How to become a Growing Healthy Site

Incorporating Health & Wellness into Where You Work and Worship

Unless we change, this is the first generation in history where the children will not live as long as their parents.

What is Growing Healthy?

The Growing Healthy Initiative (GHI) is a non profit group aimed at developing community awareness, decreasing the percentage of overweight children and adults, and creating healthy eating and physical activity programs which promote healthy lifestyles. This initiative provides information, education, and training at no charge in the Sioux Falls Area.

The Facts:

• 75% of most diseases are preventable.
• At least 1 in 5 children is obese.
• 60% of adults in South Dakota are overweight.
• Total cost of obesity is $264,000,000 billion.

Why Become A Growing Healthy Site?

We need to reach out to all levels of the community to bring healthy lifestyles to all families and individuals.

Benefits of a GHI Site

• Creates a culture of wellness and holistic health within your organization
• Reduces healthcare related costs and absenteeism
• Improves production
• Improves employee retention & safety practices
• Creates a supportive physical environment
• Empowers individuals to implement positive healthy behaviors that extend out into the neighborhood and community.

Steps to Becoming a GHI Site

1. LEARN about the GHI in the Sioux Falls Area
   • Communicate your interest by calling or emailing the GH office
   • Gain the support of your organization's leaders
   • Attend a GH training
2. Create an awareness for making your organization a healthy place
   • Identify a GH coordinator
   • Establish a GH task force within your organization
   • Invite a GHI speaker to your facility for a presentation
3. Conduct a GH assessment of your organization and compile results
4. Establish programs that promote healthy living based on your results
   • Network with other GHI sites
   • Start small and creatively
     • Create a walking path
     • Hand out education materials
     • Weekly health hint in your newsletter or bulletin
     • Serve healthy snacks at meetings and gatherings
     • Explore this website for more creative ideas
5. EVALUATE your GH goals and set new goals

Getting Started

Are you ready to begin the road to becoming a Growing Healthy Site?

Email: denise@healthysiouxfalls.org
Or Call: 1-605-575-1695