Monthly awards will honor people, groups for advocating policies that have made their communities or Kentucky healthier

Do you know someone who has been a tireless advocate for policies that make a community or Kentucky healthier? Their efforts can be honored by a new award for individuals and organizations who are working for policies or laws that improve health.

The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky will present up to two “Healthy Kentucky Policy Champion” awards a month, and the winners will be eligible for the Healthy Kentucky Policy Champion of the Year award. It will come with a $5,000 grant to a Kentucky-based nonprofit of the winner's choice.

"This award is about recognizing the hard work and persistence it takes to enact health-related policies and laws," Foundation Chair Charlie Ross, a retired public-health director in the Jackson Purchase, said in a news release. "Kentucky has a lot of health issues, but we can make clear progress across entire communities and population groups with evidence-based policy changes, such as smoke-free laws that reduce exposure to secondhand smoke, complete-streets policies that allow roadways to be used by walkers and cyclers, and school programs that boost nutrition and physical activity."

Foundation President and CEO Ben Chandler said, "Business policies, local ordinances and state laws can make widespread and long-lasting improvements in the health of our people. The right health-policy changes help residents get preventive screenings and essential medical care, including mental-health services. They ensure access to healthy foods, clean air, exercise opportunities and health education. They make healthier options better understood, available to people at all income levels, and easier to choose. In short, they lead to reduced illness, better quality of life and a more productive workforce."

Nominees for the Healthy Kentucky Policy Champion award should have advanced a corporate policy, a local ordinance or a state law that will improve community or statewide health. The policy should focus on one or more specific health issues – such as a health behavior or disease, access to health care, health equity or public health, or adding a health perspective to policy. The nominees must represent a nonprofit, for-profit, educational or government entity that resides or does work in Kentucky. Political causes, organizations working for religious purposes, and groups that discriminate, are not eligible.

Nominations must be accompanied by at least one letter of endorsement (two for self-nominations) and can be made via the foundation's website. Winners will be chosen by foundation staffers and selected members of the foundation's Community Advisory Committee. Complete award qualifications and nomination requirements are at https://www.healthy-ky.org/res/uploads/media/Healthy-Kentucky-Policy-Champion-Award-Program-PUBLIC.pdf.