Health Promotion Advisory Council (HPAC) 2012 Milestone Report
Who We Are The Health Promotion Advisory Council (HPAC) was established in December 2011 as a collective group of diverse coalitions that are dedicated to improving community health outcomes through policy, systems and environmental (PSE) changes. Ultimately, HPAC will seek to flesh out the root causes of health disparities and achieve health equity forr residents living in Fulton County.
Under the umbrella of HPAC seven coalitions were formed and more than 400 community stakeholders and agencies from various sectors have participated in the initiatives.
April 2011 - Diabetes Community Action Coalition at Fulton County (DCAC) October 2011 - Smoke Free Coalition at Fulton County (SFCFC)
Vision HPAC envisions Fulton County to be uniformly ly the healthiest county in GA and in the US through collective and effective partnerships.
November 2011 - Healthy Heart Coalition (HHC) April 2012 - Fulton County Interfaith Coalition
Mission HPAC is dedicated to improving the health of all Fulton County residents by working with community members to reduce and eliminate health disparities through policy, systems and environmental change.
June 2012 - Fulton Asthma Improvement & Reduction (FAIR) Coalition September 2012 - Fulton County Women’s Health Coalition
Coalitions Safe Kids Coalition Established 1991
Fulton County Health Services Department Director, Patrice A Harris, MD The envisioned long term goal of the HPAC is to develop, support and inform long-term comprehensive and sustainable programs promoting policy changes that encourage and facilitate healthy life styles to reduce the prevalence, and health and financial impact of diabetes, cancer, asthma, tobacco use, health disparities, and obesity in Fulton County.
We Help
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) commends HPAC for its efforts to build coalitions that are dedicated to improving community health outcomes by reducing and eliminating health disparities. Thomas R. Frieden. MD, MPH, Director, CDC
Because We Care Fulton County Department of Health & Wellness (FCDHW) realizes the importance of coalitions and recruiting critical support among local leaders and residents who can help advance strategies to achieve policy, systems and environmental change. These coalitions are a diverse group of individuals and entities that have come together to accomplish common causes in Fulton County. FCDHW leadership understand that acting alone is not an option because coalitions are more powerful than an individual or agency. HPAC will play a critical role in managing the work of these coalitions, which is the foundation for assembling diverse leadership support for an aggressive agenda at multiple community levels.
The County We Serve With greater than 900,000 residents, Fulton County is the most populous of all of Georgia’s 159 counties and represents nearly ten percent of the state’s total population. The county stretches over 70 miles from north to south and encompasses 528.7 square miles. Fulton is comprised of 14 cities and a 105.6 square mile unincorporated area. African Americans are the largest racial/ethnic group in Fulton County (43.5%), followed by Caucasians (40.8%), Hispanics (7.9%), Asians (5.6%), other/mixed races (2.0%), Native Americans (.17%), and Pacific Islanders (0.3%). Of the 159 counties in Georgia, Fulton County ranked as the 26th healthiest county in 2011, according to the Mobilizing Action Toward Community Health (MATCH) Project’s County Health Rankings, which ranks the health of U.S. counties by state using a broad range of health outcomes and social determinants (MATCH, 2011). Fulton has the greatest absolute burden of individuals affected by chronic disease and chronic disease risk factors of any county in Georgia.
Key Facts about the Health of Fulton County • Cardiovascular disease is responsible for nearly 1 out of every 3 deaths. Over 10,000 residents were hospitalized for cardiovascular disease each year (not including readmissions).
• Among African Americans residents, over 65% are overweight or obese compared to 47% Caucasians residents. • A higher percentage of African Americans residents in Fulton County smoke compared to African Americans residents in the state or Caucasian residents in the county. • The rate of Emergency Room visits due to asthma is 8 times higher among African Americans residents than Caucasians. Many of these visits could have been prevented with timely access and effective primary health care. That many of the factors that contribute to the leading causes of death in Fulton County such are modifiable underscores the many opportunities to improve the health of Fulton County. Fulton County’s Coalitions are taking action to address the root causes of these conditions through developing and overseeing long-term comprehensive and sustainable programs promoting policy, systems, and environmental change that encourage and facilitate healthy life styles to reduce the prevalence, health impact, and financial impact of diabetes, cancer, asthma, tobacco use, health disparities, and obesity in Fulton County.
