Healthy Chesapeake Inc

HEALTHY CHESAPEAKE IS COMMITTED TO BUILDING A CULTURE OF WELLNESS THAT SUPPORTS, SUSTAINS AND ADVOCATES FOR A HEALTHIER CHESAPEAKE. TO ACHIEVE THIS, HEALTHY CHESAPEAKE RECOGNIZES THAT HEALTH AND WELL-BEING ARE INTERCONNECTED WITH SOCIAL, CULTURAL, PHYSICAL, ECONOMIC, AND OTHER FACTORS. HEALTHY CHESAPEAKE BOTH DEVELOPS ITS OWN POPULATION HEALTH PROGRAMS AND PROVIDES SUPPORT FOR COMMUNITY PARTNERS WORKING IN THESE AREAS. PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED IN RESPONSE TO PRIORITIES IDENTIFIED BY THE MOST RECENT COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT, CHESAPEAKE NEIGHBORHOOD QUALITY OF LIFE STUDY, CHESAPEAKE COMPREHENSIVE PLANS FOR YOUTH AND 55 AND BETTER, AND OTHER SURVEYS. PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDE PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT ACCESS TO AND UTILIZATION OF HEALTHY FOODS AND HEALTHY ACTIVE LIFESTYLES.

HEALTHY CHESAPEAKE DEVELOPS AND DELIVERS COLLABORATIVE PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT ACCESS AND UTILIZATION OF HEALTHY FOOD AND COMBAT FOOD INSECURITY. THIS PROGRAM HAS THREE MAIN ARMS, INCLUDING SUPPORTING COMMUNITY GARDENS, NUTRITION EDUCATION, AND PREPARATION OF HEALTHY FOOD. FISCAL YEAR 2022 EFFORTS INCLUDED: 1)SUPPORTING 19 COMMUNITY GARDENS IN A VARIETY OF SETTINGS TO INCREASE ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOODS FOR CITY RESIDENTS MOST IN NEED. 2)COLLABORATING WITH THE CHESAPEAKE PUBLIC LIBRARY TO DEVELOP A SEED LIBRARY AND ANNUAL SEED FESTIVAL, DISTRIBUTING OVER 1,300 SEED PACKETS TO MORE THAN 475 RESIDENTS. 3)COLLABORATING WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO DISTRIBUTE HEALTHY FOOD AND RECIPES TO ENCOURAGE HEALTHIER MEAL PREPARATION AND UNDERSTANDING THE USE OF FOOD TO IMPROVE OVERALL HEALTH. 4)PILOTING THE HEALTHY FOUNDATIONS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM AT CHESAPEAKE JUVENILE SERVICES AS PART OF THEIR HEALTH AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION COURSES. THE PROGRAM INTRODUCED HEALTHY COOKING AND PROVIDED WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR 18 STUDENTS IN THE INAUGURAL CLASS. 5)SUPPORTING FORKIDS WITH COOKING AND DISTRIBUTION OF MEALS TO RESIDENTS AS WELL AS MEALS TO THEIR AFTER-SCHOOL EDUCATION PROGRAMS. 800 MEALS ARE SERVED WEEKLY.

HEALTHY CHESAPEAKE DEVELOPS AND DELIVERS COLLABORATIVE INITIATIVES THAT SUPPORT PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY ACTIVE LIFESTYLES FOR SENIORS AND CHILDREN WHO MIGHT OTHERWISE LACK ACCESS TO THESE OPPORTUNITIES. FISCAL YEAR 2022, EFFORTS INCLUDED: 1)PROVIDING 300 SENIOR ACTIVITY BAGS FOR SENIORS TO COMBAT SOCIAL ISOLATION AND DEPRESSION. 2)SUPPORTING AND ATTENDING COMMUNITY RESOURCE AND HEALTH FAIRS TO DISTRIBUTE NEEDED SUPPLIES FOR HEALTH AND SAFETY, SUCH AS FACEMASKS AND HAND SANITIZERS; BACK TO SCHOOL, SUCH AS BACKPACKS, WATER BOTTLES; AND MANY OTHER NEEDED ITEMS TO SUPPORT PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH. MORE THAN 2,000 PARTICIPANTS WERE SERVED. 3)PARTICIPATING IN MULTIPLE LOCAL AND REGIONAL TEAMS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT AREA YOUTH WITH IDENTIFYING RESOURCES, PROGRAMS, AND AVAILABLE ACTIVITIES FOR SUCCESS, INCLUDING AN EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOP AND CULINARY EDUCATION CLASS CREATED TO SUPPORT FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IN TEENS AND THE CHESAPEAKE REDEVELOPMENT AND HOUSING AUTHORITY STRONG FAMILIES INITIATIVES SUPPORTING MORE THAN 170 FAMILIES.

HEALTHY CHESAPEAKE PROMOTES ACCESS TO AND ENGAGEMENT IN PROGRAMS SUPPORTIVE OF BEHAVIORAL AND MENTAL HEALTH. THIS INCLUDES A NO-COST CHRONIC DISEASE MANAGEMENT CLINIC FOR LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS WITH UNCONTROLLED DIABETES / HYPERTENSION; SUPPORT GROUPS, ON-SITE TRAINING; A VARIETY OF FREE HEALTH- AND ENGAGEMENT-FOCUSED COMMUNITY EVENTS; AND OTHER EFFORTS TO PROMOTE HEALTHY, ACTIVE LIFESTYLES, AND PROMOTE SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT. FISCAL YEAR 2022, EFFORTS INCLUDED: 1)OFFERING A FREE WEEKLY HIGH-TOUCH CHRONIC DISEASE MANAGEMENT CLINIC TO ADDRESS PARTICIPANTS' MEDICAL, SOCIAL, AND TRANSPORTATION NEEDS SERVING AN AVERAGE 45 INDIVIDUALS EACH QUARTER. PARTNERING WITH THE FOODBANK OF SOUTHEASTERN VIRGINIA AND THE EASTERN SHORE HAS PROVIDED 30-40 POUNDS OF MEAT AND FRESH PRODUCE TO THE INDIVIDUAL AT EACH VISIT. OVER 22,000 POUNDS OF FOOD WAS DISTRIBUTED. 2)SPONSORING 6 INTERNS AND STUDENT EXPERIENCES BOTH VIRTUALLY AND IN PERSON FOR ON-THE-JOB TRAINING IN HEALTH PROMOTION AND COMMUNITY SERVICES POSITIONS. 3)SUPPORTING CHESAPEAKE INTEGRATED BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE'S COMMUNITY OPTIONS PROGRAM CLIENTS BY PROVIDING TASKS DESIGNED TO GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT AND FEEL PRODUCTIVE AND ENGAGED. 4)FACILITATING AND ORIGINATING COMMUNITY COALITIONS FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT, TO PROVIDE CRITICAL PREVENTION AND EARLY INTERVENTION STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES AND DEVELOPMENTAL GOALS FOR YOUNG CHILDREN AND THEIR PARENTS; HEALTH LITERACY, TO PROVIDE CONSISTENT HEALTH EDUCATION AND INFORMATION ACROSS THE CITY OF CHESAPEAKE; AND BREAST CANCER, TO ADDRESS STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE BREAST HEALTH AND INCREASE SCREENING/ACCESS TO CARE AND GENETIC COUNSELING FOR BLACK AND BROWN WOMEN.