Connecting Community Through Nutrition

“Last week, we made tacos!” exclaimed Tom. Tom is a Support Coordinator Assistant at HealthWest. Tom and 20 other individuals signed up to participate in Muskegon Prescribes Food for Health 12-week program. “It’s a fun class! They incorporate healthy vegetables, whole grains, and fruits into meals that taste great. The idea of these classes is to teach others how to cook the same meals that we all grew up knowing and loving, but making those meals healthier for a healthier lifestyle”.

“We partner with the YMCA every other week to host the Cooking Matters curriculum. On the off weeks, we invite our yoga instructor, Diana Springstead, from Serene Yoga, to hold yoga classes,” stated Katherine Kaltz, Program Coordinator at Community enCompass.

Two years ago, the MPFH pilot program was implemented to link low-income participants with fresh fruits and vegetables from McLaughlin Grows Urban Farm. This program supplies fresh produce to a group of individuals who have been diagnosed with a chronic disease, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, heart disease, high cholesterol, etc. The program identifies health conditions that may benefit from improved nutrition. “We even see individuals who are pregnant, suffer from chronic pain, or those who attend to feel a sense of community and to connect with others,” stated Katherine.

In order for this program to be successful, the program has partners with multiple organizations in the community. Healthcare providers at Hackley Community Care write referrals for their patients to sign up for class and receive goods from the farm every time they attend class. Through the partnership with the YMCA, cooking classes are hosted every other week to educate the participants on nutrition and food preparation. Community Health Workers (CHWs) from Health Project Hub on the Lakeshore (Pathways) monitor the progress of the clients, and assist with the referral process while working alongside physician offices.

Today, the program is being supported by the Community Health Innovation Region (CHIR), and is a recipient of the Community Benefit Board Initiative Grant, organized by the Health Project.

The classes are held once a week for two hours for 12 weeks throughout the year. “Attendance is Key!” explained Katherine. “We reward those who have finished all 12 classes with a certificate of completion and a large kitchen prize.” Think crockpot or Instapot. “Every week, participants get to leave with an incentive for attending the class. Today, we gave away kitchen scissors, spatulas, and every participant will walk away with a bag full of vegetables from the farm.”

The program’s long-term goal is to collaborate more with physicians and doctors’ offices to become more involved in the program. “We would like for doctors to promote more of a holistic approach by supporting nutrition-based initiatives. By increasing access to healthy foods and education around cooking, we can benefit a patient’s overall health.”
“I think the program connects people who are yearning for more knowledge of eating healthier and cooking healthier meals. We are all on this health journey together. Food is universal. It does not matter what skin tone you are, or religion—people can connect with food. If you can have a meal together, and share the same space, you both will discover that you have the same common ground.”

The Muskegon Prescribes Food for Health Project has wrapped up for the 2019 year, but those who are interested in the 2020 year may connect with Katherine at Katherine@communityencompass.org

Join Community enCompass for the Taste and See 2019 Tour on Monday, September 23rd at 5pm. TASTE & SEE 2019 is a progressive dinner tour and fundraiser through Muskegon’s Core-City Neighborhoods. Guests get to see firsthand the great things happening in Muskegon and meet the neighbors who are making the difference, with food provided by downtown’s premier establishments.

Tickets may be purchased here: http://www.communityencompass.org/taste-see

KnowSmoke Educates Community on the Vaping Epidemic

KnowSmoke Coalition members and Tobacco Cessation Specialist, Cyndi Powers, presented to over 100 Muskegon Rotary Club members on Thursday, July 11th. Cyndi presented on the vaping epidemic happening across the country and what they local Muskegon Coalition, KnowSmoke, is doing to combat the issue.

“When 1 in 4 high school students in Muskegon County are vaping, it’s extremely important that they are aware of the legal, health, and social consequences,” said Cyndi Powers. Since 2010, the KnowSmoke Coalition’s mission has been to educate the community on the dangers of smoking, which now includes vaping.

Vaping is defined as using a battery-operated device to heat up a liquid into an aerosol that can be inhaled. Some of the harmful chemicals used in “e-juice” include diacetyl, benzene, propylene glycol, and nicotine. Due to the high amounts of nicotine being delivered through e-cigarettes, young users are finding it difficult to kick the habit. During the presentation, Powers explained, “We are finding that the majority of parents and students aren’t aware of the harmful chemicals in e-cigarettes or that they contain nicotine.”

