Be Well Acres Homes
Be Well™ Acres Homes is an initiative of MD Anderson in collaboration with Harris Health System, Memorial Hermann Community Benefit Corporation, UT Health School of Public Health, and more than 30 community organizations united together with residents of Acres Homes.
Be Well Acres Homes aims to mobilize the community to promote health and wellness. We unite partners to carry out community-led solutions that will make positive, long-lasting change in people’s lives.
The Be Well Acres Homes action plan was developed with and for the community, in alignment with the Houston Complete Communities initiative, a City of Houston program focused on bridging the gap between equity and opportunity in 10 historically under-resourced neighborhoods, including Acres Homes.
Building on a roadmap for community investment developed by the community residents themselves through the City of Houston Mayor’s Office of Complete Communities, Be Well Acres Homes has convened more than 30 organizations who are united together with residents of Acres Homes to implement cancer prevention and control activities. To date, 16 organizations have implemented 23 evidence-based interventions focused on active living, healthy eating, sun safety and tobacco-free living. These projects are guided by the Be Well Acres Homes Steering Committee to ensure that resident feedback and long-term sustainability are built into all aspects of the work.
The Be Well Acres Homes Steering Committee also serves at the Community Advisory Board for the Acres Homes Cancer Prevention Collaboration (Acres Homes CPC), one of five new centers for cancer control research created as part of the Persistent Poverty Initiative of the National Cancer Institute — the first major program to address the structural and institutional factors of persistent poverty in the context of cancer. The Acres Homes CPC is implemented in the context of MD Anderson’s place-based cancer prevention approach, Be Well Communities™.
We are building a healthier community together!
Our Current Activities
Healthy Eating and Active Living
- Aldine ISD is a CATCH® district that supports healthy eating and physical activity for the whole family. 15 campuses are participating in extended programming in support of the district’s wellness plan.
- BakerRipley has increased opportunities for physical activity throughout the community by providing free evidence-based exercise classes, including Bingocize, Texercise Select and Tai Chi.
- Brighter Bites is a comprehensive, multi-component school program that increases access to fresh fruits and vegetables combined with nutrition education for obesity prevention among low-income children and their families. Currently, they are active in four elementary schools: two Aldine ISD schools, one Houston ISD school and Harmony School of Endeavor. In 2023, they distributed vouchers to Brighter Bites families to purchase healthy foods at local retailers. Additionally, they hosted cooking classes and produced videos on fruits and vegetables preparation with UTHealth Houston's Nourish program.
- City of Houston Health Department has increased opportunities for physical activity at the Acres Homes Multi-Service Center through the program called HealthierHOU, an evidence and practice-based program made to improve the health of all Houstonians. Additionally, they expanded the Diabetes Awareness and Wellness Network (DAWN) to the Acres Homes Multi-Service Center to offer diabetes resources, self-management education and many other health related services to reduce and prevent chronic disease. Outdoor fitness equipment will also be installed at the Acres Homes Multi-Service Center in 2024 and will be available por public use.
- City of Houston Mayor’s Office of Complete Communities (MOCC) is increasing community engagement and infrastructure to support healthy eating, active living and sun safety activities throughout the Acres Homes community.
- Harris Health System (HHS) has expanded their community engagement strategy through the Acres Home Health Center by offering programming through their Food Farmacy and teaching kitchen in collaboration with UTHealth Houston, and offering navigation and outreach services to the community. In 2023, HHS enhanced the walking trail at their Acres Homes Health Center that is available for public use.
- Honor Humanity is increasing access to healthy eating and nutrition education within the Acres Homes community. For this reason, they have planted a community garden at their headquarters and are launching their Sowing Economic Ecosystems Designed for Symmetry (SEEDS) program. This program will teach participants how to grow and maintain a garden and how to cook the healthy foods that they grow.
- To address food insecurity, Houston Food Bank provides several food distribution sites throughout the community. Additionally, they are working on convening organizations to assess and build opportunities for collaboration, and expand the capacity of existing food distribution sites focusing on the needs of Acres Homes residents.
