Community Partners has a lot going on in Buff alo County schools this month. We’re evaluating our progress towards the 2020 Vision and looking for new issues to tackle by conducting the SHARP surveys. We’re engaging youth and elevating issues related to substance abuse prevention for Red Ribbon Week and to healthy living and active transportation for International Walk to School Day. We work closely with schools to ensure we’re aware of emerging issues and to provide schools with resources for building a healthier Buff alo County.

Nebraska SHARP Surveys Community Partners is one of many organizations in the state that partners with the Nebraska Department of Education and the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services to administer Student Health and Risk Prevention (SHARP) surveys. The surveys cover topics such as nutrition and physical activity; injuries; mental health; tobacco, alcohol, and other drug use; and seat belt use; and more. They will be administered to area schools throughout the first two weeks of October, and the results will be available on our assessments page at bcchp.org/assessments. This survey data will help us plan for the next phase of the 2020 Vision as we retire past goals and look towards new issues to tackle.

Positive Pressure Hosting Assemblies for Red Ribbon Week In 1988, the National Family Partnership sponsored the fi rst National Red Ribbon Celebration. Today, the Red Ribbon serves as a catalyst to mobilize communities to educate youth and encourage participation in drug prevention activities. Since that time, the campaign

has reached millions of U.S. children and families. For the 2014 Red Ribbon Week, Positive Pressure, along with members of Elks Lodge #984 and athletes from UNK, is visiting several area schools to speak about staying drug-free and share resources with students, counselors, and teachers.

Safe Routes to School Promoting Walk to School Day Walk to School Day is all about promoting active transportation, such as walking or biking. Activate Buff alo County will be

working with Northeast, Kenwood, Park, and Windy Hills Elementary schools to host Walk to School Day events before and after school on October 8. Th e events will include class competitions, prizes, and other fun stuff for participants. In May, during Bike to School Day, the coalition saw an amazing 80% participation rate at one of the schools, and is hoping to see some big numbers again this month. Th e one-day event is just a small piece of the work Activate Buff alo County is doing to promote Safe Routes to School.

October 2014 Red Ribbon Week Walk to School Day Youth Academy for Democracy

School Work: SHARP Surveys, Red Ribbon Week, Walk to School

Buff alo County Community Partners Contact Information

Visit bcchp.org/board for complete board member listing or bcchp.org/contact for complete staff listing and contact form.

General Information308-865-2284 info@bcchp.org

Denise Zwiener, Executive Director 308-865-2280 dzwiener@bcchp.org

Lisa Reese Parish, Board Chair308-237-6840lparish@uwka.org

Data Coordinator Ariane Aten prepares survey packets for each participating Buff alo County school.

The Nebraska Youth Academy for Democracy provides a forum for Nebraska youth to engage in an open dialog about politics and issues. Students will learn about current issues, build advocacy skills, network with other youth, and voice their opinions and concerns with Nebraska State Senators. “The Nebraska Youth Academy for Democracy empowers youth with the information and skills they need to become successful participants in the democratic process,” said YAB member Nathan Leach. “The goal of the Nebraska Youth Academy for Democracy is to give youth the opportunity to get involved and share their voice.” The forum will begin with a keynote titled “Is Nebraska Immune to Polarization?” which will be presented by Dr. Elizabeth Theiss-Morse, professor of political science at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. This speech will be followed with breakout sessions that include topics such as immigration, presented by Darcy Tromanhauser, director of the Immigrants and Communities Program, Nebraska Appleseed;

child welfare, presented by Sheri Dawson, RN, deputy director of the Division of Behavioral Health, Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services; marijuana legalization, presented by Tony Coder, assistant director of the Drug Free Action Alliance;

and gender equality, presented by Amber Lewis, women’s studies teacher at Kearney High School. Later in the day, students will have a chance to speak with Nebraska Senators Galen Hadley, Danielle Conrad, and Ken Haar during a panel and in special breakout sessions. There are still open seats available for youth who wish to attend the Academy for Democracy. If you know a Nebraska youth who would be

interested in attending, please direct him/her to bcyab.org/yad to complete the registration. This project was supported in whole or part by Grant # 93.959 under the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Center for Substance Abuse Prevention and the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.

Nebraska Youth Academy for Democracy Set for October 26

Buffalo County Community Partners is looking for key stakeholders to assist in developing the Central Nebraska Diabetes Referral Network. Ariane Aten, data coordinator for Buffalo County Community Partners, is the project lead. She will be meeting with several stakeholders to discuss the programs or services they provide to community members who have or are at risk of developing diabetes. Once she has gathered information on the different opportunities in Buffalo County, she will work with these interested stakeholders in developing a Diabetes Referral Network for diabetes self-management and diabetes prevention programs for providers located in Buffalo

County. She will also work with stakeholders to explore the feasibility of developing and implementing a comparison tool. This tool will evaluate outcomes of persons who engage in diabetes self-management, participate in diabetes prevention programs, or utilize community health workers in their self-management versus persons who do not. Her hope is to share successes and challenges with other key stakeholders, local public health departments, and healthcare providers throughout Nebraska. Funding for this project comes from the State Department of Health and Human Services. If you work with pre-diabetic or diabetic clients and want to join in this effort, please contact Ariane at admin@bcchp.org or 308-865-2289.

