Health Coalition Hears Results of Healthy Living Assessment
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Members of the Perry County Health and Wellness Coalition heard the results of a needs assessment conducted by Miles Priebe of Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville and Dr. Kim White.
Priebe conducted surveys on nutrition and exercise in four Perry County neighborhoods. The neighborhoods chosen were Dimond Town, Imperial Heights and Wildwood Estates in Pinckneyville and the High Rise in Du Quoin.
Residents in the four neighborhoods were asked to complete surveys about the availability of healthy foods and areas for physical activity.
The primary need in Dimond Town, Wildwood Estates and the High Rise was found to be food and nutrition. In Imperial Heights, exercise was the greatest need.
Intervention based on the assessment results was mainly educational. Residents of the High Rise were taught about purchasing healthy foods with the WIC program and using a food garden. In Dimond Town, information on the farmer's market was added to gardening and WIC information. In Imperial Heights, residents were given information on gym memberships, training exercises and walking regimens.
The results were assessed based on the Community Healthy Living Index (CHLI).
Coalition members were reminded of the following coming events:
Welcome for new Marshall Browning CEO Ed Gast on Feb. 23.
Retirement party for outgoing Marshall Browning CEO Bill Huff on March 1.
Child Advocacy Center Family Fun Day on April 21.
The next meeting of the Health and Wellness Coalition is tentatively set for Feb. 23 at Pinckneyville Hospital.
February is Heart Month. There will be events scheduled throughout the month.