YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Youngstown State University’s Get Fit initiative will launch a new podcast, “Health in the Valley,” on Monday highlighting community-driven efforts to improve health and wellness in the Mahoning Valley.
Produced through GainFit, a federally funded community wellness initiative serving residents of Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbia counties, the monthly podcast will highlight the initiative’s work. The initiative works through the Centers for Disease Control’s Racial and Ethnic Attitudes to Community Health program at YSU.
Episodes will focus on promoting health equity through initiatives related to nutrition, safe and accessible physical activity and family healthy weight programs.
“The podcast provides an opportunity to bring awareness to GainFit’s innovative programming and work, in partnership with healthy community partnerships, and to hear from real people in the community,” said Kelly Frazier, GainFit Program Manager. “Audiences will hear from community partners, program participants and strategy leaders who have been involved or impacted by our work.”
The podcast is part of the Gain Fit communications plan under the CDC Reach Cooperative Agreement, which supports community-based approaches to reducing health disparities. The five-year agreement is in its third year and includes efforts to ensure the long-term sustainability of health initiatives across the region.
“Communicating work is a key priority for Gain Fit,” Frazier said. “Our goal is for community partners to continue and expand the work we’ve started well after our funding age.”
Episodes will focus on GainFit’s three primary strategy areas: community design for physical activity, family healthy weight programs and food service and nutrition initiatives. The podcast will feature efforts such as the GainFit Family Wellness Program, producing prescription initiatives that expand access to healthy foods and community events and demonstrations promoting safe and accessible physical activity.
The podcast format was chosen, in part, because it offers flexibility for listeners.
“A podcast allows people to consume information while continuing their daily activities, such as driving, running or doing household chores,” Frazier said. “We also kept the episodes short so that the audience could stay engaged without long-term commitment.”
The series will highlight the efforts of community members, organizations and leaders working to improve health outcomes throughout the Valley, while also strengthening YSU’s commitment to community engagement.
“The podcast reaffirms the university’s commitment to community well-being and public health,” Frazier said. “It’s important that YSU is seen not only as an institution of higher learning, but also as a strong community partner and advocate.”
The primary audience for the podcast includes residents in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbia counties, communities served through the CDC’s outreach initiative.
The podcast will help raise awareness of health disparities in the region while highlighting ongoing efforts to address them. It will also provide the audience with information on how they can get involved in improving their own health and support wellness initiatives in the community.
Looking ahead, GainFit leaders hope the podcast will continue to document progress and encourage greater participation in community health efforts.
“Our hope is that as we continue to do this, we will share more impactful stories, continue to provide education and see long-term changes in community well-being and public health,” Frazier said. “We hope to partner with other community organizations to further develop this work.”
New episodes of “Blessing in the Valley” will be released monthly.
For more information on Guin Fit, click here.
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