Partner Success Stories
Partner Spotlight - Holy Trinity Lutheran Church
“Walk to Jerusalem” participants pose for a photo before walking on the White River Greenway in Muncie on April 19, 2017.
Left to right: Pastor Jerry O’Neal, Dawn-Marie Oberly, Linda Hamilton, Carol Pinckney, Laurie Habich, and Dan Beard.
Photo by John D. Disher
May 1, 2017 -
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, located at 900 W. White River Boulevard, was organized in 1889 and is the first Lutheran church to be established in Muncie, Indiana.
Holy Trinity joined the Healthy Community Alliance of Delaware and Blackford Counties in the spring of 2017 and quickly got to work on the first of many ideas of ways to promote healthy lifestyles among its church members.
Congregation President Dawn Marie-Oberly and Parish Nurse Linda Hamilton worked with Pastor Jerry O’Neal to establish a walking initiative called “Walk to Jerusalem.” The initiative meets at the church each Wednesday and each walk is begun with a Scripture meditation. Participants are encouraged to walk on other days of the week as well, and track their progress on a “Walk to Jerusalem” card.
Holy Trinity Parrish Nurse Linda Hamilton reads a passage of Scripture to walking group participants on April 19, 2017. Photo by John D. Disher
The benefits of walking and physical activity are promoted at a dedicated table in the church conference room and walker participation is visually tracked on a nearby bulletin board.
Congregation member Dan Beard is a regular walking group participant and is quick to point out why he enjoys the activity. “I got started walking by myself about three years ago, and I have found it really nice to be able to walk with a group like this, they go about the same distance as I was doing so it works out well.”
Fellow walker Carol Pinckney emphasized the many positive attributes of a group walk. “It’s fun and we talk, but also I’ve found it turns into less of a stroll and more of a brisk walk when you go with somebody,” Laughing, she added “especially Dan and Pastor Jerry, those two really keep us moving!”
Additionally, the socialization among group members helps the time pass quickly, noted Laurie Habich. “In the group, the distance doesn’t seem to be near as long as when you’re by yourself.”
Holy Trinity walking group members walking on the White River Greenway in Muncie, April 19, 2017. Photo by John D. Disher
According to Pastor O’Neal, Holy Trinity’s location across the street from the White River Greenway provides a perfect opportunity to encourage the congregation to get moving on Muncie’s extensive trail system, including the Cardinal Greenway. “We’re thinking in the summer time, after worship on a beautiful summer day, we'll ask everybody show up to worship in their shorts and t-shirts and walking shoes and we’ll go for a walk after church.”
Oberly noted the walking initiatives are the first of many such programs to come. “We are still just in the infancy of getting initiatives going, sort of feeling our way to get started. We will soon be looking at promoting smoking cessation, we also have a nutritionist in the congregation, so some sort of healthy eating emphasis will be coming in the future as well, probably as some sort of after church initiative.”
For more information about Holy Trinity’s current and future health promotions work, please contact Dawn-Marie Oberly at mddmo@comcast.net
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Muncie – In the spring of 2017, Heather Hosier heard a presentation about the Healthy Community Alliance describing how Partners were working to influence employees and other audiences to adopt components of a healthy lifestyle. As the Office Manager at University Dermatology Center, the message about employee wellness resonated in a positive way. Within a couple of months, UDC had become a Partner in the Alliance, and workplace wellness programming began to develop.
View a 2 minute video
and see how University Dermatology Clinic started creating a workplace culture that emphasizes healthier food options, physical activity and education of clients about tobacco cessation resources. (Video courtesy of WIPB-TV Wellness Matters, c2017)
Carol Sands, receptionist at University Dermatology Clinic, sees a ‘buzz’ happening around the office as employees start to embrace wellness opportunities. “I’m excited about people wanting to get healthy…I think moods have improved. When you do exercise, you feel better and I’ve noticed it in my co-workers.”
