planning and transportation consultant.
  • Held public meetings with city council, student government and hosted a leadership breakfast 
  • Conducted walk audits in Pittsburg and Girard and collaborated with the City of Pittsburg and Girard

2014
Crawford County Commission Board approves and establishes a Food Policy Council.
  • Awarded $10,000 Grant from Kansas Health Foundation for Food Policy Council Planning
  • Partnership with Crawford County Health Department, Live Well Crawford, Community Health Center of SE Kansas, SE Kansas Action Program and K-State Extension.

LWCC establishes the Live Active Task Force and Eat Well Task Force.

City of Pittsburg passes an ordinance to establish the Active Transportation Advisory Board.

2015
LWCC establishes the Breathe Well Task Force and Age Well Task Force.

City of Girard passes an ordinance to establish the Active Transportation Advisory Board.

City of Pittsburg adopts the Active Transportation Master Plan, prepared by PedNet.

New Venture Advisors conducts a Community Food Assessment for Crawford County. Focus: Evaluated the local food system, healthy eating behaviors, healthy and economic development. 
  • Eat Well Task Force hosted FEAST Event to kick off Community Food Assessment (Food, Education, Agriculture Solutions Together)

LWCC is named 2015 Kansas Health Championship Organization by the Governor’s Council on Fitness.

LWCC is awarded funds from the Girard Area Community Foundation for trail activities on the Born Learning Trail.

Eat Well Task Force is awarded a $40,000 Food Policy Implementation Grant from the Kansas Health Foundation. Focus: Worksite wellness and increasing locally grown food for local consumption.
 
2016
City of Girard adopts the Active Transportation Master Plan, prepared by PedNet.

Crawford County Commission Board approves resolution to establish a 10-city Active Transportation Advisory Board
  • Cities: Pittsburg, Girard, Hepler, Walnut, McCune, Cherokee, Arcadia, Arma, Frontenac and Mulberry​