City and County Sites

We Can!® created a city/county program in 2007 so that local government leaders could join our movement at the highest participation level—running programming with the help of partners, conducting multiple events and trainings, and promoting them through the media.

The first group of cities and counties registered to become part of the program in May 2007. Since that time, many more have followed their lead, and played two invaluable roles: 

• By showing support for the We Can! program at the top level of local government, they’ve mobilized community members to help children maintain a healthy weight
• They’ve inspired other cities and counties to do the same through their successes 

What We Can! Does for Cities and Counties

When a city or county joins the movement, there some specific benefits beyond signing up for a unique and successful program. They include:

• Recognition by the National Institutes of Health
• Having the city/county’s efforts and successes featured in the We Can! eNewsletter, on the Web site, and in other We Can! publications
• Access to technical assistance in planning and coordinating programming and kickoff events
• Access to national We Can! representatives and exhibits for kick-off events
• A free starter kit, plus 15 percent off additional copies of select program materials ordered through the NHLBI Information Center
• A free We Can! city/county road sign
• All the benefits of being a community site

What Cities and Counties Do for We Can!

By registering with the program, municipal leaders promise to complete the following activities over the course of one year:

• Announcement of their city’s and/or county’s commitment to the program through a letter of commitment from the mayor or county executive (30 KB) to We Can!
• Public announcement of the program through a proclamation (145 KB) by the mayor or county executive and/or launch events
• Provision of information about We Can! or its activities to city/county employees
• Four or more We Can! parent programs/curricula
• Four or more We Can! youth programs/curricula
• Four or more We Can! community outreach events
• Promotion of the site as a We Can! City/County to local media and stakeholders
• Recruitment of and collaboration with local partners to implement We Can! programming
• Submission of an abstract and photos of We Can! activities

For more insight on these activities visit the Resources for Cities and Counties section below.

Joining the Fold  

If you’re wondering whether our movement is the right fit for you, you may wish to read some of the case studies from some registered We Can! cities and counties:

• Armstrong County, PA
• Atlanta, GA
• Berrien County, MI
• Binghamton, NY
• Blount County, TN
• Boston, MA
• Broome County, NY
• Brunswick, GA
• Bulloch County, GA
• Caguas, Puerto Rico
• Carson City, NV
• Douglasville, GA
• Ft. Stewart, GA
• Gary, IN
• Hinesville, GA
• Indiana County, PA
• Kennebec County, ME
• Knox County, TN
• Las Vegas, NV
• Liberty County, GA
• McIntosh County, GA
• Pembroke, GA
• Pittsburgh, PA
• Roswell, GA
• Savannah, GA
• Smyrna, GA
• Somerset County, ME
• South Bend, IN
• Washington County, ME
• Waycross, GA
• Woodbine, GA

Many current members eased into the program by first becoming community sites, which have a less intensive level of programming. For more information on other programming options, see our Types of Community Sites page.

Completing the First Steps to Becoming a City or County

• Determine whether the City/County program is right for your community. Before signing up for the program, carefully consider the benefits and responsibilities of becoming an official We Can! City/County. While some communities choose to become a We Can! City or County immediately, many current members start by first becoming community sites, which have a less intensive level of programming.
• To determine the right fit for you, you may wish to review programming underway in existing We Can! Cities and Counties. Or, you can contact us at nhlbiinfo@nhlbi.nih.gov for guidance.
• Recruit and confirm the involvement of municipal leaders. Reach out to your mayor or county executive’s office and present your recommendation to join We Can!. Provide an introduction to the program, and specific ways that they can support your efforts. Use talking points (40 KB) we’ve designed for presentation to city and county leaders.
• Sign up to become a We Can! City or County Community Site and receive your complimentary starter kit.
• Sign a letter of commitment. Once you’ve gotten approval from your mayor or county executive, ask them to sign and submit a letter of commitment (30 KB).
• Confirmation. Once the NIH has confirmed receipt of your letter of commitment, your city or county will be officially designated a We Can! City/County. This includes being recognized on this Web site, receiving an official We Can! road sign, and more. We recommend that you start planning your launch event at this juncture.

Implementing Your City or County Program

If you’ve gotten to this step, congratulations! Now it’s time to celebrate your designation as a We Can! City/County and kick off the programs.

• Issue a formal proclamation. Once you receive notice that you are officially part of our program, use the template (145 KB) to create a proclamation for your mayor or county executive to issue, maintain for his/her records, and share with the public to mark this notable occasion.
• Consider hosting a launch event. Identify a date and venue for a public announcement of your participation in the program to local partners, media, and other audiences. Arrange for the mayor, county executive, and/or other municipal officials to participate in your event. Consider inviting key partners, parents, youth, or national We Can! program representatives to present at the event.
• You can contact us at nhlbiinfo@nhlbi.nih.gov to learn how you can invite a national We Can! program representative to participate in your launch and/or borrow We Can! banners and signs. To read about past and upcoming City/County kickoff events, visit the News & Events section of our Web site.
• Plan for the year ahead. Invite current and/or potential partners to help you map out details of how to fulfill your new We Can! City/County program requirements. Develop plans for implementing curricula for parents and youth, hosting community events, engaging local partners and media, and reaching municipal employees. You can access a Power Point presentation, the We Can! and You Can Too marketing video and other resources for presenting the program to partners in the Program Publications section of this Web site.
• Run parent and youth programs & community events. We Can! City/County sites are responsible for implementing three major elements: youth programs, parent programs, and community events. It is not nearly as daunting as it sounds. With your credibility and visibility at the municipal level, you likely already have the network in place to find partners to assist you in getting the ball rolling.
• Reach out to city or county employees. Current City/County sites speak highly about the benefits of distributing We Can! materials and programs to municipal employees as a way to spread the word to other audiences. That’s why it’s one of the requirements at the city/county level. One way to meet this responsibility is to host programs at municipal office buildings, or share information in local agency newsletters or on Web sites.
• Build partnerships to support your efforts. We know that leading efforts at the city or county level is no small task, and that’s why we encourage you to engage partners to help maximize your existing community resources and to disseminate information. It goes without saying that the best partners are those who share your mission, strategies, values, and vision. Every community possesses a wealth of resources that can serve as potential We Can! partners—read about the partners that city leaders in Boston, MA, chose to support their programs.

Resources for Cities and Counties

The following resources are available for We Can! Cities and Counties. They include tools ranging from sample talking points to a template for a letter of commitment and a city proclamation for a closer look at what’s needed. Contact us at nhlbiinfo@nhlbi.nih.gov with questions.

Sample We Can! City/County Letter of Commitment
Use this template to develop a letter of commitment to be signed and submitted to the NIH by your mayor or county executive. Feel free to adapt the language to best fit your community, but be sure to keep the language related to programming requirements intact. Sample Letter of Commitment (30 KB)

Sample We Can! City/County Proclamation
Invite your mayor or county executive to use this proclamation to formally announce participation in the We Can! City/County program. Sample Proclamation (145 KB)

Sample Talking Points for City & County Leaders
These talking points can be offered to mayors, county executives, or other municipal leaders who may be participating in a We Can! City/County kickoff, or other public event. Sample Talking Points (40 KB)

Sample We Can! City/County Press Release
This press release can be adapted to alert local media of your official designation as a We Can! City or County. Sample Press Release (43 KB)

We Can! City/County Road sign
Each We Can! City or County will receive one complimentary road sign (24" x 34") upon official designation as a We Can! City or County by the National Institutes of Health. Here’s what they look like. These images are for reference only.