The REACH (Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health) team, co-sponsored by Trinity Health Shelby and DHD#10, plans to host its first data collection event on Friday, Sept. 27 in Shelby.
According to local program implementers Catalina Burillo, Community Health Improvement Coordinator for Trinity Health and Kylie David, Community Improvement Coordinator with DHD#10, REACH, is a federally-funded program, aiming to improve health, prevent chronic diseases, and reduce health disparities among racial and ethnic populations with the highest risk, or burden, of chronic disease. DHD#10 is one of 50 organizations in 32 states, funded by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control), facilitating the initiative.
“One of the strategy areas of REACH is to improve community-built environments that promote physical activity. The goal is to improve the ability of community members to safely walk, bike or travel to everyday destinations such as homes, work, schools, parks, health care, and food outlets,” Burillo said.
“With this initiative, we are really trying to stress community engagement, because things like this aren’t successful unless there is community buy-in,” Burillo said. Burillo told The Oceana Echo she and David conducted walking audits in Hart, Shelby and Walkerville, and the day they were in Shelby it was just as school was letting out. “We really saw the need,” she said. “This particular survey is focused on walking, biking and traveling around the school, but we want the entire community to benefit and be safe, so we will be looking at other areas throughout the village in the days and weeks to come.”
According to Burillo, Oceana’s REACH team is able to provide the village with direct access to providers in the physical activity field, technical assistance to seek out larger-scale funding opportunities, possible funding for immediate or smaller-scale projects, as well as samples of common tools and strategies that could be used to help with safe and accessible physical activity.
Approximately 20 volunteers are needed to collect pedestrian and traffic data along Sixth Street, from Industrial Drive to Oceana Drive as students are going to/coming from school next Friday. Interested volunteers are asked to sign up by Monday, Sept. 23 at noon using this link: https://www.signupgenius.com/g.... A specific meet-up location will be determined, once volunteers are secured. In case of inclement weather, another date would be determined and people would be contacted via information provided at sign-up.
“The first data collection shift will begin at 7 a.m. and end at 8:30 a.m. Volunteers should plan to arrive by 6:30 a.m. for a quick training session, receive data collection materials and safety vest. The second shift would begin at 2:30 p.m. and end at approximately 4 p.m. or earlier. Ideally, volunteers would be the same for both shifts so that they can all receive the same training at 6:30 a.m. on Sept. 27, however, any available volunteers are welcome.
“If we have an overabundance of volunteers, we may also collect data along State Street (Oceana Drive) near Shelby Elementary School and Shelby Acres, the new housing development across the street. That data collection will take place at approximately 3:15 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. to look at traffic speed, number of vehicles, types of vehicles, rush hour traffic times, etc.
The REACH program grant is a collaborative effort between Oceana, Lake and Newaygo counties. A new website (www.livewellforhealth.org) is currently being developed, which will provide more information in the near future. Until then, questions about REACH or next week’s survey can be directed to reach@dhd10.org.
