Rural Health

Uniting our community through health!

By Kate Forand, AmeriCorps member at Garfield County Hospital District

With the warm weather upon us, there’s more than just barbeques and camping in the forecast, but community events to promote health and well-being! Here in Pomeroy, June has been full of activities for community members of all ages to learn about healthy living, support breast cancer awareness, and see what services are available in our community. Here are some highlights!

The month started off with the Tumbleweed Festival, an annual event that brings the whole town together through a variety of events, including a flea market, car show, and parade. Volunteers from Garfield County Hospital set up a table for visitors to mingle with staff, have their blood pressure taken, complete a survey about community wellness, and take brochures on various health conditions. Those who filled out our survey, which we hope will give us preliminary data on what the community would like to see for wellness programs, were entered in a raffle to win a blood pressure machine or scale. When we informed our lucky winner about the new blood pressure machine he won, he could hardly contain his excitement and we were certainly happy to help him out!

This past week the Quality Behavioral Health summer youth program came to Pomeroy for a day to learn about healthy living. About 60 middle-school aged youths from Lewiston, Clarkston, and Pomeroy participate in this 7-week program which teaches kids about topics like bullying, healthy eating, and teen dating while engaging in fun activities. In this week’s session, youths came to Pomeroy to learn about healthy eating, physical activity, and how methadone affects your body. I held a session on physical activity and taught the group how to take their pulse and how different levels of intensity can impact our heart rate. We concluded the group by practicing a few different yoga poses and deep breathing exercises. The group found it “pretty cool” how they could feel their pulse and how it increased after running in place or doing jumping jacks. 

On June 23^rd, the annual Susan G. Komen Walk for Breast Cancer took place at the City Park. Each year the Garfield County Public Health Department receives grant funding from Susan G. Komen and the Sheppard Foundation to make this event a success. The evening involved an opening speaker, 2 and 3 mile walk/run, raffle prizes and concludes with a barbeque. The event had over 50 participants, most wearing pink, and exhibited just how this community comes together in support of breast cancer awareness.

Lastly, June will end with our monthly diabetic support group. Pomeroy Medical Clinic provider Lisa Barnes, ARNP will give a presentation on how to manage high blood pressure and cholesterol before you have to take medication.

As we move into July, the hospital sponsored “Fourth of July in the Park” will take place. We anticipate planning for some more exciting community wellness events throughout the rest of the year to promote healthy living for residents of Pomeroy!

Worksite Wellness...what?

By Alysa Haas, AmeriCorps member in Goldendale, WA 

When I started my AmeriCorps position at Klickitat County Health Department last October, I really had no idea what “worksite wellness” meant. I guessed erroneously that maybe it had something to do with environmental health regulations. Little did I know I was way off track. But I did know I’d have to figure it out fast, since one of my tasks for the year was to create a worksite wellness toolkit in conjunction with Healthy People Alliance of Klickitat County.

Starting my job in Goldendale, Washington, I was immediately thrown into the thick of worksite wellness as it is known in this county. I attended worksite wellness committee meetings at the local hospital, the public utility district, and at the county courthouse, and soaked up as much as I could. I learned that all worksite wellness means is making it easier to be healthy at work. The county wellness committee was working on getting yoga and fitness instructors to come teach classes in the courthouse for county employees. The hospital’s committee was launching their tobacco-free campus campaign. And the PUD was just getting their wellness program started, surveying employee interests and needs.

After a lot of meetings and witnessing both struggle and success in these three wellness committees, a team of volunteers in Healthy People Alliance put our heads together to come up with some basic advice to help others new to worksite wellness. While there are about as many wellness toolkits out there as there are companies (most of them quite long and laborious), we wanted to create a resource that got straight to the point. We also wanted to gear this advice toward companies in rural areas like in Klickitat County. After all, those who have lived in rural areas know that resources are completely different than in the city. After some good research, discussion, and some fantastic layout design from our members, we came up with an online and print toolkit to share—Worksite Wellness Toolkit – Helping Klickitat County Work Well!

Health and Its Role in the Success of Education

By Mayra Vargas, AmeriCorps volunteer in the Bridgeport School District

Health plays a significant role in the academic success of our students. has been proven many times that breakfast is an essential part in a child’s nutrition and their success throughout the day. Bridgeport offers a free and reduced breakfast and lunch program which gives all its students the opportunity to start their day ready for any challenges. Another factor in their success is the energy and motivation they may feel towards their goals and education. If a student has health problems, does not care for what they are learning, or has a troubled mind it would be impossible to maintain high levels of energy in their body. The following link highlights the importance of health and nutrition along with other components for the success of students (How to Increase Energy).

