By: Lindsey Cox, Community Wellness Coordinator, Purdue Extension

Blackford County can get better, especially if the community embraces some new health and wellness opportunities coming its way. Connections IN Health (CINH) has partnered with the Blackford County Purdue Extension to launch two new projects. 

Connections IN Health includes four statewide chronic disease initiatives:

• The Indiana Joint Asthma Coalition (InJAC)
• The Health Equity and Cancer Control Initiative
• The Hoosier Health and Wellness Alliance (HHWA)
• The Cardiovascular and Diabetes Coalition of Indiana (CADI)

CINH brings financial resources as well as knowledge to bear. Since early this year, CINH and the Extension have been conducting a health survey. The aim is to learn what residents think about past successes and ongoing challenges to achieve a healthier community. A focus is on chronic diseases and factors related to them. 

It’s not too late to participate in the survey. Use this link: https://redcap.uits.iu.edu/surveys/?s=JCPWRF9347

Even more productive for the team are one-on-one listening sessions so you can provide more detail and context about your and the community’s health. You can do a session on the phone or via Zoom. Each session takes 30-60 minutes. Make an appointment by:

• Calling the Extension at 765-348-3213
• Email Cheri Brown (brow1334@purdue.edu) or Lindsey Cox (lecox@purdue.edu)
• Stop by the Extension at 111 W. Washington Street
• Use this link to schedule a listening session: https://doodle.com/poll/icpzhpzzvd3gxuwn?utm_source=poll&utm_medium=link

Passport to Health

This new program focuses on cardiovascular disease and diabetes. It encompasses health screenings, tasty recipes and food samples, and your own passport to record your progress. Participants who complete the minimum requirements, incentive prizes await. You can look for these events at community gathering places, like soccer games, concerts, Homecoming, the Montpelier Jamboree and others.

There will be Dining with Diabetes and Be Heart Smart classes. Free. 

Also a free outreach program to teens and adolescents featuring health and nutrition will be offered in Blackford County Schools. For information, call Jane, the Extension Nutrition Education Program Advisor, at (765) 348-3213.

Enhancing the Value of Public Spaces

The Extension has also partnered with the Hoosier Health and Wellness Alliance, an arm of CINH. In October, a workshop will be held to implement Enhancing the Value of Public Spaces: Creating Healthy Communities Together. Call the Extension office at (765) 348-3213 for details about how you can get involved in this community development project. 

The purpose of the workshop is to create a Five-Year Strategic Parks and Recreation Plan, to be submitted to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. Once approved, the plan could free up additional funding to enhance local parks and green spaces. 

Blackford County recently received a grant to fund its membership in the Indiana Parks and Recreation Association. Now eligible for scholarships, Blackford County Parks and Recreation can look to send representatives for continuing education, such as the Certified Playground Safety Inspector training. 

If health and wellness, or working with outdoor recreational and educational opportunities, appeals to you, reach out to the Extension Office at (765) 348-3213 or visit them at 111 W. Washington St. in Hartford City, Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.