LOCATION: Rolling Fork, MS, U.S.A.

ORGANIZATION TYPE: Community / Faith-based

FOCUS AREA: Children / Families, Education, Environment / Land Use, Food security / Nutrition, Health Care Delivery, Housing / Neighborhoods, Income & Wealth, Jobs & Work, Public Health, Race / Ethnicity, Social Inclusion

HEALTH EQUITY INITIATIVES: PLACE MATTERS is a national learning community of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, Health Policy Institute designed to improve the health of participating communities by addressing social conditions that lead to poor health. The South Delta Place Matters team serves the Mississippi counties of Sharkey and Issaquena, where almost 9% of 3-4 year olds enrolled in Headstart in the region are obese. The South Delta Place Matters Team has identified several excellent programs developed by the National Institutes of Health, the USDA, the American Heart Association and others to help families and community groups help children form healthy habits. The team plans to convene with community members and leaders of the Mississippi Delta to better understand the root causes of unhealthy behaviors, and identify strategies to change these behaviors while celebrating the rich culture of the region.