Improving People’s Health
United Way of McLean County is focused on Health. Working with our community, we will promote the health of babies, children, adolescents and adults to enhance their potential for full, productive living. We recognize that there are three core domains critical to improving the health of individuals and families in McLean County: access, utilization, and focused education. While preventing serious health issues from occurring is ideal, there are major barriers individuals and families face that limit their ability to benefit from prevention services. These barriers include access to necessary healthcare and services, ability to utilize existing services they are eligible for and then having the knowledge and skills to avoid potential risk factors. While individual and family needs may differ significantly, health services must target and address issues of at least one of the three domains.
Outcome 1: Children and adults have access to care and healthcare coverage.
Outcome 2: Children and adults have improved physical and behavioral health.
Outcome 3: Expectant parents and newborns have healthy beginnings.
Based on input from key stakeholders in our community, United Way has identified specific strategies for each of these critical points that have the best chance for moving individuals and families from access and utilization to education and ultimately to lead a healthy lifestyle. These outcomes and strategies will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of direct service programs and community impact initiatives funded under the Health area.
Children and adults have access to care and healthcare coverage.
Strategies:
- Outreach services
- Provide client/patient referrals and/or linkages to available community resources
- Provide enrollment and follow up services to ensure eligible persons are accessing available government and community supports
- Educate client/patient on available resources and assistance in navigating health systems
- Transportation assistance
- Provide multi-lingual services
- Utilize screenings to identify early risk factors and provide services and/or referrals for necessary services/care
Children and adults have improved physical and behavioral health.
Target Area: Preventative care/Healthy Lifestyles
Strategies:
- Ensure children and adults have an identified primary care physician
- Provide home-visiting programs
- Early identification of risk factors and appropriate referrals or interventions
- Provide education to children and adults of healthy choices in relation to diet, nutrition and exerciseImprove opportunity for families to make healthy choices
- Provide community awareness of healthful policies
- Increase use of preventive care (wellness exams, well-child visits, prenatal care)Increase health literacy for children, adults and families
Target Area: Improving family dynamics
Strategies:
- Improve social supports
- Educate parents on positive and appropriate discipline
- Identify early risk factors for violence, abuse and neglect and provide services or referrals focused on prevention
- Address intergenerational issues of trauma, abuse and substance abuse
- Provide community advocacy for violence prevention
Target Area: Decreasing risky behaviors
Strategies:
- Screen and assess for risk factors related to risky behaviors
- Provide supports to decrease risky behaviorsIncrease environmental support of healthy lifestyles
- Provide individual, ongoing supports for illness management, recovery and prevention
- Provide education on teen pregnancy and family planning
- Address intergenerational issues of trauma, abuse and substance abuse
Expectant parents and newborns have healthy beginnings.
Strategies:
- Provide home-visiting programs focused on infant/maternal well-being
- Address issues of isolation, increase social supports (non-service related) both pre-natal and post-partum
- Promote breastfeedingProvide opportunities for breastfeeding and supportIncrease use of prenatal care early in pregnancy
- Direct support for prenatal careConduct community awareness of the importance and acceptance of breastfeeding