The coalition has spent the last year educating themselves about vaping and sharing what they have learned with the community. In partnership with the Muskegon Area Intermediate School District and other local organizations, the coalition will be launching their “Vaping Toolkit” into local area schools. The toolkit will include educational materials to inform students about dangers of vaping and resources to help schools continue this education.

If you would like to get involved or learn more about KnowSmoke, visit our Facebook page or our website.

Meet the Health Project Board Chair, Rem Sprague

Q. What is your role at Mercy Health? How does that position you to be influential in your work at the Health Project?

A. I am the Chief Medical Officer at Mercy Health Muskegon. I oversee the Medical Staff Office, Graduate Medical Education, Oncology, Hospital-Based Physician Contracting, Physician Recruitment Support, Clinical Informatics, Medical Staff Quality and I serve as a member of the Senior Leadership Team. As Chair of the Health Project board and SLT member, I serve a liaison function between health system leaders and the community benefit activities of the Health Project. As a clinician, I help orient Health Project activities to the medical needs in our community.

Q. How long have you been on the Health Project board?

A. Since its inception in 1993.

Q. What is your favorite part of being on the Health Project board? Do you have a favorite service or program the Health Project offers? Why?

A. I enjoy interacting with our colleagues at the Health Project, participating in the Diabetes Summit, Men’s Health Fair and other community activities. It has been an enlightening experience to learn about my community from the perspectives of our colleagues, residents and clients. I am proud of all our programs, but particularly of Health Project Hub. Our ability to empower our clients and help them overcome barrier to health improvement has been among the most rewarding of my experiences.

Q. What is your favorite part of living in Muskegon?

A. I was drawn to the area by Lake Michigan, having grown up on the “big lake” in Michigan City, Indiana. Our family has lived here since 1981 and has developed a deep affection for the people, the legacy, the resilience and the year-round benefits of living here. I am excited to see the resurgence that has characterized Muskegon’s history over the past century. I am proud to be a leader of an organization that respects and cares as deeply for Muskegon as I do.

Q. If there was one thing that you could change that would make our community healthier, what would it be?

A. We need to continue our efforts to educate all our residents and help them achieve their maximal potential. We need to enhance our efforts for diversity and inclusion and unify our various communities so all of us benefit from the growth and development happening all around.

Highlighting Members of STATS: Straight Talk About Tough Stuff

Jennifer LaChapelle, STATS Coordinator at the Health Project.

Q. How long have you been involved with STATS?

A. I have been the STATS Coordinator for one year in August. The program has been around for 25+ years.

Q. What is your favorite part about STATS?

A. My favorite part is getting to know the high school students who go out and present. They all have their own unique reason for taking the pledge to stay Free from Sex, Drugs, Alcohol and Tobacco. It is wonderful to get to know their personalities and help them express themselves.

Q. Why do you think it’s important to educate your friends and fellow students on substance use and abuse?

A.  This is effective because it is peer education. It is high schoolers presenting to middle schoolers with the message that not everyone is doing it. This is key for a lot of students because social norming tells them that “everyone is doing it so they may as well, too. What can really happen?” For a lot of students, breaking the social norm helps them to say “no” and just walk away. For a lot of our presenters, this is a very personal topic, as they know someone who has been effected negatively by substance abuse.

Q. What are a couple things you learned from STATS? Any takeaways?

A. Students learn the 4-Way stop – say no with confidence, change the subject, reverse the pressure and just walk away. They also learn comeback lines and how to set personal boundaries. Presenters can also give personal talks on how they have been effected by abuse and how they cope with it. The key here is to empower the middle schoolers to be their own voice of what they want for their future.

Sarah Yonkman, STATS Team Lead.

Sarah is also employed at Mercy Health where she works as a registered nurse in the emergency department.

