At about the same time Lake County was chosen for the Wellville Challenge, North Coast Opportunities (NCO) received a three-year grant called “Partnerships to Improve Community Health” (PICH) totaling nearly $1.42 million.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention Community Health Division (CDC) administers the grants, and PICH is the newest generation of the CDC’s long history of community programs to create and strengthen healthy environments that make it easier for people take charge of their health. The Lake County initiative is called “Writing a Wellville Story,” and will emphasize collaborations among agencies, organizations and community groups to reduce tobacco use, improve nutrition, increase physical activity and improve access to programs for preventing and managing chronic diseases.
After an extensive search for the right candidates, three Lake County residents were selected in late April to work on specific elements of the initiative.
“We’re excited that we hired locals who really understand the distinct communities here in Lake County,” says PICH Program Coordinator Jen Dalton. “They’re all so committed to making sure that every community member has the resources and environments they need to be active and healthy.”
Susan DeSalvo-Reed, of Cobb Mountain, is the PICH wellness environment coordinator. She will work to increase the number of smoke-free multi-unit housing units in Lake County, increase the number of worksites with employee wellness programs and physical activity opportunities and increase the number of primary care providers who utilize “green prescriptions” (also known as veggie Rx) for healthy food and physical activity.
“As a former nurse with a great understanding of the importance of smoke-free environments, as well as a former fitness studio owner, Susan has been part of the health movement in Lake County for years,” Dalton said. “She understands how impactful it will be for landlords and businesses to adopt healthy policies, and what affect that could have on health care costs for our community.”
Rachelle Damiata, of Lakeport, and Frank Gudmundson, of Upper Lake, will work together as the healthy food and physical activity access coordinators. They are tasked with increasing the number of retail environments and restaurants with healthy food and beverage options and promotions, and increasing the number of schools and other kid-based facilities with policies that provide opportunities for physical education and activity with the hope of reaching more than 1,300 students and their families.
“Wellville is a nice awakening for this county to get people going in the right direction,” Gudmundson said. “We’re excited to work as PICH coordinators because it’s part of the movement that’s happening locally.”
Adds Damiata, “Our health is at the core of everything, so it should be a top priority for all of us.”
Their first efforts will be working with grocery stores, restaurants, and community event planners to promote healthy food options. They are also creating physical activities for children such as the “Tough Mudder” mud run on July 25 in Lakeport.
“We can’t wait to get started and we don’t know how to do just one thing at once, so we’re going to jump in on all fronts,” Damiata said. According to Tammy Alakszay, NCO’s Lake County community action and volunteer network coordinator, this grant will go a long way toward addressing major — but reversible — issues in Lake County.
“With enough resources and community support, I know we can reverse some of the troubling health trends we see in our county,” Alakszay said. “This grant is a huge step forward in that direction.” To learn more, contact Dalton: (707) 467-3226.