According to Sands, employees are starting to ask for healthier food items from pharmaceutical reps, and are sharing healthy recipes with each other as well as encouraging each other to take a walk during lunch breaks. “It’s a learning process, to improve; I think everybody has already improved, just the thought of doing something like getting out to walk at lunchtime, it’s positive change.” Sands notes that instead of sending an email or calling a co-worker, she’ll get up and go to that office and communicate in person to in order to get a few extra steps of activity.
She also says clients can see a change as well. “My philosophy has always been that ‘what is on the inside shows on the outside,’ so if you are eating healthier for your inside, your skin is going to be more radiant on the outside, and you’re going to feel better, you’re going to have a smile, you’re going to encourage others to be that way…patients say it’s great to walk into our office and see people that are chipper and encouraging.”
Employee’s families also become a part of this positive change, notes Sands. “You’re influencing everyone else in your family, they see you are getting heathier, getting better and you’re talking about it. You’re encouraging them.”
Why is this important? Sands sees a bigger picture for our community, one where most everyone applies her philosophy of what goes on the inside shows on the outside. “We as a community wouldn’t have as much chronic disease, people would have more resilience against addiction problems…it would be a miracle!
Founded by Dr. Alexander Zemtsov in 1995, University Dermatology Center has continued to learn and grow over the past 20 years to make sure that patients have the best care and services for hair, skin and nails. University Dermatology Center is located at 3500 W Purdue Avenue and has satellite locations in New Castle, Winchester, Portland, Hartford City, Connersville, Elwood, Rushville and Greenville, OH. To learn more about the skin care services they provide, please visit https://www.udcin.com/
For more information about their commitment to employee wellness, contact Heather Hosier at (765) 747-6090 or hhosier@udcin.com
Partner Spotlight - Physical Activity Initiatives at Lynd Place Senior Living
Lynd Place exercise class, January 2017. Photo by John D. Disher
January 26, 2017 - When Missy Wood started her new job a year ago at Lynd Place in Muncie, she quickly arranged for the Senior Living facility to become a Partner in the Healthy Community Alliance. Soon after, she went about promoting physical activity and organizing walking groups among the residents and staff. “Our philosophy is to make walking and other forms of physical activity a normal routine for everyone here, not just an occasional event,” said Wood. “It’s important to keep moving as part of a healthy lifestyle, regardless of your age.”
Missy Wood, Community Relations Manager, Lynd Place and resident Ruth Patty during a workout. Photo by John D. Disher
It’s easy to see this philosophy in action in the gathering spaces at Lynd Place, where residents participate in exercise classes and walking groups make laps around the facility on a daily basis. In the facility’s exercise room, it’s a common site to see resident Ruth Patty engaging in a vigorous workout. At age 98, she attributes her longevity to having been active her entire life, including serving in the Army during World War 2. These days she prefers working out on the recumbent stair step machine to walking with other residents in the organized walking club. “They’re a little too slow for me,” she noted with a smile. “I’m proud to be able to still do things, get around on my own, and I really credit that to exercise.”
Claudette Priest, RN is the Director of Nursing at Lynd Place and enjoys the ability to get some additional walking time in on breaks and after work. “I’m trying to incorporate more healthy activities into my day, including tracking my steps,” she stated. “It’s great to work for an organization that encourages those kinds of activities.”
Lynd Place exercise class, January 2017. Photo by John D. Disher
Lynd Place is a senior living community located at 2410 East McGalliard Road in Muncie and offers a wide range of options including assisted living, independent living, respite care, short term stay and urgent placement. Individual care plans are developed to meet the needs of each resident, and a full-time registered nurse is available 24 hours a day to provide clinical oversight and coordination of care.
For more information, please contact Missy Wood, Community Relations Manager, 765-284-7670, miwood@enlivant.com
Partner Spotlight - IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital
Families at the Farmers Market Program
One of the horticulturalists at Minnetrista provides an interactive tour of the herb garden during a Families at the Farmers Market program in 2016. Photo by John D. Disher
July 1, 2017-
IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital has collaborated with several Healthy Community Alliance Partners to create the Families at the Farmers Market program in Delaware and Blackford Counties.