Q. How long have you been involved with STATS?

A. I have been a STATS team leader for one year and merging into my second.

Q. What is your favorite part about STATS?

A. My favorite part about STATS is the time I get to spend with the high school kids working toward educating our future young adults about ways to avoid peer pressure and teach them it’s okay to not follow “what everyone else is doing”.  As an adult now, I want these kids to know how respectable it is to say, “No” and love themselves more; to understand they are worth it.  When I say “worth it”, I mean staying free from emotional and physical harm they can unintentionally cause themselves by entering into unhealthy relationships or getting involved with substances—something the “adult me” wishes the “younger me” would have understood.

Q. Why do you think it’s important to educate your friends and fellow students on substance use and abuse?

A. I work in the ER department and see the effects of substance abuse daily.  I see young adults and older adults who have entered into a world of substance abuse, some that have young children, some who are distant from their families due to the hold the addiction has on them. As a mother of 3 kids; ages 22, 11 and 9, I want more for them.  My own family has several adults who have become addicted to a substance of some kind.  I want to help be their chance to see what is out there and help them develop the confidence to say, “No” and to know they are worth it.  I also feel the same way about my high school students and the students they go in front of. I have a great respect for the high school students that I worked with last year.  It’s hard to be “that guy”; to go up in front of peers and practice what they speak; to remain free from unhealthy relationships and free from substances.

Q. What are a couple things you learned from STATS? Any takeaways?

A. If there is one student that we can reach with our message, it’s worth it.

Kenna Grant , 12th grade student and member of STATS

Q. How long have you been involved with STATS?

A. This will be my fourth year with STATS.

Q. What is your favorite part about STATS?

A. My favorite part about STATS is the amazing opportunity we are given as peers, and role models, to teach these kids how to make good choices, to live a free and healthy life not only through our performances, but also by example.

Q. Why do you think it’s important to educate your friends and fellow students on substance use and abuse?

A. I think that it’s important to educate my peers on substance use and abuse because too often today we are taught by the world and social media, and not by those who love us and have the best intentions at heart. This often can be misleading and so confusing. By teaching lifestyle based on freedom, the best of intentions are at heart.

Q. What are a couple things you learned from STATS? Any takeaways?

A. STATS has been a blessing to me. I have learned so much from this program. Personally, I have always stayed out of trouble, made the right choices and surrounded myself with people who also make the right choice. I am so very thankful and blessed that I was so lovingly taught this lifestyle by my parents, family, and church. I also now know this is not the case for everyone. Not only do people struggle making the right choice, but many of them either don’t have the tools and support to make the right choice, or even can’t tell what that choice is.

Q. What are your hobbies outside of STATS?

A. Outside of STATS, some of my favorite hobbies are playing volleyball, baking, and being around family and friends. I am also involved in IMPACT, varsity volleyball, PALs, ski club, men’s volleyball volunteer coach, Harvest student ministries, Wednesday Warriors, STATS advisory board, youth volleyball volunteer, and Harvest infant volunteer.

Livability Lab – Muskegon’s 100 Day Challenge

GET READY!

On September 10th, the Community Health Innovation Region (CHIR) will convene Livability Lab, Muskegon’s 100-Day Challenge, a day-long Summit. We are calling together individuals and groups from every sector throughout our county to mobilize around a common vision. We have chosen as our vision the ability for all residents to have the opportunity to achieve economic self-sufficiency to ensure that our community will not only thrive, but that all residents and families have the opportunity to individually prosper. It is, an audacious vision.

The United Way’s new ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, and Employed) report and Mercy Health’s recent Community Health Needs Assessment, reflect that fully 45% of local residents either live in poverty or struggle daily to meet basic needs while working multiple jobs. The Summit is an opportunity to come together and not only identify but initiate strategies that confront barriers to upward mobility and well-being for our residents and growth for local business and enterprise. There are many factors: educational achievement, health, transportation and others that have separated us as a community.

WHAT IS A 100-DAY CHALLENGE?

The 100-Day Challenge is a best practice approach used to initiate community change. The process aligns around a specific vision and then identifies all of the various factors that get in the way of achieving that vision. Our goal is to engage a diverse group of local stakeholders and residents who will pursue solutions to these barriers. The barriers themselves are identified by reviewing local data and engaging in community conversations.

Teams will be formed around individual challenges that emerge from Summit discussions. These teams will work together to define, design and take action to achieve ambitious and measureable results. The Challenge process allows participants to create innovation – to use the opportunity to address issues that we know exist but too often don’t have the time or ability to confront. Each team will be asked to schedule a bi-weekly series of rapid-response meetings over the following 100 day period after the Summit concludes. During the 100 days, groups will target solutions and initiate strategies to address their chosen barrier issue (root cause). Each team will receive staff support as well as some resources to assist their process.

