Courtney S. Turner Charitable Trust Application September 2013 Organizational Information Live Well Live Atchison Creating Healthy Communities (LWLA) Type of Organization: Community Initiative Amount Requested: $15,000 Tax ID #: 26 4049382 Contact: Aggie Asher, Social Services Manager, Atchison Hospital, 913 360 5597, aasher@atchhosp.org Address: c/o Atchison Hospital, 800 Raven Hill Dr, Atchison, KS 66002 Live Well Live Atchison In the Beginning... In the 2009 Kansas Health Rankings published by the Kansas Health Institute, Atchison was ranked as the worst Kansas county for health behaviors, which included teen birth, cigarette smoking, smoking during pregnancy, binge drinking, seatbelt use, inactivity, obesity, and violent crime. These alarming statistics prompted the community to take notice and then to take action. Atchison Hospital partnered with a wide range of community leaders to form "Live Well Live Atchison Creating Healthy Communities" (LWLA), which is a healthy living group dedicated to taking Atchison from "worst" to "first" as a healthy Kansas community. The group first met with the Kansas Health Institute (KHI) to determine what steps we needed to take to improve our health related lifestyles. From this, LWLA developed the following vision statement:...to help Atchison develop one of the healthiest lifestyle cultures found in Kansas through collaborative planning, community action, education, and policy advocacy. Collaboration: Those collaborating with Atchison Hospital in initiating LWLA include government officials (Atchison's state representative, mayor, county commissioners, chamber of commerce, health department, and county extension office), law enforcement officials, education officials (USD 409 and 377 school districts and Benedictine College), community groups (Atchison's YMCA, local churches, Benedictine Sisters), local media (Atchison Globe), and local businesses (MGP Ingredients, Country Mart). Community Forums: To learn how we could make a difference in changing the community's "health culture" at all levels, LWLA actively promoted a series of four forums in 2011 for gathering public input needed to set priorities and chart a course for LWLA. These four forums were conducted: a youth forum involving 27 students from ALL local public and private schools (middle and high schools), Benedictine College, and Highland Community College; a Community Leaders Forum attended by 35 influential community leaders; and two General Public forums attended by 47 community members from Atchison and Atchison County. Setting Priorities: All comments generated by the community forums were consolidated. Briefly, the main threats to the community's health were identified as (1) satisfaction with the status quo, (2) no commitment to change, (3) apathy, and (4) the area's socioeconomic makeup. The main issues needing priority attention included obesity, drug abuse, alcohol abuse, teen pregnancy, and low graduation rates. The relationships between these issues and various family, social, and area factors were then determined
for the top four challenges: drug abuse, obesity, alcohol abuse, and high school graduation rates. The many community resources available to address these issues were then researched and listed. Action Teams: In the summer of 2012, four "action teams" were established to address these forumidentified issues. The Lifelong Learning and Achievements Team addresses high school and college graduation rates, teen pregnancy rates, workforce development, economic vitality, and poverty reduction. The Community Support and Expectations Team addresses alcohol and drug abuse, spiritual and mental health, and community values. The Healthy Living Team addresses smoking, obesity/eating disorders, nutrition, local health care access, physical health, physical activity, and an infrastructure for active living. The Communication and Resource Team addresses marketing, fund raising, grant research, agency clearinghouse and collaboration, corporate funding, and event sponsorships. The new team leaders completed in service training to learn how to address program planning and evaluation. During the 2012/2013 year, these teams have developed their priorities, discussed effective activities, and brainstormed projects that would meet the objectives of each action team. 2013 What a Great Start! Trot to the Top Setting the Pace In late May 2013, the Atchison YMCA, LWLA, and Atchison Hospital sponsored a foundational community event to help introduce LWLA to the community. The Trot to the Top (5K and 10K fun run/walk/roll) launched the LWLA "brand" and was attended by 89 runners. According to the YMCA, this was a good attendance for a first time event of this sort in our community. Atchison's Amelia Earhart 8K run started with 96 runners the first year, and this year (16 years later), it was attended by 378 runners. Looking at these numbers, we are encouraged and are working with the YMCA for the 2014 Trot to the Top event. Read Atchison Using the News to Promote Literacy and Strengthen Community Relationships According to market research done by USD 409, the Atchison Globe (newspaper) is the number one source of area wide education news for subscribers of all ages. Additionally, the simple act of reading the newspaper improves the literacy levels within our families. In a new cooperative program called the Read Atchison Campaign, the Globe is being delivered free to qualifying local families who may not currently have access to it. As parents enrolled their children for the 2013 2014 school year, households that qualified for free or reduced lunches in USD 409 were invited to join the Read Atchison program. In this pilot project, the Globe offered 400 free newspaper subscriptions to qualifying families, the Atchison Rotary Club covered the paper's delivery costs, and USD 409 took charge of promoting the program and enrolling families in it. Web Site and Social Media Bringing LWLA to the Community In the summer of 2013, LWLA's Communication and Resource Team in collaboration with Atchison Hospital's marketing director developed and launched the new LWLA Web site (www.livewellatchison.org). The Web site gives Atchison easy access to our community's health related news, events, resources, and information on how to get involved. The Web site will also be a useful resource for explaining our goals and accomplishments when LWLA is being considered for grants and other funding opportunities. While the Web site is in its infancy, it is designed to grow as the projects and activities of LWLA expand. In addition to the Web site, the team has established LWLA's presence in social media via our new a Facebook page as well as a Twitter feed. Please stop by and "like" us! Page 2 of 5
