By Lucas Willard
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wamc/local-wamc-1003704.mp3
Pittsfield, MA – The Northern Berkshire Community Coalition, serving North Adams, Adams, and Clarksburg, will be receiving five years of funding as part of the State's Mass In Motion Communities program, which is also supported by Federal dollars. Mass In Motion was created in January 2009 by the state's Department of Health to address health concerns in cities and towns across the state. The program targets obesity by distribuiting resources to communities that will advocate active living, nutritional programs for healthy eating, and more.
Executive Director the of Northern Berkshire Community Coalition, Al Bashevskin says that one way the NBCC will advocate for healthy living is focusing on existing outlets for fitness
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The NBCC and Mass in Motion are focused on changing lifestyles - not just obesity treatment. Mass in Motion outlines 12 guidelines for communities to enforce. The Northen Berkshires will be focusing on nutritional procedures for schools, working with the Department of Transportation to enforce the Safe Routes to School program, improve use of EBT and SNAP payments at farmer's markets, moving local produce into convenience stores, and more.
Amanda Chilson was hired by the NBCC to coordinate the Mass in Motion initiatives over the next five years. In her initiatives, healthy food is a key component to battling heart disease, a leading cause of death in Berkshire County.
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The State initiatives hope to lead to lifestyle change, which will then lead to healthier people, and possibly slow the rate of growing health care costs - a goal continually pushed by Governor Deval Patrick. Again Amanda Chilson.
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Over 50 communities across the State have been approved for the Mass in Motion program in the last two years.
Mass In Motion Program:
http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/consumer/wellness/healthy-living/mass-in-motion-english.html