​The Creating Healthy Communities (CHC) program is an initiative led by the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) aimed at fostering sustainable changes in policies, environments, and systems to promote health equity across Ohio communities. The program's vision is to ensure vibrant communities where everyone has access to healthy food and opportunities for active living. CHC emphasizes community-led solutions, engaging local stakeholders through coalitions to address health disparities and improve population health. ​

Historically, the CHC program operates on five-year funding cycles. For instance, from 2015 to 2019, the program synthesized contributions across 23 Ohio communities, focusing on increasing access to fresh, healthy food, opportunities for physical activity, and promoting tobacco-free living. Evaluation efforts during this period aimed to understand program coordination by ODH, characterize community-level changes resulting from collective CHC efforts, and capture both state and local-level impacts. ​

In the subsequent cycle from 2020 to 2024, the CHC program continued its mission by funding 23 counties, including Adams, Allen, Athens, and others. The focus remained on improving access to healthy food and opportunities for physical activity for everyone. Local health departments, such as Knox Public Health, were among the recipients, implementing strategies to prevent and reduce chronic diseases throughout their communities. ​

The program emphasizes sustainable and equitable investments, self-awareness and empathy, community-led solutions, organizational partnerships, and coordinator responsibility. These principles guide the implementation of evidence-based prevention strategies within various community sectors, including schools and worksites. For example, Lucas County's CHC program implemented strategies like Safe Routes to School, active transportation plans, and food access initiatives in local corner stores. ​

Funding for the CHC program is sourced from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant, administered by the ODH. The program's commitment to health equity is demonstrated through its efforts to ensure all community members have access to affordable, inclusive, and quality infrastructure and services, allowing them to reach their full health potential despite historical and contemporary injustices. ​

As of March 2024, the competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) for the CHC program was released for the next round of five-year funding. This cycle continues to invite new organizations, stakeholders, community leaders, and members to participate in coalition meetings, encouraging input and feedback to enhance the program's impact across Ohio. ​