We're working with DASH-NY -- New York State's Obesity Prevention Policy Center -- and the New York Academy of Medicine in an exciting new effort, the New York State Healthy Places Training Program. These free trainings, which will focus on how communities can take action to promote and enable healthy living for their citizens,  will be held in  in six locations around New York -- Syracuse, Batavia, Saranac Lake, Farmingdale, Albany, and Brooklyn.

Available Dates and Locations:

October 20, 2011 Syracuse, NY October 21, 2011 Batavia, NY October 26, 2011 Saranac Lake, NY November 7, 2011 Farmingdale, NY November 9, 2011 Albany, NY November 15, 2011 Brooklyn, NY

The Healthy Places Training Program presents a holistic approach to improving population by planning active transportation systems that connect to key destinations, including healthy food hubs that eliminate food deserts and support local business. The training program will work with local, regional, and state public health officials, along with other key stakeholders, to understand and implement policies and programs that encourage physical activity and healthy eating -- while also revitalizing the streets, parks, and gathering spaces within their communities.

The trainings will be one day each, and will include presentations and interactive exercises, including a facilitated on-site analysis activity. Each training will educate practitioners and stakeholders on best practices in fostering active transportation and healthy food programs through markets -- using policy, design, and community engagement actions. Training instructors will review methods and tools that health officials and communities can use to break through bureaucratic silos, take personal action, and engage likely and unlikely partners. We'll be talking about how these strategies can enable people to transform their community into a place that promotes physical activity and healthy eating, while simultaneously improving public space and community development.

PPS instructors will use their experience in working with a wide range of agencies, organizations, and interest groups, along with case studies and recent research, to demonstrate the need, opportunities, and methods by which community health can be improved.

A new "Healthy Places Audit" will be developed for use during the trainings. The audit will allow participants to understand first-hand the barriers and possibilities of changing the built environment to improve public health.

The trainings will be delivered by Aurash Khawarzad and Kelly Verel of PPS. Come with your community partners (planners, county officials, business owners, etc.) to this FREE event.

We wish to thank our partners for their collaboration on delivering these regional trainings.

Batavia Town Center Brownsville Partnership Recreation Center CNY Community Foundation Elsmere Fire Department Harrietstown Town Center at Saranac Lake Sustainability Institute at Molloy College Vision Long Island

Photo: Wally Gobetz via Flickr.