Healthy Places community forum sparks ideas

A cross-section of people came together Monday with a common purpose: to work together to make Beaufort County a healthier place.

Representatives from East Carolina University, Vidant-Beaufort Hospital, Metropolitan Community Health Services, the Association of Mexicans in North Carolina, Boys & Girls Clubs of Beaufort County, United Way, Beaufort County Schools and many other organizations met at the Washington Civic Center for a community forum hosted by Healthy Places. Healthy Places is a Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust initiative designed to give rural counties a leg up in getting healthier by facilitating partnerships within the community and providing funding for the fruition of their health-oriented ideas. The forum was one of three held in Beaufort County over June 3 and 4.

After a welcome from Vidant-Beaufort Hospital and Vidant-Pungo Hospital President Harvey Case, J. Nelson-Weaver, senior program officer with the Trust, emphasized that the role of Healthy Places was “to build on local strengths” in places where “people were already doing creative things.”

The end goal is to improve the health of economically disadvantaged for generations to come, according to Nelson-Weaver. She compared Healthy Places to the work, and benefits, of a community garden in which all thrive through working together. She pointed out the 26 different Beaufort County organizations sponsoring the event as a place to start.

“They are all potentially great partners for you,” Nelson-Weaver said. “There are a lot folks you don’t know, but you have great assets.”

Julie Willems Van Dijk, deputy director of County Health Rankings and Roadmaps, spoke about how Beaufort County measures up to the healthier counties in North Carolina in terms of overall ranking, access to healthy foods, recreational facilities, and the big issue: obesity.

“All over the nation, this is a major issue,” Van Dijk said.

Thirty-six percent of Beaufort County residents are obese, as compared to 29 percent of all North Carolinians and 25 percent of all Americans.

Kelli Russell, human services planner with the Beaufort County Health Department, backed up those numbers with data from the county’s 2011 community health assessment. According to Russell, the major health concerns in Beaufort County are heart disease, cancer and obesity.

The audience was later asked to contribute to the presentation. Each table of audience members took a few minutes to discuss ideas they believe would make Beaufort County a healthier place, then chose one idea to present to the crowd. An array of potential projects were posed: expanded farmer’s markets within walking distance to low-income housing; more clubs promoting physical activity; health agencies offering educational materials and free screenings at heavily trafficked retail centers; an “adopt a senior” program, in which volunteers would fix a healthy meal for seniors and take them out for a walk; a functional program in which a health coach would explain doctor’s orders and how they translate to real life and real opportunities to improve health.

Recently, the Trust awarded Beaufort County Schools over $300,000 for improvements to their gym and outdoor recreational facilities under the condition that part of those facilities would be available for use by the public. Beaufort/Hyde Partnership for Children received a substantial grant for a multiphase project improving outdoor play spaces and build gardens to instill children with the ability to make healthier choices early on in life.

Through Healthy Places, the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust intends to spend $100 million in 10 to 15 counties over the next 10 years to help make North Carolinians healthier. Beaufort County, along with Halifax and McDowell counties, was one of the first chosen to benefit from the initiative.