By Nathan Taylor—
MUNCIE, IN—— Ten years ago, Delaware County celebrated an important milestone: Muncie and Delaware County were recognized as an Indiana Healthy Community (IHC) by the Wellness Council of Indiana. That recognition in 2016 represented the culmination of years of collaboration among local businesses, government, community organizations, and residents committed to creating a healthier place to live, work, and raise a family. Read the original story here.
Today, Delaware County is celebrating that achievement once again.
On September 2nd, Delaware County was recognized again as an Indiana Healthy Community at the Wellness Council of Indiana’s annual awards luncheon, which took place during their annual wellness summit. This is an opportunity not only to celebrate reaching this 10-year milestone, but also to recognize the tremendous progress that has taken place throughout the community during the past decade.
And perhaps most importantly, it is a reminder that healthy communities are not created by one organization or one initiative. They are created by people working together over time.
A Decade of Progress
When Delaware County first received the Indiana Healthy Community designation in 2016, the recognition highlighted the commitment of local employers and community leaders to improving the wellbeing of residents.
The original designation required 15 local employers—representing at least 25% of the county’s workforce—to demonstrate their commitment to employee wellbeing through the AchieveWell process. The designation also examined the broader community, including built and food environments, policies that influence healthy decision-making, and the involvement of residents and community organizations.
Ten years later, the work has continued in ways that extend well beyond the workplace.
During the past decade, Delaware County has seen improvement in important health measures, not least of which is our health behaviors ranking in the state. This reflects the collective impact of the many individuals, organizations, programs, and initiatives working to make Delaware County a healthier community. The progress is worth celebrating!
It is important to recognize that community health improvement is rarely the result of one dramatic change. Instead, it happens through hundreds of smaller efforts—an employer investing in its employees, a community organization addressing an unmet need, a school supporting children and families, a health professional connecting someone with resources, a local government making a community space more accessible, or a group of residents coming together to solve a problem.
Over the past 10 years, Delaware County has seen countless examples of this kind of work.
A Community Effort
Nathan Taylor, who spearheaded the original application process, is now an instructor in the School of Business at Ivy Tech Community College Muncie, and has continued to spearhead the Indiana Healthy Community re-designation process. The IHC application process involves a self-evaluation covering 4 domains areas; Health, Community, Environment, and Economy.
The most recent application has once again demonstrated that the commitment to community wellbeing extends across Delaware County.
A number of local organizations contributed information, expertise, time, and support to the re-designation effort, including:
- Ivy Tech Community College
- Greater Muncie Chamber of Commerce
- Delaware County Health Department
- Delaware County Plan Commission
- Ball State University
- Healthy Community Alliance of East Central Indiana
- Purdue Extension
- George and Frances Ball Foundation
- The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County
- Ball Brothers Foundation
- Nonprofit Support Network
Special thanks are also extended to the City of Muncie and the Delaware County Commissioners for their support of the re-designation effort.
The involvement of so many organizations demonstrates an important lesson from the past decade: community wellbeing is a shared responsibility.
Highlighting the Work Already Underway
The re-designation process provided an opportunity to highlight several programs and initiatives that are making a meaningful difference in Delaware County.
Among those highlighted were Optimus Primary, Cradle to Career, our nonprofit sector, arts and culture, Ivy Tech’s role as the workforce engine for the community, and the ongoing work of the Healthy Community Alliance of East Central Indiana.
Each represents a different approach to improving the lives of individuals and families, but together they illustrate the kind of collaborative, community-centered work that can create lasting change.
The re-designation process also provides an opportunity to celebrate the organizations that continue to demonstrate a commitment to employee wellbeing.
Currently, three local organizations hold AchieveWell well workplace designations from the Wellness Council of Indiana: Ball State University, Ivy Tech Community College, and Muncie Indiana Transit System (MITS).
Additionally, Open Door Health Services has been recognized by the Wellness Council of Indiana with its Breastfeeding Friendly Workplace badge, demonstrating another important way local employers can support the wellbeing of employees and families.
These organizations continue a tradition established by the employers who helped Delaware County earn its original designation in 2016.
There Is Still Work to Do
Celebrating progress does not mean pretending that the work is finished.
As part of the most recent re-designation process, the Wellness Council of Indiana provided feedback identifying opportunities for Delaware County to continue growing. Two areas in particular—Family Friendliness and Infrastructure and Spaces—were identified as areas deserving additional attention. And we also know that the work of workforce preparedness, education attainment, nutrition, physical activity, and tobacco cessation continues to be important targets for our community.
These areas represent exciting opportunities for the next chapter of Delaware County’s healthy community story and we look forward to reporting an update to the Wellness Council of Indiana in 2 years when we reapply for this designation.
Creating a healthier community means considering not only how we encourage individuals to make healthy choices, but also whether our community makes those choices possible and accessible.
Are our communities welcoming and supportive places for families? Do residents have access to safe, attractive, and accessible spaces for physical activity and connection? Are our neighborhoods designed in ways that encourage people to interact with one another? Do families have the resources and support they need to thrive?
These are challenging questions, but they are also opportunities to build on the progress of the past decade.
Looking Toward the Next 10 Years
The Indiana Healthy Community designation is ultimately about more than an award.
It is about recognizing a community that is willing to examine itself, celebrate its successes, acknowledge its challenges, and continue working toward a better future.
Ten years ago, Delaware County demonstrated that commitment.
Today, the re-designation serves as a reminder that the work has continued.
The organizations and individuals involved may have changed. Programs have evolved. New challenges have emerged. And new leaders have stepped forward. But the underlying goal remains the same: to make Delaware County a healthier, stronger, and more vibrant place to live, work, and raise a family.
The past 10 years have provided plenty of reasons to celebrate. Improvements in community health, the continued commitment of local employers, the growth of community partnerships, and the many programs addressing the needs of Delaware County residents all represent meaningful progress.
But perhaps the greatest accomplishment is the willingness of this community to keep working together.
The 2016 Indiana Healthy Community designation was an achievement worth celebrating.
Ten years later, the re-designation is more than a renewal of that recognition. It is a celebration of a decade of progress—and an invitation to imagine what the next 10 years can bring.
Congratulations to Delaware County, and to the many people and organizations whose dedication has helped make this community a healthier place.
Here’s to the next decade.
Nathan Taylor is Instructor, in the School of Business at Ivy Tech Community College Muncie.
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