Community partnerships supporting societal health

Background and Issues: Department of Health rated Watonwan County as having the worst health status in Minnesota. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Health Disparities and Inequalities Report, Hispanics have a higher rate of being uninsured and preventable hospitalizations than non-Hispanic whites. Nearly 1/3 of Watonwan County is Hispanic. Nurse researchers, critical access hospital personnel and community members formed Madelia Community Based Collaborative (MCBC) to identify health concerns and priority actions to improve health outcomes. Description: A community needs assessment was conducted by baccalaureate nursing students, findings were verified and reported to the community through open forum. MCBC identified three action plans: 1. Family Health: International expert on Latino women's health will provide education on nutrition and body image to pre-teenager, teenagers and families. Activities include Zumba exercise classes, healthy snack recipes, and cooking demonstrations. 2. Wellness Fair: Madelia area businesses and healthcare professionals will provide health promotion information and activities in regards to nutrition, dental hygiene, and fitness. 3. Public Service Announcements (PSAs): PSAs are being produced by community members, nursing students, and researchers to provide practical tips for living healthy. Lessons Learned: Working with lowest ranked county in the state is an ongoing process as health outcomes cannot be changed in a short time period. Evaluation of these activities will be conducted summer/ fall of 2013 via surveys. Recommendations: Academic/community partnerships are built upon trust. Empowering the community members to improve health outcomes throughout their lifespan and impacting future generations is the on-going goal of MCBC.