Healthy Living Initiative

The Healthy Living Initiative (HLI) is a longitudinal health and wellness community intervention model. The HLI rests on a four-year study which examined individual, social and structural determinants of food acquisition practices (healthy shopping and eating) in three neighborhoods in Newark, NJ.

Designed as a systems' intervention, the HLI addresses behavioral, cultural, social and structural barriers to healthy living, particularly among young children living in low-income neighborhoods. Led by Dr. Hanaa Hamdi and a panel of expert advisory board members have successfully implemented several feasibility components of HLI.