Jackson County Healthy Communities Coalition

March 28, 2013 @ 8:30 a.m.

Present: Miriam Link-Mullison, Jackson County Health Department

Leziga Gbaanador, Jackson County Health Department

Caleb Nehring, American Cancer Society
Colleen Flanagan, TASC, Inc.

Kathy Renfro, Carbondale Park District

Diane Land, SIH, Community Benefits Dept.

Rosi Ervin, Parish Nurse, Rock Hill Baptist Church

Angie Bailey, Jackson County Health Department

Kristin Preihs, Jackson County Health Department

Karen Freitag, The H Group

Mary Pat DeJarnette, Karla Smith Foundation

Jill Titsworth, SIUC Head Start

Fran Becque, Women for Health and Wellness

Evyn Neumeister, SIU, MD/MPH Student

Kathryn Henry, Jackson County Health Dept.

Kara Dunkel, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Jean Alstat, The H Group
Nancy Muzzarelli, Shawnee Health Service

Orlan Mays, Gift of Love Charity

Jo Sanders, SIH, Community Benefits Dept.

Minutes: Amber Maslovsky, SIH, Community Benefits Dept.

Welcome/Introductions: Diane Land of Southern Illinois Healthcare welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Approval of Agenda: Agenda stands approved.

Approval of January 24, 2013 Meeting Minutes: Minutes stand approved as written.

Agency Presentation: Kathy Renfro, Executive Director at Carbondale Park District, and Orlan Mays at Gift of Love Charity, presented on community gardens.

Carbondale Park District is a tax supported identity with supportive staff. Throughout the past 5 years, the park district has expanded its mission and vision. Carbondale Park District has been successful throughout the past 5 years with the support of their partners. The park district’s new role is on the preventative end of healthcare; by encouraging people to come to the park to play, their physical and mental health will improve.

How the Program Started

Kathy reported in 2011, she attended a program the community and Diana Sussman at the Carbondale Public Library started called 11 Days of Peace. There were 13 interfaith centers being represented at the event. Even though, each of the different religious leaders spoke, they all had one common message – “trust in God and treat your fellow man how you would like to be treated.” Kathy discussed after the event, she wanted to keep the energy going and the interfaith communities connected. Jackson County Health Department and other community members hosted a leader’s forum and the keynote speaker was Dr. David Mirvis. His message during that forum was that if a person has access to healthy food, physical activity and healthcare, then they will be a more productive person in the community. This message ignited the idea of bringing the interfaith communities together by growing a garden and to grow food to feed people that may not have had the opportunity.

Orlan Mays was already actively gardening in the community. Kathy partnered with Orlan to implement a community garden program. The only caveat to the program was that the participants had to donate a percentage of their yield back to their congregation and also to a local food pantry.

Community Garden Program

Orlan Mays, at Gift of Love Charity, is an urban, organic farmer. Orlan wanted to introduce the best and cleanest method to grow food. This method does not involve any tillers, machinery or combustible machinery that would add carbon to the air. Instead, this method utilizes man/woman power and brings people together as it takes about 3-4 people to get started.

The group used a 5ft x 20 ft bed (100 sq foot) by growing the producing in a bio-intensive way; meaning they fertilized about 24 inches deep straight into the ground. The roots will then grow down instead of out to the sides, thus being able to grow more produce. The digging is the hardest part as it is labor intensive. However, once this method is done, it does not need to be done again.

Each congregation went through a series of workshops on seeding and digging. Everyone wanted to be involved even the children. They grew tomatoes, carrots, beets, turnips, and other certain crops.

In the end, the congregations collectively grew 94 lbs of produce and that doesn’t include the tomatoes and anything harvested after the program was over.

Next Steps

The program will start off earlier in the year around April to address the summer heat. Also, the previous congregations who have been through the process will possibly be the trainers for the new groups.

Orlan will be opening a store outlet in April for the produce and 2 farmers markets. The location is 201 West Walnut, Carbondale. Also, starting on April 27, 2013, International Service Day, Orlan’s son will be leading a gardening initiative. His gardening bed will be behind Hickory Lodge.

This program is open for anyone as long as it has a community component. For more information or how to get involved, contact Kathy Renfro, Carbondale Park District, at 618-529-4147.