Warm Transfers Providing Effective Smoking Cessation Support for Hospitalized Smokers For hospitalized smokers, a key component for effective smoking cessation is the support they receive after hospital discharge. However, few hospitals provide a direct hand off of the patient to an established program where they can get the help they need. In March 2013, the Healthy Living Action Team collaborated with Atchison Hospital to establish a "Warm Transfer" program that links hospitalized smokers with the counseling services they need before being dismissed. Seven respiratory therapists were trained by Matthew Schrock, coordinator for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment's Tobacco Quitline. Staff members were guided through the 5 A s process to assess a patient's tobacco use and willingness to quit. They were also trained in the proper way to refer patients to the Tobacco Quitline for this free personal one on one counseling service. Warm transfers like this are proven to achieve very high rates of treatment enrollment. This program was sponsored by a grant from Tobacco Cessation Media funds provided by the Northeast Kansas Multi County Health Department and the Chronic Disease Risk Reduction Program. 2014 Project Summary Live Well Live Atchison is budgeting $30,000 in total funding for our 2014 programs and activities. Of this amount, we are respectfully asking for $15,000 from the Courtney S. Turner Charitable Trust, with the remainder to be obtained from other sources. The project we intend to support for 2014 include: 1. Finalize our application for 501k (c)3 status, making it possible for LWLA to apply for grants and receive community donations, allowing us to expand our programs and sustain existing programs. 2. Sponsor healthy community wide events, such as Trot to the Top, healthy snacks for children attending special library events, and Walk Kansas. 3. Advocate for a smoke free city ordinance and develop a cooperative agreement with local restaurants to offer a selection of LWLA approved (and labeled) healthy menu choices 4. Provide community leaders with a high energy educational seminar designed to help re think community norms and to improve our current approaches to changing health related behaviors 5. Establish evidence based character development programs in our local schools designed to teach the setting and attaining of educational goals and designed to improve behavioral skills for making healthy lifestyle choices 6. Develop a new community garden on privately donated land in the city of Atchison. 7. Create a positive media campaign regarding community pride, values, and involvement. 8. Promote new LWLA programs and activities to encourage the community participation & growth. Impact Statement Our primary goals with these programs are: 1) To generate increased awareness and interest in the goals and activities of Live Well Live Atchison. 2) To implement evidence based programs to improve the effectiveness of our public policy, our community activities, our workplace initiatives, and our next generation's approach to improving educational goals and Atchison's health related lifestyles. 3) To improve access to and education about healthy diet choices and food sources in our community. 4) To increase our residents' sense of pride, sense of belonging, and desire to improve our lives at home, in the workplace, and in the community. Page 3 of 5
The more we can capture the excitement, interest, and involvement of our community, the greater our chances are of taking Atchison s health and quality of life from worst to first. Total Budget for 2014 Projects $30,000 501K c(3) status (finalize legal application; being managed by our Board of Directors) 600.00 Community Wide Events Trot to the Top 5K/10K Fun Run/Walk/Roll 1200.00 Healthy Snacks for Children participating in special Atchison Library programs 600.00 Health Related Educational Forums for community covering both hot topics and 3000.00 general topics of interest Chop Chop Kids Magazine (innovative book to teach & inspire kids and their 350.00 families to cook real foods... will distribute in local doctor's offices [100] and to all 4 th grade students in Atchison) Advocating for Change Advocate for and help develop a Smoke Free City Ordinance 3000.00 LWLA Approved Healthy Menu Choices at Local Restaurants (develop this new 500.00 cooperative program and label the approved menu items with LWLA logo) Community Leader & Business Forums to teach realistic approaches to help us 3250.00 effectively implement healthy changes in the home/workplace/community Graduation Rates & Youth Development Character Development Program in local schools to teach how to develop the 1600.00 behavioral skills needed to lead a healthy lifestyle Training Seminars in local schools on how to set and attain educational goals 1600.00 Community Improvements Warm Transfer Program for Smoking Cessation... promotion & continuing ed 1000.00 Develop new Community Garden on newly donated property 2000.00 Expand Community Resource Clearinghouse for access via LWLA Web site 800.00 Promotion, Sponsorship, and Clearinghouse Positive Media Campaign encouraging community pride, enhancing community 3000.00 values, and promoting community involvement Sponsor Local Health Related Events, such as Health Fair, Walk Kansas, etc 1800.00 Promotional Materials for LWLA events, activities, and programs 5700.00 Total 30,000.00 Funding Sought from Courtney S. Turner Charitable Trust for 2014 Projects $15,000 Live Well Live Atchison is budgeting $30,000 in total funding for our 2014 programs and activities. Of this amount, we are respectfully asking for $15,000 from the Courtney S. Turner Charitable Trust, with the remainder to be obtained from other sources listed below. Page 4 of 5
Matching Funds for 2014 Projects XXX We have obtained matching funds from the following community resources: Atchison Hospital... has pledged matching funds of up to $15,000 Grant from Tobacco Cessation Media funds (for Warm Transfer program)... $1250 Community Garden (land donated)... $1200 Schedule of Funding Needs Live Well Live Atchison will utilize these funds as the project/activity requires in 2014. At the time of our application, our Action Teams are developing strategies for implementing the projects outlined above. Page 5 of 5