Minnetrista, YMCA of Muncie, Purdue Extension, and the Hartford City Growers and Makers Market are working with IU Health Ball Memorial and Blackford Hospitals to provide an opportunity for families to learn and practice ways to incorporate fresh produce into mealtimes through programming and access to farmers markets.
“We started this program in 2013, and it has grown each year with the help of our HCA Partners,” said John Disher, east central region community outreach manager, IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital Foundation. “Many of our participants have never visited a farmers market before and really enjoy this opportunity.”
Families participate in a series of three educational programs about nutrition, physical activity and diabetes prevention and are recruited each year through Healthy Community Alliance Partners who wish to influence their various audiences in a positive way around nutrition and physical activity.
Families at the Farmers Market Program, Minnetrista. Photo by John D. Disher
In 2017, over 100 families were recruited to the program by HCA Partners Open Door Health Services, Hillcroft Services, Whitely Community Council, the Minority Health Coalition, the Ross Community Center, YWCA of Muncie and Apple Tree YMCA Child Development Center. Other cooperating agencies include the Blackford County Division of Family Resources, Blackford County WIC, The Roy C. Buley Community Center and the Salvation Army of Muncie.
The free programs are held at Minnetrista and the Hartford City Growers and Makers Market once a month in June, July and August.
Experts from IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital, Minnetrista, Purdue Extension, YMCA of Muncie and the Blackford County YMCA provide valuable information about incorporating fresh produce into mealtimes, the importance of physical activity, diabetes prevention and management, plus other tips and techniques for a healthy lifestyle.
Mandy Puckett, MA, RD, CD, from IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital Bariatric & Medical Weight Loss Center provides a presentation about
the dietary importance of fruits and vegetables on June 24, 2017. Photo by John D. Disher
Nancy Friedrich participated in the program in 2016 and was motivated to take steps to address her diagnosis of pre-diabetes. “Because of Families at the Farmers Market program, and the YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program I was able to lose more than 40 pounds, and reduced my high A1C readings to normal levels. It was definitely an attitude adjustment, about being better educated about what goes into my body and making good lifestyle choices.”
Jane Hemick from Blackford County Purdue Extension provides a food preparation demonstration at the Families at the Farmers Market Program held in Hartford City, 2016. Photo by Matt S. Cox
As part of the educational program, participating families receive a limited number of IU Health Bucks to purchase a variety of seasonal fruits and vegetables such as corn, green beans, radishes, cucumbers, squash and more. The IU Health Bucks are redeemable through participating vendors at Minnetrista, the Hartford City Growers and Makers Market and other locations in Delaware County. The IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital Foundation provides funding and staffing to manage the program in each county.
Participating families are encouraged to visit the participating farmers markets after each program and any other time the venues are open to spend their free IU Health Bucks on fresh produce.
A Families at the Farmers Market participant shops at the Minnetrista Farmers Market on July 24, 2017. Photo by John D. Disher
Families are surveyed before and after the program to determine the program’s effectiveness. In 2016, 80% of respondents stated that after participation in this program their families’ use of fresh fruits and vegetables at mealtimes increased each week. 100% of surveyed participants responded that “my knowledge increased a lot!” or “I learned a few new things!”
For more information, contact John Disher, IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital Foundation at 765-747-3915 or jdisher1@iuhealth.org.
The 2017 Families at the Farmers Market Program is currently full and not accepting additional participants.
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Muncie – Second Harvest Food Bank of East Central Indiana has been fighting hunger since its founding in 1983. The non-profit organization is funded by philanthropic and community support and is devoted to feeding the hungry, advocating for those with food insecurity and providing nutrition education. Second Harvest works with partner agencies, local schools, corporate partners and a wide network of volunteers to serve food to hundreds of people each week. In addition, Second Harvest collaborates with an extensive group of partners to address the root causes of food insecurity, with the goal of “shortening the line” of those in need. An example is the Poverty Alleviation program which is designed to engage local community members in efforts to increase the economic stability and vitality of struggling households.