Action Plan Updates

§  Healthy Living Action Team

  • Continuing to work on getting more members on the “We Choose Health” initiative.
  • A Smoke-Free Public Places poster contest was conducted in K-12. Judging was on March 26, 2013. There were 86 posters submitted. 15 winners will be announced at the “Spring into Motion” event on April 13th at 11:30am at the Super Block in Carbondale, and these posters will be made into metal signs. An example of what they will say is “Thank you for making my playground smoke-free” or “Thank you for making my park smoke-free”, etc.
  • “We Choose Health” Smoke-Free Multi-Unit Housing surveyed 111 residents at Jackson County Housing Authority to find interests about going smoke-free. Waiting on results. More information to follow.
  • Regional Leader’s Forum: Building a Healthier Community was held on Feb. 26, 2013. There were over 140 attendees. The forum went very well and more worksites were interested at the forum in making the healthy choice the easy choice.
  • There will be a meeting on April 1, 2013 at 8:30 at the American Cancer Society office to review and update the Healthy Living Guide. The updates will include policy, system, and environmental changes as well as any other changes needed. Anyone interested is welcome to come.
  • American Cancer Society, Southern Illinois Healthcare, and Health Department is hosting “Jump with Jill” the week of April 23-26. On April 26th, “Jump with Jill” will be at Giant City and Unity Pointe. “Jump with Jill” has three touring casts across the county. Haley will be representing the Midwest cast.
  • Next Meeting of the Healthy Living Action Team: May 6, 2013 @ 1:00 p.m. at Southern Illinois Healthcare’s new office addition “The Place.”
  • Future meetings for 2013: July 1, Sept. 10, & Nov. 4, 2013.
  • For more information about the Healthy Living Action Team or to become a member, please call Angie Bailey at (618) 684-3143, ext. 134 or Michelle McLernon at (618) 453-5227.

§  Jackson County Family Violence Task Force

  • No Report
  • If interested in joining this action team, please contact Cathy McClanahan at (618) 549-4807 or by e-mail at: or Susie Toliver at 457-3200, ext. 447 or by e-mail at

§  Positive Youth Development Action Team.

  • Family vacation night event “Family Iron Chef” is Monday, April 1st from 5p – 7p at Boys and Girls Club of Carbondale. It will be introducing healthy foods and different choices that are available. A fun activity will be, two families will be picked at random of who can create the coolest dish with the foods they will be provided. This event is free and open to the public. This event is sponsored by: Boys and Girls Club of Carbondale, Carbondale School District #95, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Carbondale, Women’s Center, Carbondale Park District, Carbondale Public Library and Shawnee Healthy Families, and The H-Group.
  • There is a new tourism in Murphysboro through a new tourism agency called Murphysboro MORE, Inc.
  • There will be cooking classes at Hickory Lodge starting in the spring teaching how to cook with produce. Children will be free and adults will have a fee. Please look for more information in the upcoming brochures.
  • If interested in joining the PYD Action Team, please contact Ramona Gertman of The H Group at (618) 457-6703 or Tina Carpenter of the Boys & Girls Club of Carbondale at 457-8877.
  • Please contact Ramona Gertman at (618) 457-6703 or Tina Carpenter at (618) 457-8877for the date of the next PYD Action Team meeting.

§  Access to Care Action Team

  • Access to Care is a Joint Access Team which includes Jackson, Franklin and Williamson Counties.
  • Currently, this action team is finishing the mental health needs assessment for Southern Illinois. The Mental Health Resource document is being finalized with correct phone numbers. When it is complete, the resource document will be put on SIH website. MPH student, Evyn, was a great help putting together the resource document.
  • In fall 2013, a MPH student will be starting Dental School and is interested in oral health. This student will be doing evaluations on some of the programs this team has been doing.
  • For more information about the Access to Care Action Team or to become a member, please contact Miriam Link-Mullison at (618) 684-3143.
  • Next meeting: May 15, 2013 @ 2 p.m. at the Adolescent Health Center.