Diabetes Referral Network Looking for Volunteers, Clients

UNK professor Dr. Diane Duffin discusses how to speak to elected officials and advocate for issues with youth at the 2013 Nebraska Youth Academy for Democracy.

On October 21, members of the Buff alo County Youth Advisory Board met for their monthly meeting and held their annual picnic. Th e picnic gave new members and their parents an opportunity to meet everyone involved with the board. “While YAB is mainly focused on empowering youth through skill building and advocating for issues, there is also a social component that’s important,” said Youth Coordinator Mark Foradori. “Th e annual picnic gives YAB members and their parents a chance to get to know one another and helps build bonds that make for a stronger board.” In addition, Luis Sotelo, who’s running for the Nebraska Senate, stopped by to discuss issues with the YAB members and get their perspective on today’s issues. YAB member Jake Senff said, “As a youth, being

approached by political entities isn’t a common thing. It was very interesting to sit down with a politician and hear the issues addressing our area. Overall, it was an eye-opening experience that prompted the political minds of our youth.”

Community Partners One of Ten Selected for PresentationTh e Health HUB pilot of the Community Health Access Team (a coalition of Buff alo County Community Partners) is one of ten projects selected across the nation to attend the Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s launch of the “Escape Velocity to A Culture of Health” campaign. Communities Joined in Action is hosting the campaign and has invited Buff alo County to the national discussion table. Th e campaign seeks to unite communities who are ready to work together across boundaries to create health into a collective national and international eff ort. Executive Director Denise Zwiener will be traveling to Cambridge, Mass., to meet with representatives of ten other communities and 180 health

system administrators to share Buff alo County’s best practices. Community Partners was selected for this honor based on its partners’ eff orts to integrate community health workers into coordinated healthcare teams and the policy it developed to elevate the role of community health workers in Nebraska. Th e Health HUB program’s most noted outcome documents a healthcare savings of $1.2 million for 250 clients over a three-year period. Th is cost savings continues to grow with the utilization of community health workers as a part of the coordinated healthcare team. More details on the achievements of the Health HUB pilot program will be revealed in the coming months.

Th anks to our donors, we’ve raised nearly $85,000 of our $125,000 campaign goal!

Buff alo County Board of SupervisorsIhle Chiropractic in memory of Retired Lt. Roger L. IhleJoel and Jill JohnsonJustus and Lori MeltonRon and Ann TvrdikWel-Life Assisted Living at Kearney

Th ank You to Our September Donors:

If you would like to partner with us through a � nancial donation, you may:

Contact Denise Zwiener at 308-865-2280 or dzwiener@bcchp.org

Donate on our website, bcchp.org, by clicking the blue “Donate” button.

Nebraska Senate Candidate Luis Sotelo stopped by the YAB picnic to learn what issue are important to YABBERs and what they’re doing about them.

Youth Advisory Board Members, Parents Mingle at Annual Picnic

PO Box 1466Kearney, NE 68848

We would like to thank Good Samaritan Hospital for providing printing and mailing services for our newsletter.

Training in Intervention ProcedureS is a responsible beverage server training approved by the Nebraska

Liquor Control Commission. Contact positivepressure@bcchp.org to register.

Check bcchp.org/tips for future classes.

If you’re interested in volunteering with the HelpCare Clinic, contact linda.muhlbach.1960@gmail.com.

Coalition Connection

Please take our worksite wellness survey if you work in human resources or employee health/wellness. Find it at ActivateBuff aloCounty.com/WW.

Th e Walk to End Alzheimer’s was a huge success! We had 430 walkers and raised over $33,000 (our goal was $24,500). Th ank you to everyone who volunteered, donated, or gave support.

If you couldn’t attend the Show Me the Money: Scholarship and Financial Aid Workshop, you can still fi nd some

of the presentation materials at bcyab.org/showmethemoney.

October 23-31 is Red Ribbon Week. We will be distributing information to school counselors as well as coming to several area schools to give drug-free presentations.

Miss a meeting? You can fi nd our information and resources online at bcchp.org/communityconnections. Contact sfrias@mnca.net for questions.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Help

prevent domestic violence this month and forever. Join us for our meeting Th ursday, October 23, at 4 p.m. at Community Partners’ conference room.

Keep your eyes peeled for photos from our community health worker policy presentation at “Escape Velocity to a Culture of Health” in Cambridge, Mass.

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