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Outreach Advisory Committee for Planning and Implementing Middle School Chronic Disease Interventions
| Topics |
Health promotion and disease prevention
Networking and collaboration
Schools
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| States served |
South Carolina
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| Description |
The Upper Midlands Rural Health Network was organized in 2004. At its first strategic planning retreat in 2005, a priority objective to improve health status, disease management and appropriate use of services for Network area residents with diabetes or at risk of developing diabetes was developed. One of its action steps was to investigate the opportunity to assist the Chester and Fairfield County School Districts with health services, especially related to diabetes prevention and management, including decreasing obesity and increasing physical activity.
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| Services offered |
The Outreach Advisory Committee was developed in 2005 by the Rural Health Network Director and the Rural Health Consultant to assist the Network Board with this objective. The Outreach Advisory Committee, made up of health and school district representatives from both counties that were interested in diabetes and other chronic disease management. It was instrumental in securing and implementing the following grants:
An $85,000, federal Rural Health Network Development Planning Grant in 2006 that funded a diabetes intervention in the Chester and Fairfield County School Systems;
A $375,000, three year, federal Rural Health Outreach Grant in 2007 that provided funds to implement the school intervention strategies developed from the Rural Health Network Planning Grant. A middle school nurse was hired for both school districts who would focus on chronic disease management of children with diabetes and asthma; and
A Chester Healthcare Foundation Grant was received in 2007 and 2008 to establish a new and innovative Exploring Healthy Lifestyles class in the Chester Middle Schools. |
| Results |
Members of the Outreach Advisory Committee have taken an active role in implementing these grant initiatives. Some of the major accomplishments were:
Providing regular training courses to school nurses on the management of diabetes and other chronic conditions;
Community outreach and education including teaching Diabetes 101 classes to church and community group leaders;
Assisting the school nurses in the Chester and Fairfield County Middle Schools with its annual student health assessment. This year members of the Committee plan to assist the school nurses enter the data results for each student into the schools electronic health record program, Health Master, purchased by the grant;
Plans to expand Exploring Healthy Lifestyles Class to the two other middle schools in Chester County and the middle school in Fairfield county; and
Developing active community partnerships with Family YMCA and Clemson Extension. |
| Source |
National Cooperative of Health Networks (NCHN)
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| Contact person |
Dr. Beverlyann Austin, Director
Upper Midlands Rural Health Network
803-712-0375
beverlyann.austin@fairfieldmemorial.com |
| Date added |
October 23, 2009 |
Summaries of success stories are provided by RAC for your convenience. Please contact the success story contact person directly for the most complete and current information.
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