KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The Knox County Health Department received a gold award and a bronze award for two of its programs. One of the programs provides students with monthly boxes of nutritious foods, and the other helps students interested in leadership and public health develop their skills.
KCHD's "Nutrition Education Activity Training Program" is a partnership with the YMCA and the Second Harvest Food Bank meant to help guarantee they have access to nutritious food. Students participating in the program get a monthly box of various fresh fruits and vegetables, along with recipe ideas and tips for using produce at home.
It also gives participants a chance to taste new fruits and vegetables, while also learning healthy cooking skills after school. It's designed to teach and promote healthy eating behaviors and started as an initiative to prevent childhood obesity. It now reaches more than 1,000 children through afterschool sites.
The Tennessee Department of Health recognized the program with a gold Bright Spot Award — the only one in the state to get a gold award, according to KCHD.
Its Youth Health Board Program also received a bronze award. It gives high schoolers a chance to develop leadership skills while also learning about public health. Through the program, students can partner with health professionals from KCHD and other community groups, learning about how they work on health-related issues.
The Bright Spot Awards are meant to highlight meaningful prevention work that promotes public health across the state. Award levels include platinum, gold, silver, bronze and honorable mentions. TDH commissioner Dr. Ralph Alvardo presented the awards to KCHD team members and partners.