Warren Coalition has been named a recipient for a new three-year grant from Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth (VFHY) (https://vfhy.org/)! VFHY grant funding provides infrastructure support to build and sustain Healthy Communities Action Teams (HCATs). Warren Coalition refers to their program as Project WAHOO (Working to Achieve Healthy Outcomes and Opportunities), which is a community effort to prevent and reduce childhood obesity. This is the fifth consecutive time the Coalition has been awarded an HCAT grant.
HCATs work collaboratively to implement policy, systems and environmental (PSE) changes that support at least one of eight healthy behaviors which can prevent and reduce childhood obesity:
- Breastfeeding
- Eating More Fruits and Veggies
- Reducing Consumption of Ultra-Processed Foods
- Moving More
- Decreasing Screen Time
- Getting Enough Sleep
- Reducing Stress with Increased Mindfulness
- Decreasing Consumption of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages
Warren Coalition was awarded $120,000 ($40,000 per year for three years) to fund projects and programs between May 1, 2026 and June 30, 2029. These include the SPARK (Sports, Play and Active Recreation for Kids) program and intramurals in partner schools, to increase exercise. Through partnerships with Reaching Out Now, the Community Garden, and Debbie’s Lighthouse, the grant will support local community gardens and community meals designed to promote healthy eating. Youth Unplugged Parties and Warren County Unplugged activities organized under this grant will encourage students to reduce screen time.
Over the next three years, funding will also go towards new built environments at E. Wilson Morrison Elementary School, Hilda J. Barbour Elementary School, Warren County High School and/or the Santmyers Student Union. Skyline Middle School, Warren County Parks and Recreation, and Reaching Out Now will also receive financial support to purchase exercise equipment. In addition to all of this, funds will support the Safe at Home tournaments and the Coalition’s Health Video Contest for middle school students.
Past projects funded in part by the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth HCAT grants over the past 12 years have included the splash pad, the basketball court and exercise course at Rockland Park, the basketball court at Skyline Middle School, playground equipment at the Soccerplex and Thompson’s Park and Ride, pickleball nets, a portable frisbee golf course for the 4-H Center, and much more.
A full list of HCAT recipients can be found at https://vfhy.org/healthy-communities-action-teams-grants/.
About Warren Coalition
Warren Coalition is a nonprofit agency established in 1994 to help fill the gaps in health care and substance misuse awareness to the community. The Coalition began under the guidance of Warren Memorial Hospital as an outreach project, but it has since grown and was incorporated in 2001. The office is currently located in the Warren County Community Center. Their mission is to make Warren County a safe, healthy, and drug free community through many programs and in collaboration with member agencies and businesses.
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