Alliance for Healthy and Active Communities
About the Alliance
The Alliance for Healthy and Active Communities (AHAC) is a group of community health advocates led by the Cook County Department of Public Health. We work to make healthy options easy, convenient and accessible to residents of Suburban Cook County through skill building and advocacy. The goal is to make the healthy choice the default choice in Suburban Cook County by successfully creating policy change, increasing public knowledge, creating a network and developing innovative solutions to complex problems. AHAC focuses on broad-based policies to address risk factors and social determinants that contribute to chronic disease. AHAC believes that a healthier environment can be achieved by:
- Increasing accessibility & demand for safe, healthy, affordable and convenient foods
- Decreasing opportunities for excess caloric intake from unhealthy foods & beverages
- Increasing availability or use of safe & convenient places to be physically active
- Promoting access to preventive health services
- Decreasing smoking rates
- Decreasing exposure to second hand smoke
- Preventing youth from starting to smoke
Why Join Us?
As a central body for health advocates within suburban Cook County, the Alliance provides networking and capacity building opportunities, including:
- Networking opportunities that will enrich your agency efforts to create healthy, thriving communities.
- Best practices, both existing and emerging, that help tackle the complex issues behind chronic disease.
- Participation in the development of tools and resources that are on the cutting edge of chronic disease prevention.
Action Teams
AHAC Action Teams offer an opportunity for individuals and organizations to get involved in the work of the coalition. These teams have been convened to address factors that contribute to chronic disease. There are four action teams:
- Healthy Eating Team - Increasing access to healthy, fresh food and decreasing the amount of unhealthy food available
- Active Living Team - Increasing opportunities for physical activity
- Tobacco Prevention and Control Team- Smoke-free environments, regulating tobacco retailers
- Access to Prevention Services Team- Policies to address disparities in prevention services
Upcoming AHAC Quarterly Meeting
Register here!
The next AHAC meeting is on March 22nd from 1:00-3:30pm. Join us for a lively presentation and discussion with guest speaker Mildred Thompson, Senior Director & Director of the PolicyLink Center for Health and Place.
"Equity is the means to healthy communities and an end that benefits us all". Learn more about why differences exist in the quality of health across populations and how your organization can be a part of a shared solution that can move us forward together.
The meeting will be located at the Orland Township at 14807 Ravinia Dr, Orland
2012 Quarterly Meeting Dates
March 22nd
June 28th
September 27th
December 13th
Resources From Previous AHAC Quarterly Meetings
To access resources, presentations, and materials from previous AHAC meetings, please visit the AHAC Group on Cook County Connects. Click "Join", to join the group.
Learn More and Get Involved- Become a member today!
Organizational Membership
To become an organizational member of AHAC, read the Consensus Statement and Membership Pledge and complete the Membership Pledge Form. The form can be submitted via fax (708) 633-2709 or email healthycook@ccdph.net.
Stay Connected via our Cook County Connects On-line Platform!
Join our AHAC group on Cook County Connects to connect with other members, share your programs, get best practices, and access resources from past AHAC meetings. To sign up to join Cook County Connects, complete the Cook County Connects Request Form.
For more information, please call 708-633-8357 or e-mail healthycook@ccdph.net. If interested in joining the Alliance or to be kept informed about events, complete a Participation & Interest Form.