At the completion of the 100-day period, we will reconvene in December for a second one-day Summit Celebration event. At this event, each action team will be asked to report out on their progress. The Muskegon CHIR will be inviting local and state funders and investors to join us at the second Summit – particularly where the goals of funders or investors might align with the strategies teams bring forward.

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT FOR MUSKEGON?

Muskegon is going through a transformative period that presents an important opportunity for all of us to lean in during this important time of change. The 100-Day Challenge:

• Takes on issues that get in the way of community-wide success;
• Creates a safe, community led “innovation zone” to experiment with new ideas and get results!
• Creates energy, capacity and momentum so we are able to tackle the big issues;
• Supports the emergence of new leaders for our community;
• Deepens local collaboration to achieve a greater good.

SUPPORT FOR THE PROCESS

To support the 100-Day Challenge, CHIR leadership we will be working again with the Michigan State-based ABLe Change design team. From launch to report-out, our staff will work with you to support team processes and report meeting notes into and through a common framework. Throughout the process we will be identifying data and also best national practices to help each team move forward. Team members will also receive an ABLe-developed participant launch guide as well as other materials to inform the process and help your team achieve success.

GET INVOLVED AND LEARN MORE

Want to get involved?

• Now and through the summer we will be busy interviewing stakeholders and residents about the process – invite us to a staff meeting or let’s talk one-on-one about the Challenge. We are anxious to answer questions and to get your input on barriers that you’ve identified and possible ideas for change!
• Complete a CHIR Vision Feedback Questionnaire (see how to information below).
• Share data – do you have a survey or material that you believe could inform our process? Please share!
• Circle the date and come out and participate in the launch in September.
• Join a challenge team or invite a member of your staff or colleagues to participate.
• Lead a challenge team. Do you have an idea – an innovation that fits the goal? We are looking for seed teams to start the process early or, for individuals interested in leading a team.

Want to know more about the Livability Lab and how you can get involved and complete a survey?   Please reach out to Vondie vondiew@gmail.com 231.571.3889, or Michael Ramsey michael.ramsey@mercyhealth.com 231.672.3234 with any and all questions – we look forward to working with you!

Muskegon ALI Completes 2019 Decoy Operations

For Immediate Release:

The Muskegon Alcohol Liability Initiative (Muskegon ALI) and participating agencies would like to recognize the alcohol retailers who have passed the 2019 Muskegon ALI Alcohol Compliance Checks. As a group of law enforcement officers and concerned citizens, our mission is to reduce underage drinking and alcohol-related injuries in Muskegon County.

During the spring, participating Muskegon ALI law enforcement agencies delivered educational vendor packets to each of the alcohol establishments in Muskegon County, which provides education on the current laws and safe alcohol serving practices. We then follow up with compliance checks, conducted by law enforcement, throughout the year. The checks also serve as a tool for establishments to identify needs for additional staff training.

During the 2019 year, Muskegon ALI completed a total of 164-alcohol compliance checks in which an underage person attempts to purchase alcohol at the establishment. We are pleased to report that 155 of the 164 checks passed, and the retailer did not sell alcohol to the decoy. Below is a list of establishments that were checked and passed. The locations that did not pass the alcohol check were referred to the Michigan Liquor Control Commission (MLCC) for enforcement. The staff member who sold the alcohol received a fine. For a complete list of Michigan Licensing and Regularity Affairs Violation Reports, please visit LARA’s website here.

We are encouraged by the high number of passing retailers and wish to applaud their efforts to educate their staff on the importance of ensuring alcohol is not sold to minors.

The Public Health Department of Muskegon County provides retailers and vendors alcohol beverage serving training through the Training for Intervention Procedures (TIPS). More information on this retailer training can be found at on the Public Health Muskegon County Tobacco and Alcohol Retail Education website.