In 2009 the community of Bridgeport was awarded the Heroes of Health Healthy Living Award (Bridgeport Heroes of Health | HealthiestState on blip.tv). Over the years students, staff, parents and community members have strived to motivate, encourage, and support Bridgeport students as they are the future of the community. Our future caregivers need a good academic education to be successful in any medical or health field they choose, although without good health they would not be able to attend school on a regular basis and get that good foundation they will need in their future.,With this in mind I say good health is just as important as academic success.

On April 15, 2011 The White House Press Release made an announcement that would leave a great mark in this year’s Bridgeport High senior class of 2011.

The exciting journey begins with the announcement of the 6 finalist schools for the Race to the Top Commencement Challenge!

The Bridgeport School District as well as the community has played a big role in the success of its students. Looking at its rural surroundings all these students have is their motivation to succeed in school and make their parents and community proud for all the support they have showed them.
Bridgeport High was chosen as one of the finalists along with five others. These six would have to make a video. The public would get to vote and choose the top three finalists. The students had an amazing time from the making of their video to the finished product - which earned them a spot in the top three finalists!

Although in the end they were not chosen, it was still a wonderful experience to be recognized as one of the top three high schools and have the Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis as well as Governor Christine Gregoire and State Senator Linda Evans Parlette all attend their graduation. It was even more special for these students in small rural Bridgeport - a town that was probably not known by many here in the state of Washington, let alone others.

Thank you, Class of 2011, for adding more great stories and memories as well as lots of excitement to the endless list of Bridgeport’s successes!

Ferry County Health & Safety Fair

By Brenda Lackey, AmeriCorps member working at Ferry County Public Hospital

On May 21, 2011, the Ferry County Health & Safety Fair was held at the Republic School after a few years’ hiatus. I decided to revive and coordinate one in order to increase the visibility of the county's health and safety resources often underutilized despite the need that exists in our community. A team of willing and influential individuals from FCPHD#1, Tri-County Economic District (TEDD) and the Ferry County Health Foundation was gathered to form a planning committee and attend bi-weekly meetings. The event would not have occurred without their combined efforts. With our county being ranked as the "least healthy" of all WA counties*, this fair, at the very least, assisted in increasing the availability of our excellent health programs to the community while encouraging health conciousness (and it was fun to boot!).

The fair provided free access to services, information and demonstrations offered by 23 different health and safety organizations such as the S.A.I.L. program, Veteran's Affairs, Republic and Curlew EMS, Ferry County Trauma Council (child seat safety checks), INBC Blood Drive, United States Forest Service (healthy recreation), Republic Dental Clinic, free hearing screenings, and a "Know Your Numbers" biometric table from FCPHD#1. Fun activities included an art contest among Ferry County students, a lively gurney race, and raffle drawings for prizes such as a free dental cleaning and a healthy recipe basket by the local Co-Op.

Additional benefits of this event included providing safety programs an opportunity to practice important procedures in a public setting (Decontamination Unit Demonstration FCPHD#1, chainsaw safety demos from the Forest Service and Republic/Curlew EMS with Emergency Car Extrications) as well as a venue for free advertisement of services.

Personally, organizing this event and working with such a great team has been a very rewarding and educational experience. I have done what I can to see that it continues successfully. The Ferry County Health Foundation has expressed a sincere interest in taking on the project as an annual event.

I would like to add a special thank you to all organizations and volunteers that donated their time (on a Saturday!) to participate—you are what made this event possible and successful. Over 30 people donated blood with INBC and approximately 50-75 people from the community came to the event or were involved.

It’s a Perfect Fit

By Katharine Sanders, Director of Rural Programs

 You saved my husband’s life, wrote a friend, after her husband suffered a massive stroke. You see, the medical system they belonged to was only prepared to move the man to a nursing home. With Jet’s support the wife was able to keep him in physical therapy where he made an impressive recovery which continues at home today.  It is stories like this one that made the years spent toiling to learn the ins and outs of the insurance industry worth it for Jet Singh.

Selling insurance is the family business and Jet worked hard throughout his 20’s and 30’s to learn it well, and to make it a success. But something was missing. He wasn’t sure what it was until he joined the Washington Health Foundation’s Healthiest State xChange and became a Personal Health Advocate. At the xChange, says Jet, I use what I know about insurance to help people through some of the hardest issues in their lives AND to keep them healthy. What could be better?! This is the way insurance should be.

It’s not just doing things for the people he serves, Jet also leaves them with the skills to ask the right questions and advocate more effectively on their own behalf the next time they and their loved ones encounter problems with insurance.

