Gathering 2011 Breakout Session - Health - A Joint Venture to Improve the Health of the Appalachian Region - Sarah Kercsmar of KY Center for Smoke-free Policy

• 1. A Joint Venture to Improve the Health of the Appalachian Region
  Sarah E. Kercsmar, PhD
  Co-Director, Kentucky Center for Smoke-free Policy
  University of KentuckyCollege of Nursing
  June 7, 2011
  

2. As public health professionals
We have the passion to make the world healthier and the expertise to make it happen.
We are used to trying to accomplish a lot with scarce resources.

• But, we cant do it alone!So, to quote Uncle Sam,

WE NEED YOU!
3. As funders.
You have the resources to fund a limited number of projects.
Everyone thinks THEY have the best idea for you to fund.
You want to make the biggest impact in a community that you can.
4. TOGETHERWe Can Improve
5. Healthy Communities Approach
When a healthy community initiative is undertaken, a communal spirit develops, linking public, private, and nonprofit sectors to address the underlying causes of poor health. Healthy community participants represent the wide spectrum of interests and roles that make a community work. Focusing on systems change, the Healthy Communities Approach seeks to build broad participation, encourage new players, honor diversity, create a shared vision and values, and build true collaborations that utilize the assets and resources of the community. Integral to this approach are the measurement of results and the establishment of benchmarks for progress.
6. Tobacco: A Global Epidemic
By 2025, 500 million people worldwide will die of tobacco-related diseasethat is 9/11 every two hours for 14 years.
C. Everett Koop, March 2004
1 person dies every 6 seconds from tobacco
7. Tobacco and Rural America
8. Low Income Disproportionately Affected
31.1% of adults below the poverty level smoke, compared to 19.4 % who are at or above the poverty level.
40 yrs. median duration of smoking in poor smokers vs. 22 yrs. in smokers 3 x poverty level.
Low income more likely to suffer from smoking-attributable diseases and more exposed to SHS.
Limited access to healthcare and more likely to delay
Cigarette consumption linked to food insecurity
9. Case Study #1:
Tobacco Cessation
10. Personal Narratives from Smokers and Former Smokers from One Rural Distressed County (N = 21)
Easy access to treatment programs
Quitting with support of family and friends
Faith
Quitting for health reasons
Freedom of individual choice
Pride of place
Big tobacco
Meaningful messages to smokers
Quitting because it is the right time
Quitting for ones children
Butler, K.M. et al., Telling Their Stories: Rural Smokers Experiences with Tobacco (pending review)
11. Outreach Intervention based on Personal Narratives
12. Quilt (Pride of Place)

• Designed and created by the Lawrence County Quilt Guild based on focus group themes

13. Appliqud tree in the center of the quilt represents life in Lawrence County. 14. Log Cabin and Appalachian Trail motifs in the borders reflect the history of the people living in this region of Kentucky 15. Incorporates strong sense of pride about the beauty of the land, and the history, arts, and friendliness of the people of Lawrence County