AIM for CHangE Overview
Project Overview
MSU Extension has launched an initiative to help Mississippians battle obesity through a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In 2018, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention awarded Mississippi State University Extension $5.5 million as one of 15 High Obesity Program (HOP) grantees. Mississippi HOP, locally referred to as AIM for CHangE, currently serves 9 of 12 Mississippi counties with an adult obesity rate of 40% or greater: Sharkey, Washington, Issaquena, Sunflower, Humphreys, Holmes, Quitman, Leflore, and Noxubee. We work with local stakeholders who want to improve the health of their neighborhoods by making healthy lifestyles more accessible.
Our vision is for a healthy Mississippi that embraces active living and promotes food access.
Our mission is to prevent and reduce obesity using a combination of evidence-based strategies; a policy, systems, and environmental approach; and multi-sectoral, community-led partnerships.
We value collaboration, diversity, transparency, and personal agency.
Publications
News
JACKSON, Miss. -- For five years, AIM for CHangE has turned federal dollars into park updates, playgrounds, food pantries, ride-sharing programs and community produce gardens for underserved areas in Mississippi.
RAYMOND, Miss. -- The Mississippi State University Extension Service recently received a second cycle of funding for a project that has worked to combat obesity by helping people eat healthier and participate in physical activity. The AIM for CHangE program was awarded a five-year, $4.4 million grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to help continue efforts to combat obesity in 10 target counties.
A cross section of Belzoni society turned out to celebrate the opening of a new downtown attraction, a StoryWalk park that’s aimed at children but also welcomes adult interaction. Centennial Park on West Jackson Street in downtown Belzoni now hosts bright-yellow word art that invites visitors to “share.” Within the park is the area’s first StoryWalk, a combination of literacy and physical activity.
Success Stories
The StoryWalk and colorful word art now installed in downtown Belzoni are giving Rosemary Williams a new opportunity for the children she cares for at Rosemary’s Daycare and Learning Center.
Imagine what Mississippi might look like if everyone had access to healthy foods. The state could set an example for other rural states in using existing resources, collaborating with officials and stakeholders, and creating solutions that have measurable impacts for individuals and families.
Rev. Dr. Manney Murphy has known for years that serving his community is his calling. Even after years of making a difference in Warren County, Murphy recently felt led to return to his father’s hometown of Yazoo City. Now, he’s working to change how Mississippians of all ages in the Delta are accessing and receiving healthcare.