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Healthy Communities Healthy Communities MovementMovement

D. Beth Kennedy, M.S.

Laurine T. Charles, M.H.S.

S.C. Area Health Education Consortium

19 Hagood Avenue Suite 802

P.O. Box 250814

Charleston, SC 29425-0814

kennedyb@musc.edu

charlelt@musc.edu

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Developed as part of an Developed as part of an Enhanced AHEC Community Enhanced AHEC Community

Partnership for Health Partnership for Health Professions Workforce and Professions Workforce and Educational Reform project Educational Reform project

funded by the Health funded by the Health Resource and Service Resource and Service Administration (HRSA) Administration (HRSA)

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ObjectivesObjectives

Healthy Community movement Successful healthy community

initiatives

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Healthy Communities PurposeHealthy Communities Purpose

This module is designed to introduce the concepts of healthy communities for improving the health of diverse populations

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What is Health?What is Health?

Health is more than physical well being

World Health Organization definition: “Health is the state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease”. WHO, 1947

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What is Community?What is Community?

Defined by the people in it.

Determined by geographic lines, cultural lines, economics or other factors.

All communities have assets.

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Discussion TimeDiscussion Time

What is your definition of a healthy community?

What helps us measure health?

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What Helps UsWhat Helps UsMeasure Health?Measure Health?

Schools Low crime rate Good jobs Access to health care Good race relations Safety of all Culture/art Community spirit

Lack of fear Low teen

pregnancy, low infant mortality

Ample care for individuals with chronic and acute disease

Affordable housing

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The Healthy Communities The Healthy Communities MovementMovement

Community-based health and quality of life improvement initiatives

Locally determined focus Well-informed people work together in a

process to make local change

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Healthy Community PrinciplesHealthy Community Principles

Broad definition of “health” Broad definition of “community” Shared vision from community values

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Healthy Community PrinciplesHealthy Community Principles

Address quality of life for everyone Diverse participation, widespread

ownership Focus on “systems change” Build capacity using local assets and

resources Benchmark and measure progress and

outcomes

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Pieces of the PuzzlePieces of the Puzzle

Knowledge of the Environment

Identifying Resources Forging Collaboration Creating Ownership Measuring

Performance

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Knowledge of the EnvironmentKnowledge of the Environment

Environmental Scan Demographics Research

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Environmental ScanEnvironmental Scan

Brief but important step in healthy communities planning

Early in the effort, it is valuable for stakeholders to develop a broadly shared understanding of the major events, trends, technologies, issues, and forces that affect the health profile of their community.

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DemographicsDemographics

Define a population by its age, sex, race distribution

US Census Bureau primary data source, reported down to the household level. Significant trends:Growth in elderly population Shift in racial mix

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DemographicsDemographics

Describe the disparities in health outcomes of a population.Documented gap between majority and

minority populations African -Americans and Hispanics carry much

heavier burden of disease than whites

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ResearchResearch

Structured investigation which builds and test hypotheses. Health statusHealth determinantsDiseaseEnvironmental threats to healthHealth care systemsOther issues

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ResearchResearch

Health indicators Incidence Prevalence Mortality Case Fatality Proportional Mortality

Health Statistics Sources Centers for Disease

Control National Institutes of

Health State Budget &

Control Board

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Identifying and Mobilizing Identifying and Mobilizing ResourcesResources

Asset-based community development Starts with what is present in the

community, the capacity of its residents, workers, associations, and institutional base - not with what is absent, problematic, or needed

John McKnight

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Identifying Strategic Partners: Identifying Strategic Partners: The Usual SuspectsThe Usual Suspects

Government Religious leaders Industry Police Healthcare community

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““Not Your Usual Suspects”Not Your Usual Suspects”

Front porch experts Gatekeeper to the community Street sage Elders Unemployed, disenfranchised

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Forging CollaborationForging Collaboration

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has.”

Margaret Mead

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Developing RelationshipsDeveloping RelationshipsFor HealthFor Health

Understanding a communityCulture, economics, assets: those things

that define itMeeting the people and listening to their

storiesRecognizing they are the experts on their

communityGuided dialogue: A tool for getting to know a

community

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Creating OwnershipCreating Ownership

Shared vision Inclusion of all Acceptances of differences Respect for all viewpoints

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Measuring PerformanceMeasuring Performance

Methods for monitoring success or failure of community development provide documentation Important in seeking additional support for

continuous improvement of health and economics

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Successful ExamplesSuccessful Examples

PRO Hampton County Hampton, SC

Partners for a Healthy Community Anderson, SC

Tillery, NC

National Award Winning Healthy Community

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The PRO Hampton CountyThe PRO Hampton CountyDiabetes ConnectionDiabetes Connection

Diane Kennedy, MS, MT(ASCP)SH

Chairperson, Diabetes Connection

Associate Director,

Low Country AHEC

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Genesis of Diabetes ConnectionGenesis of Diabetes Connection

PRO Hampton County

Healthy Communities

EducationHealth &

Life-StylesInter-Group

RelationsEconomics

•Boys & Girls Clubs

•Diabetes Connection

Community MembersLC-AHECDiabetes InitiativeInterdisciplinary StudentsLocal communityLocal health professionals

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4 Subcommittees4 Subcommittees

Education Support/Service Screening Finance

Duke Endowment GrantLocal and Regional Pharmaceutical

vendors

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Community Diabetes Community Diabetes EducationEducation

Banners and billboards Newspaper articles Radio Grocery bags Update local libraries

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Support/ServiceSupport/Service

Certified Diabetes Education (CDE) Monthly diabetes support group Quarterly Cooking Classes Educational/support workshops Hampton County diabetes registry

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ScreeningScreening

At-Risk for Diabetes ADA Risk Assessment Survey BP, HT, WT, BMI Fasting Plasma Glucose, Cholesterol Profile

Those with Diabetes BP, HT, WT, BMI Hgb A1c, Cholesterol Profile, Urine Test (kidneys) Feet, Eye, Dental Screenings

Counseling/Education

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Partners for a Healthy Partners for a Healthy CommunityCommunity

Anderson, SC Partners Healthwise Initiative Health Ministry “Out of the Blues”

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Healthy Communities Award Healthy Communities Award Winner: Tillery, NCWinner: Tillery, NC

Forty Acres and a Mule

Citizen’s Action Group CHAP The Health Clinic HELP

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Keys to SuccessKeys to Success

Broad community representation

Shared vision of committed citizens

Collaboration between local talent and outside experts

Development of action and policy to make healthier communities

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SummarySummary

Building healthy communities requires involvement of many diverse resources

The Healthy Communities Movement has had great success in improving the health of communities

Environment is a critical element for the health of a community and its members

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SummarySummaryContinuedContinued

True collaborations requireTrust buildingConflict resolutionListeningFollowingKnowledge of the environment and those

who live in it

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Discussion TimeDiscussion Time

Describe what a healthy community for you would be.

What do you and your community need to get there?