R2002-184 AUTHORIZING SUBRECIPIENT AGREEMENTS

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�� 1 Project Description: Mo6ilizing Neighborhoods to Better Health Having knowledge that residents of Decatur fall short of ineeting the Medicaze 2010 goals for immunization rates among seniors for influenza and pneumonia, Decatur students (201) not ha.ving physicals and 189 not having immunizations, and being behind in registering children for Kid Care; Decatur Community Partnership, with neighborhood residents, embazked on a project to alleviate many of these gaps. The first phase of our objective is to work with leaders of at least twelve targeted inner city neighborhoods to gain acceptance of a community health mobile unit. Invited into the areas by neighborhood groups and/or individuals, the mobile unit will be a visible, safe presenc�—a place where exciting programs will be offered. A potential cardiovascular program would include offering healthy cooking (U of I Extension Services), blood pressure screenings (VNA), and the start-up of walking clubs. All will be designed and implemented by listening to the needs and desires of the particular neighborhood. Staffing will come from the appropriate program agencies. The Youth Engagement Strategy youth will ha.ve youth conversations on the mobile unit, bringing in youth who can share in this environment and eventually participate in the many Decatur youth activities throughout the community. This first phase will build trust with the folks who have the knowledge of their own neighborhood. Phase II will involve addressing holistic needs of the neighborhood community—from job seazch and job trainuig information to mammograms for women who do not seek this preventive care. Other disease specific programs that can be offered will be male PSA's, school physicals, immunizations, diabetes testing, blood pressures. This portion of the project will have special attention from Dr. Stephen Goetter(cardiovascular) and Dr. Howazd Beede (pediatric asthma). A protocol for follow-up will be established by the . strategy team and the coordina.tor. Refenals will be made appropriately. First Call infom�ation and refenal system will be available on the mobile unit computer. The mobile unit and the truck for pulling have been purchased. Training for its usage has occurred. The strategy team has begun its work. Other teams, as Pediatric Asthma and Cardiovascular, are in place. The partners will take this roving community center on the road in early 2002. The ADA accessibility will be the necessary component for all persons to access the mobile unit. Other communities have found that the mobile units have become a vital part of gathering and sharing neighborhood information. Specifically, a Texas community found that offering medical services from the unit, reduced their inappropriate emergency room usage by 7%. Most importantly, families found a sa.fe place to connect with their community. Jim Johnson, strategy team member,