Second Harvest joined the Healthy Community Alliance of Delaware and Blackford Counties in early 2016. Its service area includes Delaware and Blackford counties as well as Grant, Henry, Jay, Madison, Wabash and Randolph counties. According to information provided by Second Harvest, 1 in 7 adults and 1 in 5 children in Blackford County are considered to be food insecure, meaning that a family does not have enough food to provide the amount of food needed for every meal during the week. In Delaware County, the food insecurity rate is 17.2 percent, affecting more than 20,000 people.
Warehouse at Second Harvest Food Bank of East Central Indiana
Gretchen Cheesman, programs coordinator for Second Harvest, is a participant in the Healthy Community Alliance Nutrition Workgroup. During a recent meeting, she highlighted some interesting facts about the organization, stating that “In 2016, Second Harvest provided 7.5 million pounds of food to families in East Central Indiana, and 26 percent was in the form of fresh produce.”
Cheesman also described how Second Harvest’s 20 school food pantries provide more than food. “Our goal with the School Pantry program is to provide families in need a safe and convenient school environment to access food.” She noted that this helps raise parent engagement because it gets the parents into the schools for positive interactions over time. “That ongoing dialogue serves to promote and strengthen relationships between the school and the families.”
The School Pantry programs are designed to distribute enough food to fill a family’s food insecurity gap for a week. In Delaware County, pantries are operating at Southside Middle School, Grissom Elementary School, East Washington Academy and Southview Elementary School.
Slide from a presentation given at the 2017 Blackford County Fill a Bowl Community Luncheon.
Volunteers are very important to the operation of school based pantries, according to Tim Kean, president and CEO at Second Harvest. He noted that volunteers are needed to support existing pantries and expand into more schools. “We need a few groups to work a few hours once a month so relationships will grow and kids will be in a better place because of it.” Kean said “this is a great opportunity for a church to ‘adopt’ a school and supply the volunteer needs on a regular basis.”
Volunteers bagging potatoes at the Second Harvest warehouse
Where does the food come from? Second Harvest is a member of Feeding America, the largest domestic hunger-relief organization in the United States and this allows national access to donated product, professional resources and a network of other like-minded organizations. In addition, Second Harvest relies on organizations, schools, businesses, and other civic groups to run food drives and keep Second Harvest’s warehouse shelves stocked throughout the year. Financial donations also play a part in alleviating hunger. Each dollar that is donated to Second Harvest turns into four meals for an individual in need.
Learn more about Second Harvest Food Bank by attending the next Healthy Community Alliance Nutrition Workgroup meeting which will be held Tuesday, December 12, Noon-1:15pm at the Second Harvest facility, 6621 N. Old SR 3 Muncie, IN 47303.
More information about volunteering, food pantries, tailgates, the Poverty Alleviation program and ways to donate may be found on the Second Harvest website- www.curehunger.org
Partner Spotlight - Muncie Power Products
Employees from Muncie Power Products celebrate victory during the YMCA of Muncie’s Corporate Wellness Challenge event held in November of 2016.
Photo provided by Muncie Power Products.
April 1, 2017 -
Headquartered in Muncie, Indiana, Muncie Power Products is a leading manufacturer of power take-offs and fluid power components for the work truck industry.
In 2010, Muncie Power Products launched an employee wellness program with the support of President and CEO Ray Chambers. Since that time, the program has grown to include multiple programs and activities such as:
- Lunch & Learns
- Health Screenings
- Financial Wellness
- Charitable Days
- A stipend gym membership
- Monthly people development trainings
Activities are developed by a wellness committee, composed of employees from many different departments and locations within the organization.
Encouragement from company leaders plays an important role in striving to improve employee wellness, notes Crystal Armer, wellness coordinator and human resources generalist at Muncie Power Products. “We are fortunate to have a President and CEO who exemplifies what you would expect in a wellness champion, he really ‘walks the talk’ and is very open to communicating with employees about his own personal fitness and nutrition habits.”
Muncie Power Products employs approximately 360 employees throughout the United States. All employees are encouraged to be proactive in their own health and regularly participate in the wellness program. Day to day activities for many employees include visiting the “Y” on their lunch break and bringing healthy lunches.
