Health Education and Wellness
Satellite Office
1628 S. Main
(918) 382-1281
Indian Health Care's "Food for Life" community food project celebrated its first anniversary on May 1. The Food for Life program addresses food security in northeast Oklahoma. The program takes a three-prong approach to food insecurity and food deserts - teaching moms and children how to cook and shop for healthy foods, installing and encouraging community gardens in neighborhoods and behind schools, and encouraging legislation to enhance food security.
With the help of many associates from the Tulsa Food Security Council, many exciting projects have developed over the past year. The formation of the Tulsa Food Security Council (TFSC) has organized more than 30 community agencies and individuals to become a unified voice to end food deserts - neighborhoods without any grocery stores.
Legislation is vital in provoking change, especially in food security. TFSC members have spoken before State House committees to support the passage of the Healthy Corner Store (HCS) Initiative. The HCS Initiative will support the creation of co-op for healthy corner stores and non-profit organizations that currently buy groceries retail. Through leadership provided by State House Representative Seneca Scott, HB3015 was passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor to provide low interest loans to create new stores in food deserts.
TFSC has also been active in the media promoting "buy fresh, buy local," from healthy corner stores and community gardens. Oklahoma Horizon recently aired a 30-minute documentary on food security in Oklahoma based on interviews with TFSC members. Community education is a crucial activity conducted by the TFSC by providing presentations on food deserts and the need to end a diet of processed food and fast food. The McLain High School Initiative has brought the school's greenhouse out of mothballs and developed a Greenhouse Council of 15 students. These students are growing plants in the greenhouse and installed raised beds for vegetables. The students work each week in the greenhouse and gardens. The McLain High School Foundation has formed with a board of directors and established nonprofit status. The Foundation will be used to raise much needed funds for school uniforms, sports equipment, the greenhouse program and other needs that Tulsa Public Schools cannot fund. So many schools and communities have added gardens this spring. Food for Life will be implementing a program to maintain or oversee those gardens during the summer months. Many schools have summer programs so the children can be involved in the gardens year around. The purchase of garden tillers allows volunteers to till existing community gardens, as well as seniors' home gardens. Cooking 101 is a program which teaches moms to cook, a lost art in many families. We're talking about making healthy meals in 30 minutes or less, using real basic food ingredients and no prepackaged, processed food helper kits. Regularly scheduled cooking lessons are held at community centers, apartment complexes, healthy corner stores and for our WIC clients. Through the leadership of the Oklahoma Buy Fresh Buy Local campaign, Local Food Week was celebrated in Tulsa this June for the second year in a row. Created by Sustainable Green Country, Tulsa's Local Foods Week festivities highlighted local family farms and farmers' markets who hosted a variety of events, a farm table dinner, cooking demonstrations, a scavenger hunt. Read more: Food for Life.
Left to right: Rita Scott of Buy Fresh Buy Local, Rep. Seneca Scott, Demalda Newsome of North Tulsa EATS and Steve Eberle, IHCRC Food and Garden Coordinator. OK Horizon aired the second interview on food security and Food for Life in January on OETA, (Ch-11 in Tulsa). The videos are available on their web site (www.okhorizon.com) and YouTube on the following links. Oklahoma Horizon showcases contributions made by individuals, companies and other organizations across the state to benefit Oklahoma's economic development. Doug Walton talks about food deserts pt 1: Doug Walton talks about food deserts pt 2: Oklahoma legislator says we must do something about food deserts Eliminating food deserts one neighborhood at a time http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzYQwjncmAs&feature=related You can cook healthy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lz_IOq0dZ8 Increase food security, decrease waist lines http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rv-3NRv73_g&feature=related NEW LINK ADDED: Assistance for the Healthy Corner Store, KJRH Stephen Eberle talks about food deserts: State Representative Seneca Scott (representing HD 72 in north and central Tulsa) has proposed Healthy Corner Store legislation for the 2010 legislative session, providing funding, employee training and assistance in acquiring EBT machines to process SNAP benefits (food stamps). State Representatives Jabar Shumate (HD 73), Dan Morrissette (HD 93) and Eric Proctor (HD 77) are also strong supporters of the Healthy Corner Store Initiative. Read more: Healthy Corner Grocery Stores Championed Are you a smoker? Need the help and support to quit? Beginning January 9, the Health and Wellness Department of IHCRC will be offering a six-week smoking cessation class. Classes will be held at IHCRC's satellite office located at 1630 S. Main from 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM. For more information please contact Clayton Tselee at (918) 588-1900 ex. 2244. This smoking cessation program tailored to the needs of Native American people. All ages participate in cessation programs, including youth, pregnant women, adults and elders. Native American families become healthier by reducing the exposure of babies, children and youth to second-hand smoke in the home and community, and by reducing the number of nicotine-related illnesses among elders and adults.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvZ3k0Iqw0E
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMmnkOiRy8A&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9WNHyWeKPc
Healthy Corner Grocery Stores Championed
http://www.kjrh.com/dpp/news/segment_2/state-providing-financial-assistance-for-healthy-corner-stores>
Smoking Cessation Class
Traditional Ties Tobacco Cessation Program
(918) 588-1900, extension 2244
Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease Prevention
Health education helps clients make lifestyle changes to control their diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD). The primary prevention programs provide education and nutritional counseling to persons at risk for these diseases. Secondary prevention activities include identification and screening of high-risk individuals and provision of medications to prevent complications.
