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Recognition Levels

Emerging Communities

Communities who receive the “Emerging” designation, are laying a strong foundation with a team of at least five individuals.

GHC teams are made up of diverse stakeholders who are interested in creating healthier communities: elected officials, fundraisers, community volunteers and professionals in education, health-care, civic government and more.

HOW TO MAINTAIN EMERGING STATUS

The “Emerging” designation is intended to recognize communities that see the “bigger picture” and are in the process of laying a strong foundation through engaging and educating stakeholders.

 


Blossoming Communities

Communities that receive the “Blossoming” designation build upon the requirements of Emerging Communities and also:

  • Provide a checklist community highlights.
  • Strategize plans for change.
  • Document successes & lessons learned.

Develop a strategic action plan that will help your community address concerns related to increasing access to healthy foods & physical activity. Strategic plans guide the direction community members take towards a clear, unified vision forward. Even better: ArCOP provides tools & guidance to assist communities with such planning!

Documenting and publicizing success stories can rally community members and help them see that positive change is within reach! Publicizing projects helps increase success through maximized community use and/or participation.

Discussing & tracking lessons learned can help community teams make improvements even faster by identifying what went well and what can be improved.

HOW TO MAINTAIN BLOSSOMING STATUS

The “Blossoming” designation is intended to recognize communities that see the “bigger picture” and are actively working towards positive change.


Thriving Communities

Communities that receive the “Thriving” designation build upon the requirements of Blossoming Communities and also:

  • Demonstrate change through data.
  • Demonstrate environmental- and policy-level change.

ArCOP’s goal of a healthier Arkansas starts with individual communities. Providing data and demonstrating how your community’s efforts make positive change helps Arkansas measure statewide improvement. A community’s ability to make lasting change to both the environment and public policies is a sign of success and sustainability.

HOW TO MAINTAIN THRIVING STATUS

The “Thriving” designation is ArCOP’s “gold standard” in Growing Healthy Communities and is intended to recognize communities that see the “bigger picture” and are actively making measurable change