A former college athlete, Jet has been inspired by the Healthiest State Campaign, and friendly (though sometimes raucous) competition with his colleagues, to step up his own physical activity and to know his numbers. Jet laughs easily and enjoys his contact with people – whether talking about thorny insurance issues or making jokes with his teammates at the xChange.  For Jet, working as a Personal Health Advocate is a perfect fit.

Are you wondering what the xChange can do for you, your family and your business? Call Jet at 855-924.3258 (855-WA-HEALTH) or contact him by e-mail: jets@wa-health.org.

Interested in Rural Health Promotion?

We are looking for 10 energetic and enthusiastic health promoters to serve as AmeriCorps members in nine different rural communities across Washington.  In our second year teaming up with the Washington Service Corps and community leaders, we are placing members in schools, hospitals, public health, and non-profit organizations.  The opportunities are both diverse and challenging—reflecting the wide range of geography, people, and cultures in Washington state, as well as local community health priorities. 

Members  receive $1,050/month pay, health insurance and $5,350 education award upon completion of term. Members can request loan forbearance and also can receive subsidized childcare.

Apply now at www.americorps.gov.  To find these job descriptions, search within the “Health” interest and specify Washington State.  The Washington Health Foundation will be incorporated into the program name.  With any questions, please contact Katharine Sanders @ KatharineS@whf.org.  People from rural Washington are especially encouraged to apply!

Job Placements include

• Naselle School District, Naselle, WA, Pacific County
• Northeast Tri County Health District, Colville, WA, Stevens County
• (Position Filled) Garfield County Public Hospital District, Pomeroy, WA, Garfield County
• Bridgeport School District, Bridgeport, WA, Douglas County
• Omak School District, Omak, WA, Okanogan County
• Community to Community, Bellingham, WA, Whatcom County
• Mason Matters, Shelton, WA, Mason County
• Klickitat County Health Department, Goldendale, WA, Klickitat County
• Asotin County Health District, Clarkston, WA,  Asotin County

Making Dollars and Sense out of Mental Health Cuts

By Muntaha Saad, WHF Policy Intern

 
Take a look at the above map of Washington State.  All but three urban counties face shortages in mental health care.

The map also shows that the majority of shortages within counties are geographic, meaning that everyone in the region has difficulty getting access to mental health services. Our state’s estimated under-served population of 25.1 percent is greater than the national average of 18.7 percent, and the shortage areas for mental health far exceed the shortage areas for primary care and dental health.  Not only is access to medical and behavioral health care providers limited, but rural areas also face higher levels of poverty and chronic disease, lack of health insurance, and more natural barriers such as longer travel distance to healthcare facilities. 

As a result of a $5.1 billion shortfall in the state budget, deep cuts in Olympia to the proposed 2011-2013 budget have slashed state spending across all areas, with already struggling mental health services losing millions of dollars in state funding.  Mental health spending in Washington State is expected to fall by $42 million over the next two years.

These massive cuts to mental health services affect community and hospital based psychiatric care, housing, and access to medications. As money is stripped from outpatient services and as psychiatric facilities remain filled to capacity, emergency rooms have become overcrowded with mentally ill patients who often must wait long hours before receiving care – even though the ER “[is] the wrong place for someone in the midst of a psychiatric crisis.”

In a recent e-mail Robert Campbell, CEO & President at Providence Mount Carmel Hospital in Colville, WA, agreed:

“The mental health system has first deinstitutionalized the system and put many mentally unstable patients out on the street relying on outpatient facilities. Many of those individuals are managed with state and federal funds and those funds seem to have systematically been reduced over the year. The implication is a slow rise in mental health issues being seen in the emergency department or in the primary care office.”

Of the expected $42 million in cuts to Washington State mental health services, $17.4 million will come out of community-based mental-health programs. This reduction in funding will cut services to 26,000 people, a drastic decrease from the 144,000 clients served last year through the Washington community mental-health system. These cuts further strain community clinics across the state and disintegrate “the safety net’s safety net” for uninsured and under-served populations who depend on essential grants for medical and dental care.

Mental health advocates suggest these cuts do not save money in the long term. Social Work professor Christopher Larrison insists that when outpatient services in rural areas are cut, they often don't return when state finances improve. Mental health cuts end up costing communities more than they save, hurting individuals, families, and the people, facilities, and agencies that serve and protect them.

While dollars may be stripped from our state budget, our powers to advocate for the mentally ill and under-served members of our communities are not!  What we can do in these difficult economic times is to continue to look out for our neighbors and families by writing to legislators and state officials and voting in elections to help preserve beneficial programs.  In all of our advocacy and awareness efforts, we should also fight stigma by representing mental illness accurately and ethically and treating people with mental illness with respect, dignity, and compassion.