Thanks to the efforts of Muskegon ALI, according to our Michigan Profile for Healthy Youth Survey (MIPHY) results, youth are significantly less likely to obtain alcohol from retailers than they were ten years ago. On behalf of all Muskegon ALI participating agencies, we congratulate the establishments that passed. Participating agencies include Norton Shores Police Department, Muskegon County Sheriff’s Office, Whitehall Police Department, Muskegon Township Police Department, Roosevelt Park Police Department, Fruitport Township Police Department, Montague Police Department, North Muskegon Police Department, and Muskegon Police Department.

About the Muskegon Alcohol Liability Initiative: Muskegon ALI is a multi-jurisdictional law enforcement and prevention collaborative that is in partnership with a Coalition for a Drug Free Muskegon County, under the Health Project. Their goal is to decrease the amount of youth-related injuries associated with underage drinking and to educate youth about the social, health, and law consequences associated with underage drinking and driving.

Compliance Check Passes 2019

Share Your Voice! – CHIR’s 100-Day Challenge

GET READY!

On September 10th, the Community Health Innovation Region (CHIR) will convene a day-long 100-Day Challenge Summit. We are calling together individuals and groups from every sector throughout our county to mobilize around a common vision. We have chosen as our vision the ability for all residents to have the opportunity to achieve economic self-sufficiency to ensure that our community will not only thrive, but that all residents and families have the opportunity to individually prosper. It is, an audacious vision.

The United Way’s new ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, and Employed) report and Mercy Health’s recent Community Health Needs Assessment, reflect that fully 45% of local residents either live in poverty or struggle daily to meet basic needs while working multiple jobs. The Summit is an opportunity to come together and not only identify but initiate strategies that confront barriers to upward mobility and well-being for our residents and growth for local business and enterprise. There are many factors: educational achievement, health, transportation and others that have separated us as a community.

WHAT IS A 100-DAY CHALLENGE?

The 100-Day Challenge is a best practice approach used to initiate community change. The process aligns around a specific vision and then identifies all of the various factors that get in the way of achieving that vision. Our goal is to engage a diverse group of local stakeholders and residents who will pursue solutions to these barriers. The barriers themselves are identified by reviewing local data and engaging in community conversations.

Teams will be formed around individual challenges that emerge from Summit discussions. These teams will work together to define, design and take action to achieve ambitious and measureable results. The Challenge process allows participants to create innovation – to use the opportunity to address issues that we know exist but too often don’t have the time or ability to confront. Each team will be asked to schedule a bi-weekly series of rapid-response meetings over the following 100 day period after the Summit concludes. During the 100 days, groups will target solutions and initiate strategies to address their chosen barrier issue (root cause). Each team will receive staff support as well as some resources to assist their process.

At the completion of the 100-day period, we will reconvene in December for a second one-day Summit Celebration event. At this event, each action team will be asked to report out on their progress. The Muskegon CHIR will be inviting local and state funders and investors to join us at the second Summit – particularly where the goals of funders or investors might align with the strategies teams bring forward.

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT FOR MUSKEGON?

Muskegon is going through a transformative period that presents an important opportunity for all of us to lean in during this important time of change. The 100-Day Challenge:

• Takes on issues that get in the way of community-wide success;
• Creates a safe, community led “innovation zone” to experiment with new ideas and get results!
• Creates energy, capacity and momentum so we are able to tackle the big issues;
• Supports the emergence of new leaders for our community;
• Deepens local collaboration to achieve a greater good.

SUPPORT FOR THE PROCESS

To support the 100-Day Challenge, CHIR leadership we will be working again with the Michigan State-based ABLe Change design team. From launch to report-out, our staff will work with you to support team processes and report meeting notes into and through a common framework. Throughout the process we will be identifying data and also best national practices to help each team move forward. Team members will also receive an ABLe-developed participant launch guide as well as other materials to inform the process and help your team achieve success.

GET INVOLVED AND LEARN MORE

Want to get involved?

• Now and through the summer we will be busy interviewing stakeholders and residents about the process – invite us to a staff meeting or let’s talk one-on-one about the Challenge. We are anxious to answer questions and to get your input on barriers that you’ve identified and possible ideas for change!
• Complete the CHIR Vision Feedback Questionnaire (at the end of this document).
• Share data – do you have a survey or material that you believe could inform our process? Please share!
• Circle the date and come out and participate in the launch in September.
• Join a challenge team or invite a member of your staff or colleagues to participate.
• Lead a challenge team. Do you have an idea – an innovation that fits the goal? We are looking for seed teams to start the process early or, for individuals interested in leading a team.

