The brochure, "Rising to the Challenge," identifies three wellness factors: tobacco use, nutrition and physical activity. It also provides tips for people interested in improving their health in these areas. The reality health check test helps readers tally their health risk by answering questions about smoking, diet and daily exercise.

The county health initiative has garnered enthusiastic support from the community, said Becky Herman, community health improvement manager for the Partnership for a Healthier Carroll County Inc.

Herman said 9,000 copies of the brochure and self-administered health tests were printed in late May. After distributing copies to partnership organizations, she said, the brochures and request forms were mailed to 700 people and organizations on the partnership's mailing list.

Hundreds of brochures have been requested as a result of the mailing, Herman said, leaving the partnership with about 4,000 brochures remaining and many requests to fill. A second printing is now being considered, she said, with Carroll Hospital Center potentially helping with some of the printing costs.

"I don't know how long these are going to last," Herman said.

The project was inspired by the efforts of other communities to improve the health of their residents, Herman said. The brochure's creators, she said, wanted to present local health issues in a positive light while allowing the reader to determine the health benefits and risks of his or her activities.

People are inspired by the idea of becoming healthy and also by seeing the health of their community improve, said Tricia Supik, the partnership's executive director and CEO. By targeting tobacco use, nutrition and physical activity of county residents, she said, the partnership hopes to improve local statistics related to diet and exercise.

"We definitely want to move the numbers in the community," Supik said.

The partnership also hopes to target middle and high school students, Supik said. In an attempt to encourage students to elect a physical education class next fall, the partnership began a physical education challenge at Francis Scott Key and North Carroll high schools, she said. The students could win prizes by signing up for a physical education class, Supik said, which resulted in a 40 percent increase in physical education enrollment next fall.

Reach staff writer Greg Guenthner at 410-857-7886 or gregoryg@lcniofmd.com.

Carroll County Health Facts