In 2016 the company offered its first corporate-wide walking challenging and recruited 113 employees to participate. The winning team had a daily average step count of 24,000 steps per day over the eight week program.
Employees can also participate in a yearly health screening, which informs employees about their health status and areas for improvement such as cholesterol and blood sugar levels.
“The screenings also enable us identify focus areas for wellness efforts,” said Armer. “Currently, prediabetes is the major focus area, with the goal of reducing chronic disease and lowering prescription drug costs for our employees.”
Themes like “Flush out Diabetes” and “Change your Salty Ways” accompanied by flavored water samples and information about lowering salt intake are part of the messaging developed around prediabetes.
Crystal Armer, wellness coordinator and human resources generalist, Muncie Power Products, leads a group of employees in a stretching exercise in 2016. The break activity was held during an
all-day meeting and also included a challenge to walk 7 flights of stairs. Photo provided by Muncie Power Products.
The company’s wellness advocates have gotten very creative working within a finite budget, notes Armer. “To move away from printing costs, we’re exploring the use of electronic message boards to promote our wellness events, and we are working on a smart phone app to engage employees in providing feedback about our programs.”
Armer is quick to point out that much can be done on a limited budget, and without providing large incentives. “We’ve focused on building strong interdepartmental relationships where HR, marketing, IT, sales and middle management work together to communicate wellness. Each month we nominate a wellness champion, who is recognized for their wellness efforts.”
In 2016, Muncie Power Products earned a Three Star AcheiveWELL certification from the Wellness Council of Indiana. Certification involves an assessment and evaluation of a company’s workplace wellness initiative to determine that it represents best in class programming and organizational health initiatives.
According to Armer, it is exciting to see how our AchieveWELL recognition will influence recruitment and retention numbers in the future, as the company continues to emphasize employee’s wellbeing.
“We have built a great foundation, and we want to continue to improve. And we’ve got the Four Star certification on our horizon, but most important is how we can help our employees impact their personal health and wellbeing, now and in the future.”
Contact Information:
Crystal Armer
Email: carmer@MunciePower.com
Phone: 765-284-7847,3321
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Are you looking to expand your knowledge of worksite and employee wellness? Consider joining the monthly Delaware County Wellness Professionals Meeting every 4th Wednesday of he month at 8:00 a.m. Whether you are an employer, employee or just looking to receive more knowledge about the field of health and wellness you are welcome to participate as the group watches recent media, holds book clubs and much more to broaden knowledge and understanding of wellness practices.
Learn more at facebook.com/DCWellnessPros
Muncie –The Adult Physical Fitness Program at Ball State University is the longest running community-based fitness program provided by a university in the United States and is open to all adults in the community.*
Persons entering the Program begin with a comprehensive state-of-the-art health and fitness evaluation and then are assigned a Clinical Exercise Physiology graduate student to develop a personalized and supervised exercise plan based on the results of the fitness evaluation and tailored to the individual needs, goals and capabilities of each participant.
According to Nicole Koontz, M.S., RCEP, Associate Director of the Adult Physical Fitness Program and Instructor of Exercise Science at Ball State University, “We have participants ranging in age from thirty-five all the way up to people in their eighties. Our clients really enjoy the program, including the social interactions with fellow exercisers, which is something that motivates them to keep coming back.”
Photo provided by Ball State University
Participants exercise at Ball State University’s Adult Fitness Training Center located in the Student Recreation and Wellness Center. During the academic year the Program is open from 5:30am to 7pm. Currently, the cost is $219 for the initial screening and testing and includes a six month membership. Following the initial six months, a $20 fee is paid once each month.
The screening and testing component is quite comprehensive, and is normally conducted in two, one-hour sessions. “We provide several tests that don’t involve exercise, such as a bone density measurement, cholesterol tests, and questionnaires,” said Koontz. “We also offer a maximal exercise test in our lab, which tells us each person’s aerobic capacity, something that’s really valuable in prescribing an exercise program going forward.” Those who consistently adhere to the exercise prescription will be entitled to complete retesting after six months at no charge.
