Be Well Baytown Overview
Be Well Baytown
Be Well™ Baytown is an initiative of MD Anderson sponsored by ExxonMobil. We aim to mobilize the community to promote wellness and stop cancer before it starts.
The initiative unites partners to carry out community-led solutions that will make positive, long-lasting changes in people's lives.
We work collaboratively with residents and community-based organizations to implement evidence-based strategies that can reduce the risk of cancer with a focus on five key areas:
We are building a healthier community together!
Our Current Activities
Healthy Eating and Active Living
- Hearts and Hands of Baytown, a ministry of Iglesia Cristo Viene hosts mobile food fairs to increase access to healthy food, mentor local food pantries to offer healthy options, and help people eat healthy for life.
- Goose Creek CISD is a CATCH® district that supports healthy eating for the whole family. They also installed safe walking trails for the community, open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends, and during after school hours on weekdays at the following locations and times:
- George Washington Carver Elementary: 4 - 7:30 p.m.
- Harlem Elementary: 4:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
- James Bowie Elementary: 4:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
- Mirabeau B. Lamar Elementary: 4:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
- Harris County Public Health (HCPH) works with community partners to improve the environment and promote physical activity.
- With the statewide OLE! Texas program, three early childcare centers are enhancing outdoor learning environments and promoting connectivity with nature.
- HCPH is facilitating collaboration between Goose Creek CISD, the City of Baytown, and other partners to develop Safe Routes to School (SRTS) and Safe Routes to Parks (SRTP) action plans for improved infraestructure to walk and bike safely around the city.
- The City of Baytown Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) promotes active living in the community by hosting events open to the public and implementing a physical activity campaign.
- Pop Up Park events are hosted the first Sunday of every month (March through October) to engage families in fun, free activities.
- Baytown PARD launched the Baytown Moves campaign to promote trails, fitness classes, and other amenities in the community.
Sun Safety
- Goose Creek CISD increased shade areas on school grounds and implemented a district-wide policy and programming to promote sun-safe behaviors and education year-round for both students and employees.
- Lee College is not only educating students, faculty and staff on harmful sun exposure. They also provide necessary tools to reduce risk by installing free sunscreen dispensers and increasing shade areas on campus.
- The City of Baytown Parks and Recreation Department is hosting education sessions for employees and enhancing the city parks by installing shade structures and increasing natural shade.
Tobacco-Free Living
- Lee College is increasing awareness of their campus tobacco-free policy and supporting tobacco control education and cessation resources for students, faculty and staff.
- MD Anderson's accredited Certified Tobacco Treatment Training Program (CTTTP) is offered to health care providers and professionals in the community, helping them become tobacco cessation ambassadors in their organizations. To register or apply for a scholarship to cover course fees, please contact CTTS@MDAnderson.org.
- OmniPoint Health will offer tobacco cessation services and resources through their tobacco cessation program, as well as community education and classes at various locations, including Lee College.
Preventive Care
- OmniPoint Health will increase preventive cancer screening and awareness resources for eligible patients through the implementation of an ongoing population health program, focusing on colorectal, breast, and cervical cancer.
- All for Them is a program of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) School of Public Health, in partnership with Goose Creek CISD (GCCISD) and other organizations and school districts across Texas offering free comprehensive vaccination clinics, open to all GCCISD junior and high school students on their campuses. Services at these free, easy-to-access vaccination clinic events, include Tdap, HPV, Meningococcal, Flu, and all other recommended childhood and adolescent immunizations.
Steering Committee
We engage representatives from community-based organizations to form a steering committee that guides planning and implementation. Current steering committee members represent the following organizations:
- American Cancer Society
- City of Baytown
- ExxonMobil
- First3Years: Babies in Baytown
- Fred Aguilar Promise Center
- Goose Creek CISD
- Harris County Precinct 2
- Harris County Public Health
- Harris Health System
- Hearts and Hands of Baytown, a ministry of Iglesia Cristo Viene
- Houston Food Bank
- Lee College
- Legacy Community Health
- Love Network of Baytown
- OmniPoint Health
- Southeast Harris Community Coalition, a program of the Bay Area Council on Drugs and Alcohol (BACODA)
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
- United Way of Greater Baytown Area & Chambers County
- UTHealth School of Public Health
The overall design of the initiative is incredible and I have no doubt others will use this model to change the face of their community in years to come.
5 simple ways to get involved
- Attend a mobile food fair organized by Hearts and Hands of Baytown.
- Protect your skin from harmful UV rays by using one of the many sun shades located at city parks and Lee College.
- Ask your Goose Creek CISD school about their CATCH family nights.
- Be a part of Baytown Moves by going for a walk on the Goose Creek Trail and attend one of the monthly Pop Up Park events.
- Be a part of Be Well Baytown and spread the word by promoting health and wellness: #BeWellBaytown.
Be Well Baytown in Action
Volunteers lending a hand at a mobile food fair
Ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate new walking trail at Bowie Elementary School
Enjoying outdoor play at Be Well Baytown Day
Celebrating the new shade structure at Roseland Park
Residents get moving with POUND Fitness
Wearing sunglasses as part of the sun safety efforts
CATCH Family Night at Bowie Elementary School
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For more information, email us at BeWellCommunities@MDAnderson.org