Press Release
DATE: March 20, 2012
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: A Louise Hart, ACHIEVE Grant Coordinator, 765-546-2388
St.Vincent Randolph Hospital Receives One of Fifteen U.S. Grants to Fund Mentoring and Implement Local Strategies to Reduce Chronic Disease
WINCHESTER, IN: St.Vincent Randolph Hospital, in Winchester, IN was one of only 15 sites selected in the United States to be designated as an ACHIEVE (Action Communities for Health, Innovations, and EnVironmental ChangE) community. The local ACHIEVE community board members will be responsible for implementing activities focused on preventing chronic disease by building partnerships and raising public awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco use and exposure, poor nutrition, and physical inactivity in schools, work sites and other community settings. This approach is supported by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s, Healthy Communities Program.
The grant will also provide training, technical assistance and support to the ACHIEVE coalition. For the first time a mentoring component has been added, which the national partners believe will contribute to the sustainability of the ACHIEVE community’s work. Randolph County has been paired with a mentor city, Nacogdoches, Texas, which was a previously funded ACHIEVE community that was successful in producing policy, systems and positive environmental impacts.
Francis (Cheech) Albarano, St. Vincent Randolph Hospital Administrator, said, “Receiving the ACHIEVE Grant is an exceptional opportunity for our community. With the cities and the wide variety of organizations that are represented through this endeavor, we will certainly accomplish the health results that will benefit both our communities and citizens.”
The first part of the ACHIEVE training will begin with a site visit from our mentors on March 26 and 27. They will take part in a “windshield” tour of the county and get a sense for the needs of our community. Lead Coach, Ceann Bales, and Partner Coach, Dr. Alison Syme will lead the coalition members. Dr. Syme related that “we all have family member whose lives have been impacted or tragically shortened by chronic disease. Hypertension, cancer, coronary artery disease and diabetes are preventable with good nutrition, exercise and good health habits. The grant is “all about” making sure these healthy habits are easy choices in Randolph County.”
Fourteen community partners from all parts of the county have agreed to be a part of the process.