- To encourage long-term use and stewardship of our shared park system, Houston Parks Board is collaborating with local partners and civic leaders on accessible, community-driven programming related to the proposed Vogel Creek Greenway improvements.
- Lone Star College – Houston North is committed to providing access to nutrition education to the Acres Homes community. They offer healthy eating programming through their Academy for Lifelong Learning (ALL) program.
- Prairie View A&M University’s Wellness in Houston project is implementing multiple community and school gardens, providing nutritional education workshops for access to fresh foods and information to lead healthier, happier lifestyles. They collaborate with Beauty's Community Garden and other local organizations.
- UT Health School of Public Health collaborated with the HHS Acres Home Health Center to deliver and evaluate patient and community-inclusive classes focused on reducing food insecurity and improving healthy eating.
Sun Safety
- Aldine ISD is working to increase sun safety behaviors among their students and staff. This includes a campus-wide sun safety policy, sun safety education lessons and messages. Caraway Elementary School and Anderson Academy were awarded sunshades in 2023 and the anticipated installation date is in 2024. Several campuses have also received sunscreen dispensers that are available for use throughout the day and the district improvement team has access to sunscreen dispensers in their workplace.
- City of Houston Health Department is incorporating sun safety education messaging throughout their communication channels and implemented the MD Anderson “How to Spot Skin Cancer” training for their staff. They will also promote sun safety at the Acres Homes Multi-Service Center through sunshades and sunscreen dispensers for patrons.
Tobacco-Free Living
- Two navigators from UT Physicians Multispecialty Victory and Greens have become Certified Tobacco Treatment Specialist through MD Anderson’s accredited Certified Tobacco Treatment Training Program (CTTTP), 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.
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:
- Acres Homes Community Advocacy Group
- Aldine ISD
- Back to Eden
- BakerRipley
- Beauty’s Community Garden
- Brighter Bites
- Center for Civic & Public Policy Improvement
- City of Houston Health Department
- City of Houston Mayor’s Office of Complete Communities
- City of Houston Parks and Recreation Department
- City of Houston Planning and Development Department
- Civic Heart Community Services
- Collaborating Voices Foundation
- Harris County Precinct 1
- Harris County Public Health
- Harris Health System
- Healthy Outdoor Communities
- Honor Humanity
- Houston Food Bank
- Houston Parks Board
- Kings Bike and Hike Community
- Lone Star College – Houston North
- Memorial Hermann Community Benefit Corporation
- METRO
- Nature and Eclectic Outdoors
- Near Northwest Management District
- Prairie View A&M University
- Residents & Champions of Acres Homes
- Settegast Heights Redevelopment Corporation Northeast Community
- Super Neighborhood 6
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
- University of Houston Health Research Institute
- UTHealth Houston School of Public Health
- UT Physicians Multispecialty Victory and Greens
The Be Well Acres Homes Steering Committee has connected our organization with excellent resources and other organizations. We are able to overcome barriers by working with these groups.
5 simple ways to get involved
- Subscribe to the Acres Homes Community Advocacy Group newsletter to stay informed about what is happening in the Acres Homes community.
- Discover new ways to stay active at Lincoln Park or join a walking group at Highland Park.
- Attend a nutrition or a fitness class a the Acres Homes Multi-Service Center or any of the BakerRipley program locations.
- Participate in a gardening activity with Honor Humanity or Prairie View A&M University.
- Be a part of Be Well Acres Homes and spread the word by promoting health and wellness: #BeWellAcresHomes.
Be Well Acres Homes in Action
Students and staff at Houston Academy's garden
Attendees participating in the Houston Parks Board Vogel Creek Bike Ride - Photo courtesy of Anthony Rathbun photographer
Residents being active during a Bingocize class at Lincoln Park Apartments
Sunshade and fitness equipment installed at Harris Elementary School
Participants engage in a Culinary Medicine class at the Acres Homes Health Center
Residents attending the Prairie View A&M University Spring Fling event
Residents enjoying a Tai Chi class at the Acres Homes Multi-Service Center
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For more information, email us at BeWellCommunities@MDAnderson.org