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Be Well Acres Homes

Be Well™ Acres Homes is an initiative of MD Anderson in collaboration with Harris Health, Memorial Hermann Community Benefit Corporation, UTHealth Houston 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 changes 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, 22 organizations have implemented 24 evidence-based interventions focused on healthy eating, active living, 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 as 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!

Be Well Acres Homes Impact Report

Be Well Acres Homes Overview Card

Be Well Acres Homes Impact Map

Our Current Activities

Healthy Eating and Active Living

Acres Homes Community Advocacy Group (AHCAG) is dedicated to strengthening community connections, promoting healthy eating and active living, and sharing essential resources within Acres Homes. In collaboration with Be Well Acres Homes and the Acres Homes CPC, AHCAG focuses on meaningful outreach and engagement. Key initiatives include expanding its newsletter, partnering with local organizations, and boosting resident participation at major events, like the inaugural Acres Homes Day celebration. Additionally, AHCAG is enhancing community needs assessments, engaging influential leaders, and building a strong online presence to ensure residents stay informed about cancer prevention, healthy eating and active living resources in the neighborhood.
Acres Home Chamber for Business and Economic Development plans to address food insecurity through hosting farmers markets up to twice per month and provide access to fresh produce and live cooking demonstrations on how to prepare healthy foods sold at the farmers market.
Acres Homes Super Neighborhood Council will provide access to fitness classes and nutrition education to promote healthy lifestyles among Acres Homes residents.
Acres of Angels is providing fitness classes and nutrition education to residents within four Acres Homes senior living facilities. Additionally, they will offer cooking demonstrations and gardening education for these participants
Aldine ISD is a CATCH® district that supports healthy eating and physical activity for the whole family. Six campuses are implementing the Active Kids afterschool physical activity program in sun-safe environments.
Beauty’s Community Garden continues to expand their gardening and nutrition programming in local elementary and middle schools. Additionally, they will host live cooking demonstrations each month at the Acres Home Chamber’s farmers market.
City of Houston Health Department has increased opportunities for physical activity at the Acres Homes Multi-Service Center through 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 was installed at the Acres Homes Multi-Service Center in 2024 and is available for public use.
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.
The Community of Faith Church – Compassion in Action program is implementing weekly fitness activities to increase access to physical activity programming among younger Acres Homes residents. Compassion in Action is also offering quarterly wellness events for Acres Homes residents aiming to increase access and awareness of healthy living resources. They are also expanding their existing food distribution program to offer access on weekends and evenings.

Sun Safety

Aldine ISD is increasing sun safety behaviors among their students and staff. This includes the district-wide Sun Safety Procedures, sun safety education lessons and mass communication messages. With Be Well Acres Homes funding, Aldine ISD has installed sunshades above playgrounds and fitness equipment at Anderson Academy, Caraway Elementary, Goodman Elementary, Harris Elementary and Houston Academy to minimize students sun exposure during outdoor recess and activities. 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 has incorporated 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

MD Anderson's Certified Tobacco Treatment Training Program (CTTTP) is 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:

10th Fitness LLC
Acres Home Chamber for Business and Economic Development, Inc.
Acres Homes Community Advocacy Group
Acres Homes Super Neighborhood Council
Acres of Angels
Aldine ISD
Back to Eden
BakerRipley
Beauty’s Community Garden
Brighter Bites
City of Houston Health Department
City of Houston Mayor’s Office of Complete Communities
City of Houston Parks and Recreation Department
Civic Heart Community Services
Collaborating Voices Foundation
Harris County Precinct 1
Harris Health
Healthy Outdoor Communities
Honor Humanity
Houston Business Development, Inc.
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
The Community of Faith Church - Compassion in Action Program
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

As a result of the Be Well Acres Homes funding, there has been an increase in opportunities for physical activity, improvements to the built environment, increased resident engagement, addition to staff, expansion of program locations and more community partnerships.

Latreka Staten, Houston Health Department

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.
Attend a fitness class at the Acres Homes Multi-Service Center.
Visit the Acres Home Chamber of Commerce farmers market.
Participate in a gardening activity with Beauty's Community Garden.
Be a part of Be Well Acres Homes and spread the word by promoting health and wellness: #BeWellAcresHomes.