A new coalition to battle the problem of overweight and obese children in central Illinois has been awarded a $100,000 community engagement grant by Blue Cross-Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL). The effort, led by faculty at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, includes various partners working under the name Springfield Collaborative. The grant runs through October and is one of 14 that BCBSIL awarded in the state.

“Our goal is to work together with concerned people and organizations in the community to provide a consistent message of health, physical activity and nutrition across all important areas of our children’s lives,” explained Dr. David E. Steward, professor and chair of internal medicine. “We believe this formalized partnership, that will work to integrate services over time and locations, may be the first field application focused on children in pre-school and early elementary grades and one that we hope will be transferable across the state.”...(more)