MARION COUNTY 
                                    
                                    
                                    
                                    
                                    
                                           
            2017 Nutrition and Physical 
             Activity Health Assessment 
      
  
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                    Improving Community Health: 
                  Healthy Foods & Physical Activity 
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     FOREWORD  
      
     This health assessment provides us with a snapshot of physical activity and nutrition in Marion County, as 
     well as our state and nation. The data presented in this report provides valuable information to develop 
     strategies that focus on increasing nutritious food consumption and increasing physical activity in Marion 
     County, particularly within families.   
      
     The Marion County Nutrition and Physical Activity Assessment is being conducted for the first time, 
     although these topics have been included in the county’s community health assessment several times.  
      
     Through collaboration with the Hospital Council of Northwest Ohio, every effort has been made to assure 
                                                Moving to the 
     that this report contains valid and reliable data. This assessment follows the guidance of 
        .  This data should be used in conjunction with other relevant data, such as the community health 
     Future
     assessment.  To assure the success of this effort, the leaders of Marion County have made commitments in 
     the following ways:  
      
       1.  The assessment will not “sit on a shelf.” The identified priorities and recommendations will be 
         followed up and acted on. 
       2.  The assessment will not be done in a vacuum.  In order to be successful, any and all stakeholders 
         will need to be involved in current and future efforts.  Every agency dealing in some aspect of 
         health care in Marion County needs to be “at the table” and offering their particular areas of 
         expertise and experience.  The concept of “health care” is so broad that it cannot be the sole 
         responsibility of any one agency.  There can be no “silos” in these efforts or there will be no 
         success. 
       3.  The assessment will continue to be repeated on a regular basis and data and results will be 
         trended so that yearly results can be compared. This will ensure that benchmarking can occur and 
         improvements (or degradation) in services as noted. 
       4.  The assessment will be flexible.  As additional unmet needs are identified, or existing needs are 
         met, the study itself must evolve to remain a meaningful and workable instrument for health 
         planning in Marion County. 
      
     Foreword                                        Page | 1  
                                                          
          ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS  
           
          This report has been funded by:          
          The Ohio Department of Health Maternal and Child Health Block Grant (Title V)  
           
          This report has been commissioned by: 
                                                        Creating Healthy Communities Coalition 
           Assistant Engineer                                      Marion Resident 
           Boys and Girls Club                                     Marion Senior Center 
           Center St. Community Club                               Marion Technical College 
           Christ Missionary Garden Coordinator/                   Mayor New Bloomington 
           North End Resident 
           Downtown Marion Farmer’s Market                         MCS Wellness Coordinator 
           ECC Center / Headstart                                  MPH Health Commissioner 
           Elgin Local Schools                                     Naturalist Marion County Park District 
           Faith Based Ministry                                    Ohio Health TTS Respitory Therapist 
           Farm to Family Program                                  OSU Extension/ SNAP Educator 
           Green Camp Mayor                                        PHC-Marion Coach 
           JFS                                                     Pleasant Local School 
           LifeLink Church                                         Ridgedale Local Schools 
           Marion Family YMCA                                      Population Health Director MPH 
           Marion Area Transit                                     Regional Planning 
           Marion City Mayor                                       Representative Disability Population 
           Marion City Parks                                       Representative for Youth/West-side 
           Marion City Police                                      Representative Senior Population/ JAG Healthcare 
           Marion City School Superintendent                       River Valley Local Schools/Superintendent 
           Marion City Schools                                     Salvation Army 
           Marion City Schools Food Service                        Sika 
           Marion County DD Board                                  Stay Well/Whirlpool Wellness 
           Marion County Commissioners                             Taft Elementary Principal 
           Marion County Park District                             Teen Institute Prevention Program 
           Marion General Hospital                                 The Ohio State University Marion 
           Marion Industrial Center                                Tri-Rivers Career Center 
           Marion Matters                                          United Way Marion County 
           
           
                                                                            Contact Information 
                                                                    
                                                          Traci Kinsler, JD 
                                                   Administrator/Fiscal Director 
                                                        Marion Public Health 
                                                           181 S. Main St.  
                                                        Marion, Ohio 43302 
                                                           740-692-9102 
                                                                                       
                                                 tkinsler@marionpublichealth.org
                                                                    
          Acknowledgements                                                                                         Page | 2