Instructions for Completing the 100 Day Challenge Questionnaire

What follows is a walk-through of the survey that we are using to collect community data for the 100 Day Challenge. Please complete this survey and share with colleagues and friends or at a meeting or event. Our goal is to execute at least 300 survey tools across Muskegon County in preparation for the Challenge.

About the Questionnaire

• The form begins with a draft vision statement that we need community feedback on. That vision is: “Working Together to Build a Thriving, Healthy, and Economically Self-Sufficient Muskegon” 

1. We are asking that you provide feedback on the vision – e. g. Is it clear? Easy to understand? Compelling? There is space on the form for feedback
2. The vision is followed in Question 2 by a series of priority areas that align with social determinants of health. Respondents are asked to identify up to 2 of these items that represent personal priorities – something they feel strongly about. If a priority is not on this list, the respondent can add it.
3. Question three digs deeper into the two chosen priorities. The respondent is asked to tell us what barriers in our community get in the way of achieving the specific priority or priorities they have identified. For instance, if “Affordable Housing” was chosen, under Root Cause a respondent would tell us why affordable housing is not readily available. We need people to be very specific here – just remember to emphasize that it is an opinion question. There are no wrong answers.
4. Question 4 is about data. If a respondent or their organization has data that can inform our 100 Day Challenge, we are asking them to share it if possible.   We don’t get a lot of responses on this part of the questionnaire – that is ok. We just want to make sure we have any updated assessment material or surveys in the community that might inform our event.
5. And finally, with Question 5 we have a series of bullet points on how people can participate in the 100 Day Challenge. This is intended to engage individuals in the Summit or a Challenge Team. We hope to gather a crowd of 300 people on that day (September 10) and that is a pretty heavy lift. Volunteers will be welcome!

When you are done you can call or email Vondie vondiew@gmail.com 231-571-3889, or Michael Ramsey michael.ramsey@mercyhealth.com 231-672-3234 if you have questions. You can also scan the questionnaire and email it to Michael.Ramsey@mercyhealth.com

Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions.

100 Day Challenge Information Questionnaire

Free Health Screening Fairs July-August 2019

The Health Bound Coalition and the Health Project Identify Needs in Oceana.

According to the 2016 Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) report for Muskegon, Oceana and Newaygo Counties, 3 of the top 5 leading health care issues and concerns for Oceana that were identified were chronic illnesses. In 2016, the Oceana Health Bound Coalition created a long-term strategic plan which identified and prioritized the following top 3 issues among the health system, public health and the community sectors of Oceana to work on for the next 3 years: diabetes, obesity, and access to health services. Their strategies also included ways to increase capacity in Oceana County, and to provide both diabetes education and chronic disease self-management for those populations with diabetes.

Why is diabetes an issue?

Local County data: The chronic condition of diabetes in Oceana County ranks higher at 14.8% in comparison to the state average of 10.4%. According to the 2013 Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, the leading causes of death include a 24.6% rate due to diabetes in the DHD #10’s coverage area, which includes Oceana. This rate is higher than the state rate at 23.7%. According to the Oceana County Behavioral Risk Factor Survey (BRFS), Oceana had worse scores than other counties in 4 areas including obesity, overweight, consumption of less than 5 fruits and vegetables daily, and physical activity.

State data: In 1997, 6% of Michigan adults said they were diagnosed with diabetes. By 2012, it increased to 10.4%. Further data estimate that 1/3 of adults are undiagnosed. Diabetes is more prevalent among people of color and in rural areas. Health costs for people with diabetes and those that are undiagnosed are estimated to costing Michigan $8 Billion. Michigan ranks 22nd out of 50 states with the highest diabetes prevalence among adults 18 years and older.

What is being done to prevent and educate on diabetes in Oceana?

The Diabetes Sub-Committee meets monthly and is comprised of Health Project staff, health providers, nurse hybrid case managers, public health educators and other local key stakeholders. Through their joint collaboration, planning and implementation; this sub-committee is committed to increase capacity at the health systems policy level which includes to screen, test, and create sustainable, community-clinic partnerships.

