When the place where we live makes it easy for everyone to exercise and eat well, fewer people will suffer from injury, cancer, diabetes, stroke, heart and lung disease. Our goal is to help shape our communities to support health and well-being. To do this we:
- promote safe, pleasant and accessible places for all people to walk, roll or bicycle
- promote use of public transit
- ensure access to healthy and affordable food
- ensure safe, quality housing
We work with community organizations, municipal and regional planners, schools and health care providers. We begin with conversations to learn what is important to our community. From there, we find ways to weave in health and wellness improvements that fit the priorities of our towns, such as economic development. All Vermonters will thrive when our living conditions help to eliminate differences in health for different groups of people.
Use the Public Health Data Explorer to learn about health and wellness where you live.
There are many ways that the Springfield office can help shape a healthier community. We can:
- share examples of language that promotes health with cities and towns in order to strengthen regional plans.
- provide a Safe Routes to Schools Regional Expert to provide support to schools.
- provide public health data and information to inform planning.
- provide education about why sidewalks and healthy foods options in local markets are important.
- connect you with useful resources and provide examples of similar work done in other communities to help you on your way.
- look for funds to help town officials and organizations support health-promoting efforts
We support towns by sharing assessment tools, sample language and resources that encourage town and regional planning for safe, walkable communities, access to services and nutritious, affordable foods, alternate transportation and healthier lifestyle options. Examples include assistance with writing town plans, implementing smoking bans, improving signage for cross-walks, connecting paths and trails to roadways and advocating for smoke-free bus stops or routes to improve access to services for people with transportation challenges. An example from the Consortium for a Sustainable East Central Vermont can be found here (link is external).
Healthy Workplaces = Healthy Communities
We offer support and resources to worksites throughout the region. Get started on your organization’s worksite wellness program, or get help with updating an already-existing one. Come to a Springfield Area Worksite Wellness Group meeting to network with other employers and participate in workshops and presentations. Contact Kate at 802-289-0548.
We work with local coalitions, schools and groups that serve youth to provide education on the harmful effects of tobacco and electronic nicotine delivery systems, promote quitting resources and encourage smoke-free public events. Smoking rates in Vermont are declining, but they remain higher in some groups. Learn more about how we provide services and supports to those with the highest rates of smoking and tobacco use. See information on locally-funded coalitions 
.
Resources for quitting are available through 802Quits (link is external)and by calling 800-QUIT-NOW.
CounterBalance (link is external) is a campaign directed towards the tobacco industry's influence on youth and the damaging impact tobacco use has on community health.
Tobacco Use in Vermont
Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs – Vermont Community Profiles
What does 3-4-50 mean?
3 behaviors – lack of physical activity, poor diet, and tobacco use – lead to 4 chronic diseases – cancer, heart disease and stroke, type 2 diabetes, and lung disease – that are the cause of more than 50 percent of all deaths in Vermont.
This understanding inspires us to take action. Communities that are built to support physical activity, safe walking and biking, use of public transportation, and easy access to fresh foods are essential for good health.
See how Vermont Cities & Towns support health
Related resources
Active Living and Healthy Eating (link is external) - Vermont Healthy Community Design Resource
Examples for Creating Healthy Communites: Physical Activity, Healthy Eating, Tobacco, Alchol & Drug Abuse Prevention (link is external)- Vermont Healthy Community Design Resource
Complete Streets: Guide for Vermont Communities (link is external) - to assist towns with examples
3-4-50 Prevent Chronic Disease (link is external)
Physical Activity & Nutrition in Vermont Communities (link is external)
Health in All Policies Scorecard (link is external)
Environmental Health in Vermont (link is external)
Chronic Disease in Vermont - Data (link is external)
learn more
Trail Finder (link is external)
VT State Parks (link is external)
Free Falls Prevention Resources (link is external)
Hunger Free Vermont (link is external)
Safe Routes to School (link is external)
CounterBalance (link is external)- a campaign directed towards the tobacco industry’s influence on youth
Bellows Falls Commuity Bike Project
Community Health Team, Springfield Medical Care Systems
Hunger Council of the Windham Region
RiseVT Windsor County
Saxtons Ricer Valley Trails Initiative
Springfield Wellness Week
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