The HALT (Healthy, Active Lifestyles Today) Project, previously the Haskell and Latimer Tobacco Project is made possible by a Healthy Living Program (HLP) grant from the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET). The mission of the HALT Project is to HALT the influence of the tobacco industry and the effects of obesity, to support community members in their effort to create a healthier lifestyle and to work toward making the healthy choice the easy choice in Haskell and Latimer County.

​

KI BOIS was originally chosen as the lead agency for the Community of Excellence grant in 2010. In 2015, KI BOIS applied for, and received, the HLP grant that would expand the tobacco program to include nutrition and physical activity as well as tobacco. Program Coordinator, Denice Daniels, was hired in December 2010, Assistant Coordinator, Kathy Healy, was hired in 2014 as the program grew.

​

The HALT Project work includes:

• Assisting cities and businesses with creating a workplace that is tobacco-free and encourages healthy food and physical activity options

• Helping local grocery stores improve the nutritional value of foods offered

• Working with a city to create greater public access to farmer's markets

• Assisting a school and community organization in created "shared use" agreements to allow public access to the school's track or other opportunities for physical activity

​

The goal of this work is to create and support an environment where the healthy choice is the easy choice and healthy options are available and accessible.

​

It is important to know that Oklahoma has consistently had poor health outcomes due to very high rates of diseases related to tobacco use and physical inactivity, poor nutrition, and obesity.

• Half of all adult Oklahomans do not eat fruit daily

• Only 28 percent of Oklahomans reported they exercised in the past 30 days

• More than 1 in 5 Oklahoma adults smoke cigarettes.

​

Compared to other states, Oklahoma's rates of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and obesity are among the highest in the 50 states.

• Heart Disease - 2nd highest

• Stroke - 4th highest

• Diabetes - 4th highest

• Obesity - 6th highest