Goal: to increase the number of pre-diabetic or diabetics in Oceana County by taking charge of their health by successfully preventing or manage their type 2 diabetes through healthy lifestyle choices, prevention, and self-management education programs. There is an emphasis on increasing the number of those preventing, or self-managing type 2 diabetes among the local Spanish-speaking population.

Collaboration with partners is key! Through the collaboration of staff, health providers, patient medical homes, hospitals and other Oceana Health Bound Members/Partners, 3 free large health screenings events are planned for 2019.

Join the Health Bound Coalition, Lions Club, Health Project and more at three local health fairs on July 2nd, August 9th, and August 21st.

English Version of HFOC Health Screening

FairHFOC Diabetes Health Screening Fairs 2019 Spanish(1)

Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America Features Ride with Pride

Coalitions in Action— Coalition for a Drug Free Muskegon County Helps Students Ride with Pride

North Muskegon host their first Ride with Pride assembly.

Tell me about your community and the communities that your coalition serves. When was the coalition formed?

The Coalition for a Drug Free Muskegon County was formed in 2004 with a mission to reduce substance use disorder in Muskegon County, Michigan through education, prevention, and treatment. The coalition acts as one organizing body for over 50 community organizations and 90 active members. The coalition serves as a backbone to many sub-committees that focus on interacting with the community to achieve success.

What unique issues is your coalition facing?

“Muskegon County was once known as ‘Beer Tent Capital of Michigan,’” said Community Health Improvement Coordinator Rachel McCoy. “Summer celebrations, community events, and outdoor concerts allowed more access to alcohol and opportunities for drunk drivers and over-serving. In 2007, Muskegon’s student youth data showed 28% of high school juniors reported binge drinking in the past 30 days. Muskegon County also suffered from a significant number of alcohol-related car crashes involving youth. In December 2007, three teens were involved in a triple fatal car accident. They were able to purchase alcohol, underage, at a local alcohol retailer. Within a month, the community organized a town hall meeting on alcohol and later obtained a Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) grant to reduce youth alcohol use in Muskegon County.”

“Since then, it has been the Muskegon Alcohol Liability Initiative’s (ALI) mission to reduce youth alcohol access, educate on the social, health, and legal consequences of alcohol use, and decrease alcohol-related car crashes in Muskegon. ALI established a plan through the SPF planning process to use data to drive action within the community. They relaunched their alcohol task force with new law enforcement members, new branding and a new name, the Muskegon Alcohol Liability Initiative.”

Orchard View High School host their 3rd Annual Ride with Pride assembly.

What activity or program is your coalition most proud of and/or what activity would you like us to spotlight?

“Our student data highlighted youth perceptions of risk for alcohol and tobacco use were very low, and that most youth were receiving incorrect information about the law and consequences of underage drinking from their peers,” said McCoy. “Since 2010, several successful initiatives have been implemented to combat these issues, such as retailer education, compliance checks, the FaceTheBook Campaign, and the Community College “Binge Effects” Campaigns.”

“While these initiatives continually hammered the message home about the safety, health and legal consequences of alcohol use, members began to discuss a different approach that would align with the school’s multi-tiered system of support as well as reinforce positive behaviors. Muskegon ALI members asked to implement the Ride with Pride student pledge along with the Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS) culture and climate program. In 2012, Mona Shores School District, the Norton Shores Police Department and Muskegon ALI launched their first Ride with Pride program. In the beginning of the year, the students are asked to sign a positive behavior pledge, which consists of positive behavior and choices the student needs to follow in order to be entered to win a car at the end of the year.”

“We learn that positive behavior is what motivates people to do the right thing, instead of always using the negative punishment side,” said Chief Jon Gale of the Norton Shores Police Department. “We need to be proactive and be involved with the schools to help educate kids and help them do the right thing.”

“The current initiative serves 4,800 students among seven high schools and middle schools, and hopes to expand to expand to 8,587 high and middle school students among an additional five school districts,” said McCoy. “This individual school-based approach engages community members on underage drinking, builds the capacity of communities to improve alcohol-related issues, and has a dramatic effect on local school climate and culture, including drops in violence and bullying, and students building positive relationships with teachers, administrators, and law enforcement.”

How did you get there, and what are your outcomes?

