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Cook Co. organization gets grant to help prevent child obesity

By Jade Bulecza - bio | email

COOK COUNTY, GA (WALB) –Cook County's obesity rate is higher than the state average. One organization hopes to change that by working with kids.

The Cook County Family Connection wants kids to be more active and eat healthier. They just got a grant to help out.

The Cook County Family Connection found through an Emory study that 65 percent of Cook County Children would make healthier choices if these choices were available to them.

"We assess the needs in the community and decide what's really important what's necessary and then we try to secure funding and resources to meet those needs," said Cook County Family Connection Executive Director.

The organization says in Cook County 29 percent of population is considered obese.

"We're above the state average on a lot of health issues, diabetes, obesity and hypertension," said Cook County Family Connection Project Coordinator Lydia McDaniel.

Family Connection recently received a $360,000 grant to use over four years from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

The organization plans to work with the community to revitalize playgrounds so all children can have access and have joint-use agreements with churches and schools so non-conventional athletic activity like gymnastics can be provided. They hope to also provide more produce markets.

"We're going through the county," said Adel City Councilman Butch Fausett. "We're going through the City of Adel and we'll set one up on the square for people to come and find everything they need in fresh vegetables."

The organization wants to work with schools to get more fresh fruits and vegetables on their menus.

The Family Connection wants kids to be more active after school and during school hours. They also hope to combine physical activity with the curriculum inside the classroom.

South Health District has these lesson plans that incorporate this physical activity with whatever content area the students are studying.

The Family Connection in Sparks was one of 50 organizations that received the grant throughout the nation.

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