• Approximately, 10% of Fulton County children and adults currently have asthma. In the years 2006-2008, there were 38 asthma deaths in Fulton County. • Nearly 1 in 10 residents report having diabetes. • Overall, 1 in 7 county residents is a current smoker. • 56.3% of residents are overweight or obese. • One out of every 5 of the 900,000 residents lives in a food desert (communities where residents have limited access to fresh foods). When health indicators are examined by factors such as race or geographic area, there are profound disparities in health habits, health risk factors, hospitalizations, and deaths rates for our residents. • The percentage of African Americans residents reporting diabetes is 3 times greater than Caucasian residents.
Source: http://www.siteselection.com/
Ref: http://oasis.state.ga.us/
Community-based Coalitions Smoke Free Coalition of Fulton County (SFCFC) The Smoke-Free Coalition of Fulton County seeks to protect Fulton residents from the dangers of second hand smoke through diverse collaborative partnerships. Their efforts prevent and reduce the burden of tobacco use on Fulton County citizens through education awareness and promoting smoke-free policies. Highlights: Hosted the Smoke Free Fulton County Strategic Planning Retreat June 2012 facilitated by the University of Georgia Fanning Institute. The group Identified strategies for moving forward to include proper messaging and efforts to make all of Fulton County public workplaces smokefree.
PSE Change ge
Fulton County Board of Commissioners Proclamation
Received a Proclamation from the Board of Commissioners, which supports the observance of The Great American Smokeout in November. Sponsored the screening of the documentary film “Addiction Incorporated” in November. Increase public awareness in addressing tobacco use in Fulton County, implementing a social media campaign in the Asian American Community and the LGBT community.
Blood Pressure Monitoring at the Boulevard Community
The Healthy Heart Coalition (HHC)
HHC is a collaboration of diverse organizations and community residents that work together to improve cardiovascular health outcomes in Fulton County. Their strategies focus on increasing healthy eating habits and getting residents physically active. Highlights Received: proclamation from the Fulton County Board of Commissioners as well as the Governor, Nathan Deal for the Heart Health Month in February, which increases awareness around the issues of healthy living.
Health Heart HHC Proclamation from Governor Nathan Deal
Promoted and increased awareness on the importance of breastfeeding as an initial step in increasing the number of breastfeeding-friendly sites. Working on establishing joint use agreement to increase the number of public places accessible to communities for physical activity. Conducted surveys for the Fight for Fitness in Fulton project at local Fulton County high schools and utilized all 120 multiple choice questions from the CDC’s 2010 NYPANS survey.
Asthma Coalition Summit
Joined the Million Hearts Initiative.
Community-based Coalitions Diabetes Community Action Coalition of Fulton County (DCAC)
Highlights: ● Address the issue of food desert through the following: • Healthy corner store initiative to increase the availability and sales of healthy, fresh, affordable foods • Implementation of plans for creating a community garden in Old Fourth Ward • Collaborating with Women, Infant and Children clinics to address Gestational Diabetes (GDM)
PSE Cha ange ge
DCAC is a community-wide group of diverse organizations and individuals who work together to reduce the health and financial burden of diabetes through: education; the promotion of healthy lifestyles; and policy, systems and environmental change.
DCAC Represented at Pittsburgh Community
● DCAC was featured in the National Association of County & City Health Officials (NACCHO) newsletter.
Fulton Asthma Improvement & Reduction (FAIR) Coalition
The FAIR Coalition works to reduce the prevalence of asthma and the associated financial costs for asthmatics, taxpayers, and other stakeholders in Fulton County through education, proper treatment and improving indoor air quality. The effort is expected to reduce health disparities in the asthma mortality rate among residents and will target populations most burdened by adverse outcomes related to the disease. Highlights: Established community action groups. Identified zip codes with the highest incidence of asthma using data from Children’s Health Care of Atlanta and Grady Health System. Working with the Atlanta Housing Authority to create breath-friendly homes in Section 8 Housing.
Implemented asthma awareness campaigns via media ads, Public Service Announcements, and TV clips. Implemented the School Flag Program along with partners to increase awareness of daily air quality conditions using brightly colored flags. Participating in the National Leadership Academy for Public Health Award through CDC.
Finalizing the School Flag Program
Faces ofin Asthma Fulton
Our St ory
Kellen EEdwin Bolden Febru r ru February 9, 1990 - January 11, 2001
Brennan Nicole Passons assons 0, 2011 July 6, 2000 - October 10,
Department of Health Services FULTON ASTHMA IMPROVEMENT & REDUCTION (FAIR) AIR) INITIATIVE A ATIVE
Asthma Campaign Poster
Matthew McKenna, MD, MPH Fulton County Health Services Medical Director
Coalitions offer numerous potential advantages over working independently and have been shown to be useful for accomplishing a broad range of goals that reach beyond the capacity of any single member organization alone. HPAC of Fulton County has engaged representatives from various sectors throughout the county in collaborative efforts to influence policy, systems, and environmental changes that will improve the overall health of Fulton County citizens.