§  Sexual Health Action Team

  • Sexual Health Action Team will be holding a session about talking to your kids on sexuality. It will be April 13, 2013 from 10 am – noon at the Boys and Girls Club of Carbondale. The guests speakers are Dr. Sherry Jones and Dr. Melodi Ewing sharing their expertise as a medical provider as well as a parent. If you would like a flyer on the event, please contact Miriam Link-Mullison at .
  • Sexual Health Action Team partnered with Carbondale Community High School to support their program of distributing condoms. At this time, the teams involvement is not extensive but supportive.
  • For more information about the Sexual Health Action Team please contact Miriam Link-Mullison at if you would like to join this action team or contact Jason Gillman at (618) 536-4441.
  • Next meeting: April 3, 2013 @ 3:00 p.m. at Jackson County Health Department in Miriam’s office.

§  Behavioral Health Action Team

  • No Report.
  • Working on recruitment efforts for new members and submitting articles to the paper. If interested in joining this action team, please contact Colleen Flanagan at (618) 565-0060.
  • Next meeting: February 4, 2013 @ 9 a.m. at The H Group (formerly SIRSS). This group meets the first Monday of every month at the Turning Point Building.
  • Diabetes Today Resource Team

Ø  This committee is active in addressing Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes.

Ø  A Diabetes Resource Guide is located on SIH website.

Ø  Diabetes Day event was on March 26, 2013 from 7am – 11am at the First United Methodist Church in Carbondale. It was a successful event as 25 people were screened for diabetes.

Ø  SIU School of Medicine Primary Care Update – Diabetes – scheduled for April 3, 2013.

Ø  Contact Angie Bailey at (618) 684-3143 if interested in joining this resource team.

Ø  The next Diabetes Today Resource Team meeting is scheduled for April 11, 2013 at 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Jackson County Health Department (back building).

Announcements:

·  Head Start has opened registration for 2013-2014 school year. Head Start provides comprehensive school readiness and high quality services to income-eligible families with preschool-age children serving Jackson and Williamson Counties. For more information regarding Head Start or how to register, contact Head Start at (618) 453-6448 or (618) 997-2216.

·  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Center for United States Earthquake Consortium will be having an event on September 21st for emergency preparedness. This event will be free to the public. More information about the event at next coalition meeting. If interested in having a table or for more information contact Kara Dunkel at (618) 529-4042.

·  Stand Against Cancer Program is back at Jackson County Health Department. This program offers women ages 18-39 free breast exams, pelvic exams, and pap smears for eligible women. The requirements are: Resident of Illinois, Uninsured/Underinsured, or Low Income (meeting Federal poverty level guidelines). For more information on eligibility or appointments, call Jackson County Health Department at (618) 684-3143 ext. 150.

·  Illinois Tobacco is a free resource for tobacco uses who want to quit. For more information contact 1-866-QUIT-YES.

·  Rock Hill Baptist Church will be hosting a Breast Cancer Awareness Workshop on Sunday, May 26th at Rock Hill focused for African Americans and Hispanics. This event is important as many women have never had a mammogram. Handouts for event are being made. For more information contact Rosi Ervin at .

·  A Summit of Hope will be on Tuesday, April 9, 2013 from 8am – 2pm at Third Baptist Church – 1102 e. Boulevard St. Marion, IL. This conference is for newly released paroles to provide them with the needed services to give them the most successful life after being released. If interested in attending or for more information, contact BJ Newbury at Jackson County Health Department at (618) 684-3143 ext. 258 or fax the registration form to BJ at (618) 687-4933.

·  Women’s Health Conference will be September 21, 2013. The conference will be awarding a local woman who has given herself to the community the Rosemary Berkel Crisp Award. There will be an incentive for those who complete the application and a donation will be made to the agency of her choice. This is a great way to reward people to give themselves to the community. The applications are coming soon.

·  Friends of the Library Spring Book Sale is Friday, April 5, 2013 from 4p-6p in the Brush Building next door to the Carbondale Public Library.

·  Shawnee Health Service is building another building on Lewis Lane in Carbondale and should be completed in a year. The dental practice will be moving there once completed. This will allow for another physician to be hired. More information to follow.

·  American Cancer Society and Southern Illinois Healthcare partnered for the free colonoscopy program for those who do have not health insurance. As of September 1, 2012 to last week, there has been 198 screenings. This includes scheduled and/or completed screenings.

·  Spring into Motion is Saturday, April 13, 2013 from 11am-2pm at the Superblock in Carbondale. The event is free with free lunch. There will be new games, fitness stations, and the results from the smoke-free public places K-12 poster contest will be revealed.