June 14, 2014 NPHIC Award Entries http://www.nphic.org/awards-home-page
Award Category In-house Print/Graphic: Health Literacy Entry 6 Title Ottawa County Nutritional Options for Wellness Submitted by Kristina Wieghmink, M.Ed. Ottawa County Department of Public Health Communications Specialist & NPHIC Member (616)494-5597 kwieghmink@miottawa.org
Background and Research
The Ottawa County Nutritional Options for Wellness (NOW) program was developed to help Ottawa County residents better reduce their risk for chronic diseases.
The need for this initiative was discovered after the 2011 Ottawa County Behavioral Risk Factor Survey, http://www.miottawa.org/Health/OCHD/pdf/data/2011_BRFS.pdf detailed findings report was released.
According to the Ottawa County Food Policy Council’s Insecurity Needs Assessment findings:
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62% have a household member with diabetes, high blood pressure, or heart disease;
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32% do not have enough food to last a month;
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77% eat between 0-2 servings per day of fruits and vegetables.
The assessment shows that low income individuals are at high risk for disease, especially when they do not have enough food to supply their basic needs.
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The primary target audience is Ottawa County residents, 18-65 years of age who: o
have a family income at or below 130% of the federal poverty level and
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have been identified with having risk factors, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure or high blood sugar.
The secondary target audience is health care providers and food pantries throughout Ottawa County.
Planning
The OCDPH Health Promotion Wellness team researched other counties and agencies that had a similar program.
We discovered that our neighboring county, Kent County of Michigan, had a comparable program; Access Pantry Network www.accessofwestmichigan.org. Several meetings took place to learn more about their program’s goals, target audiences, program eligibility and partnering agencies.
The NOW program goals included:
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increase access to healthy food;
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increase access to health information;
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increase access to community resources;
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decrease risk factors of chronic disease;
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and increase quality of life.
The NOW program objectives included: o
having high risk patients referred by their physician’s office to OCDPH;
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OCDPH will provide healthy eating education;
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and a partnering food pantry will provide needed disease healthy foods to the program participant.
After we defined our goals and created a communications plan, we developed a data-driven strategic 2 year pilot program. This was based on the calculated costs, scale of chronic disease risks, potential community health care partners and county and public health policies that may support or hinder the initiative. 2
The communications strategy included: o
propose the program to community health care providers: NOW is a community partnership to help low income Ottawa County residents better reduce their risk for chronic diseases. NOW enables health care providers, health educators and pantries to help provide healthy foods to their clients.
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after accepting to participate, discuss how to refer eligible patients;
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discuss with the referred client the process of the program: complete enrollment (biometric screening and program orientation); connect with a local food pantry; give the client 2 1/2 days of healthy foods weekly; attend 6 nutrition and exercise classes per year; and they will need a 6-month re-referral from their physician.
Budget, Materials Used & Execution
SNAP-Ed grant funding (funds only to be used for healthy eating education) : o
office Supplies - $60;
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contractual (for the nutrition educator) - $3,500 (includes planning, meeting with us, travel, mileage and time spent providing direct education);
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food for cooking demos and taste samplings - $100;
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nutrition education materials - $210 (see enclosed Eat Healthy Be Active DGA Workshops guidelines;
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staff time to coordinate educational component (specific initiative allocation to be determined – approximately $3,000);
Ottawa County funding: o
office supplies - $240 (estimated)
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contractual (for nutrition educator and certified wellness coach) - $1,480
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food for taste samplings - $200
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biometric screenings - $2,000 3
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and staff time to coordinate the rest of the program (other than the education).
American Heart Association grant is pending approval for food pantries - $5,000
With a limited budget, we relied on staff and my communications and design experiences to help create the NOW logo, physician presentation packets and the time and resources needed to propose the program to county health care providers.
Message: The benefits of the NOW program include increased access to diet healthy foods, nutrition education classes and provides high risk patients with an opportunity to reduce their risk for chronic disease.
Communication and deliverables: o
connecting with community partners to participate in the program;
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publication in issue of the County Administrator’s Community Digest. http://www.miottawa.org/Departments/Admin/pdf/Digest/2014/04042014.pdf;
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presentation at Grand Valley State University on October 4, 2013 Public Health overview and OCDPH initiatives;
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presentation at the OCDPH all staff meeting on October 24, 2013 Communications update and current initiatives;
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presentation at the Lakeshore Alliance Against Sexual and Domestic Violence Association meeting on January 21, 2014 – Public Health overview and OCDPH initiatives;
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presentation at the Michigan Environmental Health Association Educational Conference on March 21, 2014 - Branding process and OCDPH initiatives;
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Ottawa County employee food drive;
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and coordinating a county-wide food drive in 2014.
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Results 
Since the program is being piloted, we have yet to measure the results and success.
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Number of partnering health care providers.
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