Community-based Coalitions Fulton County Interfaith Coalition The Fulton County Interfaith Coalition is working under the mantra “Faith Communities United for Health: Your Body is a Temple" and combining their respective strengths and various ties in the community to enact policy, system and environmental changes to create sustainable improvement in the weight and overall health status of families across Fulton County. Highlights: Started Lunch, Learn and Listen sessions impacting seven different faith congregations to get an understanding of family food choices.
PSE Change ge
Interfaith Coalition Members Strategizing
Starting a community garden in each congregation.
Developing a policy draft for healthy food practices in the kitchen.
Safe Kids Fulton County Coalition
Safe Kids & Smoke Free Coalitions Represented at the Boulevard Community
Safe Kids Fulton County Coalition is dedicated to fighting the number one killer of children –unintentional injuries. The coalition includes safety officials, safety specialist and community volunteers united to create an environment in Fulton County where children 14 and under are free from traumatic accidental injuries through: community partnerships, advocacy, public awareness and distribution of, and education on the proper uses of safety equipment. Highlights: Reached over 1,057 children and parents through car seat checks, equipment distribution, and community events in the past six months.
Observed National Child Passenger Safety Week / Seat Check Saturday
Safe Kids Coalition
Began planning for Injury prevention summit 2013.
Women’s Health Network The Women’s Health Network goal is to become a major resource for women’s health and well-being and to work diligently to educate young girls and to increase women’s access to quality care and prevention services. Highlights: Organized member meetings and strategy sessions to clarify the Network’s vision, mission and goals. HPAC Strategic Planning
From the Director’s Desk
Notes from HPAC Co-Chair
Nazeera Dawood, MBBS, MPH, CCRC FCDHW, Division of Health Promotion
Rodney Mullins, HHS-FDA White House Special Appointee National Consumer Advocate
We have made progress since HPAC's establishment in late 2011. The coalitions have launched a number of initiatives, participated in innovative partnerships, and are establishing a presence in the community. We hope that these initiatives serve as resources that provide a platform for unified efforts and information that benefit the Fulton community at-large. These coalitions are also continuing to nourish and cultivate seeds of collaboration, cohesiveness and connectedness. We thank our dedicated co chairs, team members, coalition members who continue to accomplish milestone achievements. HPAC is a model that can be replicated across the nation. Sometimes building coalitions does not require lots of money, but requires dedication and commitment from public health professionals, community members, and community leaders to take charge of their community. I thank the HPAC Co-Chair Rodney Mullins, Coalition co-chairs, my team members Patricia Jackson, Carla Williams, Carolyn Atwater-Wooten, Lynnette Allen and the Health Department management, Dr. Patrice A Harris and Dr. Matthew McKenna for their continued support and commitment to improve the community's health and bringing prevention to the forefront.
It is my distinct joy and pleasure to work with each of you to create a healthier community using the Health Promotions Advisory Coalition as a vehicle for change. We have a championship team comprised of over 400 corporations, grassroots organizations, government municipalities and nationally- recognized academic institutions that are being galvanized to focus their resources on disease prevention, individual empowerment and environmental change. The phenomenal potential of this coalition to improve the lives of young people and families should motivate all of us to support this shared mission of ‘building health together’. The focused efforts of each coalition member will result in the dissemination of knowledge and elevation of healthy behaviors in every community. The support we have received from grassroots organizations to the Governor's Office and dozens of major organizations across the region will enable all of us to amplify the voice of the community in managing their personal health plan and reducing health risks within their neighborhoods. Ultimately, these health-centered collaborations will change behaviors and transform the vital health conditions of our fellow Georgians. In the upcoming days our singular vision is to unite people from all communities using innovative, grassroots, people-based concepts. The results of our campaigns will be an enhanced quality of life for each of us. Without a doubt, I am confident that with our shared commitment to health education, policy change, advocacy and behavior modification we will generate positive outcomes in our health forecast.
Health Promotion Team
We would like to acknowledge the following members for their invaluable support: Co Chairs: Ken Lazarus, Linda Ellis, Vicki Karnes, Cornelia King, Susan Butler, Devin Rucker, Richard Johnson, K. Danella Abdul-Barr, Patricia W. Smith, Michael Elliston, Tamika Stinson, Linda Dubose
HPAC Health Promotion Advisory Council For more information on HPAC and the various coalitions, please contact Nazeera Dawood, Fulton County Dept of Health & Wellness at 404-613-1685.
Milestone Report developed by Strategy Group, LLC