“Since 2012, Mona Shores High School saw a 51% decrease in school suspensions and in-school referrals for alcohol or other drugs,” said McCoy. “Mona Shores recently reported that this positive school climate has now impacted reading comprehension scores, which were up 13% in 2018.”

In the past 10 years, due to the efforts of the Muskegon ALI and the Ride with Pride Program, Muskegon County has seen:

• a 20% reduction in students reporting they ever drank alcohol since 2010
• a 37% decline in recent alcohol use
• a 48% reduction of binge drinking among youth
• a 61% reduction of youth riding with someone who had been drinking

In 2015, the Coalition for a Drug Free Muskegon County received the CADCA Got Outcomes! Award for our tobacco, alcohol, and prescription drug outcomes. The coalition has also received several state awards, was featured in the 2015 National Drug Control Strategy and the Office of National Drug Control Policy for Best Practices.

What advice would you give to other coalitions that may be addressing some of the same issues?

“Muskegon ALI and Ride with Pride are proud of our accomplishments and encourage this kind of prevention work in other counties,” said McCoy. “The best advice our coalition can give is collaboration. Collaboration with other community partners has been the key to this coalition’s success. Without the capacity of other partners, Ride with Pride would not where it is today.”

“Inviting key stakeholders to the table is also very important, especially when trying to develop ways to reach our youth. For example, developing relationships with school boards, principals, and school resource officers has been integral. Connecting with these individuals is a great way to get local schools invested in this program.”

To watch Mona Shore’s 2019 Ride with Pride Assembly, Click Here

About the Health Project: The Health Project, the Community Benefit Ministry of Mercy Health Muskegon, is an inclusive, community-based, decision-making, non-profit agency committed to improving the health of the community and the delivery of health care in Muskegon County and the surrounding West Michigan region. For more information about the Health Project, please give us a call at 231-672-3201 or visit mchp.org.

To learn more about CADCA, please visit https://www.cadca.org/resources/coalitions-action-coalition-drug-free-muskegon-county-helps-students-ride-pride

To learn more about Muskegon ALI, please visit www.muskegonali.org

 

 

Pharmaceutical Access Program: Navigating Resources to Best Assist the Client

“I take Trulicity and Toujeo and I am already in the coverage gap. I was wondering if there is any help for getting prescriptions. My cost for just these two is over $450, and I only get $600 a month. Thank you so much, if you can help.” This is just an example of a request we get every day for medication assistance when people’s expenses exceed their income and resources.

Another example: a mother brought in her son who was experiencing a change in insurance coverage. He was previously covered under Medicaid, but is now transitioning into Medicare. As his coverage was changing, they wanted to make sure that the Medicare drug plan he was auto-enrolled in would provide adequate coverage for the drugs he was currently using. As a member of our team reviewed the plan and his coverage, it was discovered that one of the key drugs he was taking was not on the formulary of the plan chosen for him. Upon this revelation, a comparison was made with other plans available through Medicare. A plan providing much better drug coverage was chosen, as well as health coverage, and he was enrolled the same day, providing no gap in his drug coverage.

“Pharmaceutical Access” is much broader than just funding the cost of prescriptions. It encompasses reviewing a person’s insurance coverage, income and resources, as well as medication needs. We then assist them with navigating insurance enrollment and coverage issues. It also includes exploring opportunities to utilize pharmaceutical company resources, such as copay saving cards and patient assistance programs. The Pharmaceutical Access Program staff look for savings and resources in all areas and help each client navigate those resources as needed. Providing assistance with funds through the hospital is the last resource utilized. Each year, the needs of those within our community continue to grow, so it is incumbent upon us to be good stewards of the resources available to us so we may serve as many as possible.

All Health Project staff work together to do the screenings necessary to provide pharmaceutical access to life-sustaining medications for persons who would otherwise struggle to obtain them. Each year, the Health Project’s Pharmaceutical Access Program serves over 3,000 clients and provides assistance for over 8,000 prescriptions.

The PAP Manager, Ron Rademacher, stated that, “The Health Project’s Pharmaceutical Access Program is important because of its efforts to assist our patients obtain the medications they require, as well as discern other needs they may have affecting their ability to stay healthy. Its mission is to protect and improve the overall health of our community one person at a time.”