Robeson County Partnership for Community Health

www.robesonpartners.org

To coordinate and implement countywide health initiatives in an effort to create an environment that supports good health among the citizens of Robeson County.

1. Access to Care: Project T.R.U.S.T. (To Reach Underserved Sites Together) - a Parish Nurse Ministry program funded by The Duke Endowment. Target - 3 under-served Native American communities in Robeson County. The Parish Nurse Advisory Cabinet is heading up this initiative.
   
   
2. Chronic Disease/Obesity: Project H.E.A.L.T.H - (Healthy Eating and Active Lifestyles for Tomorrow's Health) - a project under the Fit Together initiative, a statewide childhood and youth overweight and obesity prevention program funded by the N. C. Health and Wellness Trust Fund Commission. Target audience: Piloting this program in 2 elementary schools (tracking 1st graders for 3 years) in Columbus County and one high school in Robeson County (tracking 9th graders for 3 years). Columbus Regional Healthcare System and Southeastern Regional Medical Center have partnered with the school systems in both counties to implement this project. The CATCH curriculum (Coordinated Approach to Child Health) is being utilized as a means of addressing overweight and obesity in children/youth, their families, school staff and the community at large. Emphasis is being placed on promoting existing national campaigns such as 5 A Day, 1% Milk or less, 10,000 Steps program and Take Ten. A weight loss/behavior change initiative , known as Columbus County Drops A Ton (Fit In Five), developed by members of the Columbus County Healthy Carolinians Task Force, has begun in Columbus County. The same program will be duplicated in the high school in Robeson County. The School Health Advisory Councils in both counties is providing Partnership oversight to this initiative.
   
   
3. Chronic Disease/Cancer: Cancer Outreach Program - providing free prostate cancer screenings to high-risk, African American and Native American males in underserved areas in Robeson County. The Cancer Education Sub-Committee is heading up this initiative.
   
   
4. Chronic Disease/Diabetes: Developed a Diabetes Self-Management Training Program (DSMT) at the Diabetes Community Center of Robeson County. This program is nationally recognized by the American Diabetes Association. Target Audience: All individuals with any type of diabetes and their families/significant others. The Diabetes Community Center is the only Diabetes Self-Management Training program in the county. The center opened its doors in January 1999. when Robeson County was ranked # 1 in Diabetes mortality in the state. The diabetes related mortality rate has since been reduced by 18% (ranked 6th in the state). The Diabetes Community Network (Diabetes Task Force) and the Diabetes Advisory Board provides oversight to this program.
   
   
5. Chronic Disease/Heart Disease & Diabetes: Offer free community health screens designed to assess the risk of diabetes and heart disease. Free B/P, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and glucose screening is offered at various times throughout the calendar year in various locations throughout the county (fire stations, community centers, etc). Screen results are provided at the time of service. Nurses, dietitians and health educators provide interpretation of the results and counsel each participant on how to live a healthy lifestyle. Target Audience: High risk, underserved adults age 18 and over. Generally serve about 1000 people per year.
   
   
6. Health Promotion/Tobacco Prevention/Cessation: Becoming a 100% smoke free school system. Also offering smoke cessation classes in the schools. Target Audience: Middle and high school youth. The Smoke Free Robeson Task Force is heading up this initiative funded by the NC Health & Wellness Trust Fund Commission.
   
   
7. Infectious Diseases/Syphilis/HIV: Syphilis and HIV screenings offered in various locations throughout the community. Target Audience: High risk individuals such as prostitutes, drug abusers, individuals in jail, etc. The Syphilis Elimination and HIV Task Force provides oversight to this initiative.
   
   
8. Injuries/Child Safety: The Risk Watch Injury Prevention Program is taught in the Public Schools of Robeson County to reduce childhood injuries. Target Audience: Public elementary school children (grades K - 2). High school Teacher Cadet students learning to be teachers utilize the Risk Watch curriculum to gain valuable hands-on classroom teaching experience. They serve as role models to the elementary school children as well. Safe City is a one day event where children can walk through a "mock city" designed to reinforce the safety lessons learned in the classroom setting. The local Safe Kids Coalition provides other opportunities for learning safety throughout the year, such as Bike Rodeos and Car Seat Clinics.
   
   
9. Infant Mortality: Low Birth Weight Prevention initiatives are being implemented by the partners on the Infant Mortality Task Force.. Target Audience: High risk mothers.
   

• Provisions for a Community Needs Assessment
• Establishment of a Diabetes Community Center to provide Comprehensive Multidisciplinary Outpatient Diabetes "Self Care" Education

Unfortunately we have received no rewards thus far. However, we are proud of the fact that our Diabetes Education Program, housed in Southeastern Regional Medical Center's Diabetes Community Center, was nationally recognized by the American Diabetes Association in August of 2001 and 2004. This diabetes program was the very first initiative our Healthy Carolinians Task Force took on as a health issue to be addressed when we had no place for people with diabetes to go and learn how t o care for themselves. ADA Recognition status enables us to provide diabetes education as a Medicare and Medicaid reimbursable service; thus, sustaining the program the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust initially funded from 1999 - 2001.

• Enterprise Community Program Progress Report
• Historical Facts
• Demographic Information
• NC County Website

content updated: tml-10/25/05