By Linda Stinnett

Derby is among four Kansas communities recognized this week for their efforts to promote healthy environments.

Derby, Manhattan, Parsons and Salina will receive the BlueCHIP Award from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas and the Kansas Recreation and Park Association. The awards were to be announced at a luncheon today, Jan. 25, at the KRPA Annual Conference and Trade Show in Topeka.

Each of the communities receiving the award will be presented a $2,500 check. The funds will be used to assist the community as it continues its efforts to improve the health of local residents.

“This year’s winning communities – Derby, Manhattan, Parsons and Salina – are great examples of what can be accomplished in a community when people work together towards a common goal,” said Marlou Wegener, BCBSKS manager of community relations. “It is through the grassroots efforts of individuals in these communities – and others – that innovative programs are created to help Kansans lead healthier lives. Over time, these programs will help rein in the overall costs of health care by lowering the incidence of many preventable, chronic conditions.”

The Derby award was presented in the Small Community (pop. of 30,000 or under) category. Frank Seitz, superintendent of the Derby Recreation Commission, nominated the community for the award.

Emphasis in his nomination was of the Derby Health Collaborative, a partnership which the DRC was instrumental in establishing. By establishing DHC, the recreation commission committed resources to reduce duplicate public health efforts, coordinate community health responses and improve the community-wide health outcomes with programs for pre-kindergarten to senior adults, Seitz said in his nomination.

While Derby has a reputation as a progressive community, residents experience the same challenges as those of neighboring communities to maintain healthy lifestyles, he said. Local residents experience obesity, chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension, and economically disadvantaged residents are at risk for poor health conditions and a lack of nutritious food options, he said.

Through the Health Collaborative, the Derby Walks program has been established and all age groups are being targeted at community health fairs and public screening opportunities. The annual SummerFest, which encourages youth to seek healthy choices, also was mentioned in the nomination.

Doug Vance, executive director of KRPA, said the winning efforts of Derby, Manhattan, Parsons and Salina should serve as a catalyst to other Kansas communities who want to collaborate on healthy initiatives.

“These winning communities are to be congratulated for the success they have achieved and the plans they laid out for future initiatives,” Vance said. “While these winning communities stood out for their achievements, we learned through a competitive application process that many Kansas communities are making great strides in collaborating on healthy initiatives. Every community that has residents working together on initiatives to support clean air and healthy food choices, curb obesity and increase physical activities is to be commended.”

In its second year, BlueCHIP is a community health improvement program created to recognize and reward Kansas communities who encourage and support healthy lifestyles through programs, initiatives, policies and/or community-wide events. In 2011, the initial BlueCHIP awards were presented to Lawrence, Hutchinson and Grinnell.