Photo provided by Ball State University
Koontz is an active participant in the Healthy Community Alliance Physical Activity Workgroup, and notes that the Program has openings for new participants. “I encourage our HCA Partners to consider this program as a resource for their audiences and feel free to refer anyone that’s interested.”
Representatives from Healthy Community Alliance Partner organizations discuss ways to influence audiences during a Physical Activity Workgroup meeting on July 21, 2017. Pictured L-R: MaryAnne Pope, Delaware County Planning Commission; Kortney Zimmerman, Purdue Extension; Angie Pool, Cardinal Greenways; Nicole Koontz, Ball State University; Janet Blackmer, Coldwell Banker Lunsford.
Photo by John D. Disher
More information about the Adult Physical Fitness Program is available at bsu.edu/adultfitness, and a downloadable brochure is available here from the Healthy Community Alliance website.
Clinical Exercise Physiology Program
Human Performance Laboratory HP230
Ball State University
Muncie, Indiana 47306
Phone: 765-285-1140
*The APFP is designed for adults who can be classified as low or moderate risk for developing cardiovascular disease (according to national guidelines from health and medical organizations); however, the program does provide services for some individuals with chronic diseases. For specific information about eligibility, please contact the program office.
Partner Spotlight - Cardinal Greenways, Inc.
Cardinal Greenway trail users show their enthusiasm during an event in August, 2016. Photo by John D. Disher
June 2, 2017 -
The Cardinal Greenways trail system offers the perfect venue for exercise and recreation for local residents wishing to start or maintain an active lifestyle.
Healthy Community Alliance Partners are encouraged to consider the Cardinal Greenways when strategizing ways to influence audiences to be more physically active.
Cardinal Greenways is Indiana’s longest span of recreational trails and covers 62 miles from Marion through Muncie to Richmond in East Central Indiana.
“Essentially, we’re a large linear park spanning 5 counties,” said Angie Pool, CEO of Cardinal Greenways. “Chances are, the front door of your business or home is not far from the Cardinal or White River Greenway trails, so why not head out for a little exercise and some fresh air?”
Trail users enjoy a safe environment for walking, running, cycling, or rollerblading while appreciating scenery that ranges from river views to countryside fields and flowers. It’s not unusual to see a Great Blue Heron during a trip on the White River Greenway or to find a deer crossing your path on a rural section of the Cardinal Greenway.
View from the Cardinal Greenway Trail in northern Delaware County, May 2017. Photo by John D. Disher
Pool noted that “As a way to encourage more people to explore what our trails have to offer, we also provide the Community Cruiser Program which is a free bike loaner program available to all trail users.”
Cruisers are available year round at the Wysor Street Depot, 700 East Wysor Street, Monday through Friday from 8:00a.m. to 3:30p.m. During trail season (May through October), cruisers are available on week-ends also from 10:00a.m. – 2:30p.m.
Last summer, George and Jacey Foley were invited to join several other cyclists for a group ride on the Cardinal Greenway. Despite the fact that Jacey did not own a bike and George’s was not functional, the duo was able to participate using loaner bikes from the Cardinal Greenway Depot. “We had a great ride that day, and the experience really motivated me to get started with cycling on a regular basis,” said Jacey. “I was so enthused we went out and purchased a bike so I could ride more often!"
Jacey and George Foley enjoy a group cycling activity on the Cardinal Greenway in June, 2016. Photo by John D. Disher
In addition to being conveniently accessible to residents of Delaware County, Cardinal Greenways offers a number of community events designed to help people be active. National Trails Day, Cardinal Greenway Bikefest, and Walk Indiana are geared for persons of all ages and experience levels and help many get started with a personal path to wellness.
Walk Indiana participants walking on the Cardinal Greenway, September, 2016.. Photo by John D. Disher
Cardinal Greenways is headquartered in the historic 1901 Wysor Street Depot in Muncie which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was fully restored in 2004. On display inside are photos and artifacts from the region's railroad history as well as a gift shop.
To learn more about Cardinal Greenways and its many programs and resources, visit www.cardinalgreenways.org or contact Angie Pool, CEO at 765-287-0399.
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