Progress 05/01/16 to 04/30/17
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience reached by our efforts during this reporting period were low-income, unemployed, underemployed, disabled, socially, economically, and/or educationally disadvantaged residents of Letcher and Owsley counties and the surrounding area. Changes/Problems:During the 2016 season, we realized that our method for determiming SNAP enrollment was not sufficient through communication with USDA NIFA. We were working with the KY Cabinet for Health and Family Services and verifying eligibility at the time of enrollment but not each time that the participant redeemed a voucher for fruits and vegetables. If there are future years, we are going to work with participating markets to have a SNAP EBT machine on-site on market days to do a balance check to determine eligibilty at time of redemption. If not SNAP eligible, grant funds will not be used for that person's voucher, but non-grant funds that are not part of the match may be used. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?
Nothing Reported
How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The results have been disseminated to communities of interest through our partners such as the Medicaid managed care organizations, WellCare and Passport, and other organizations such as The Food Trust and National Association of Community Health Centers. The latter organizations have had us present on the topic. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
With the support of the NIFA funding, the FARMACY program saw the goals stated above realized. The FARMACY Program contributed $83,813 dollars to the City of Whitesburg/Letcher County Farmer's Market and $26,628 to the Owsley County Farmer's Market including non-grant funding. The Farmacy Program also contributed $7,114.95 to a non-grant funded project in Pineville, Bell County, Kentucky for a grand total of $117,555.95 in total grant and non-grant funding compared to $18,305 in 2015, a 542% increase in funding. This increase in funding greatly increased the FARMACY Program's ability to increase access to locally grown fruits and vegetables to the target audience. The health outcomes improved as well, 2015 vs. 2016, cumulative weight loss 105.6 to 212lbs., decrease in glucose 267 to 2776 points, decrease in body mass index (BMI) 7.94 to 34.87, improvement in blood pressure 26% to 50%. In 2016, we added a new measusre, waist circumference, inches lost was 103. Total patients in 2016 was 334 compared to 132 in 2015.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2016
Citation:
"99%of participants reported the Farmacy program assisted them in meeting their nutritional needs."89% of participants answered YESto the question After participating in the Farmacy program, did you notice any improvement in your overall health and wellbeing? "68% of participants reported the Farmacy program assisted with maintaining optimal blood glucose levels."64% of participants reported canning or freezing produce for winter months."105.60pounds lost
"BMI decreased 7.94points
"Glucose decreased by 267 points
"Blood pressures improved by 25%Mountain Comprehensive Health Corporation:Initiating Physical& Fiscal Health in our Community
2015
FARMACYPROGRAM OUTCOMES
"Market having enough produce for patients
"Logistics of voucher issuance due to volume
"Logistics of specific staff assigned, along with normal duties
"Not enough funds to support everyone who qualified and asked (there was a wait list of over 100 patients)
Challenges:
"Farmers were able to receive assistance through Grow Appalachia in order to increase yield of garden produce.
"Increase in jobs in the health center during the market season
"Ability via grant to provide $2 per member per day, if all agree to data measurement and tracking
"We hope to expand to serve 600 families, vs. 125 families from the first year
Solutions:
"Provider determines if patient is eligible and would benefit from the Farmacy Program
"Provider discusses with patient the benefits of a healthy diet
"Provider then writes the prescription, OK Farmacy
"Patient then takes the prescription to case manager for verification , signed agreement, and voucher
"Patient then returns to case manager weekly for measurement of diagnostics, (glucose, BMI, blood pressure, weight, etc.)
"Farmers market returns voucher stub to MCHC for redemption and accounting
"At the end of the season, patients completed a survey, and the
"end data was taken and compared to baseline.HOW DOES THE FARMACY PROGRAM WORK?
If you have TYPE 1 Diabetes or are currently Pregnant
You are eligible for FARMACY vouchers regardless of your household income.
If you have one of the following diagnoses:
"Type 2 Diabetes
"Hypertension
"Obese
You may be eligible based on income guidelines-income at 100% or below the Federal Poverty Level
What are the guidelines to be eligible for FARMACY program?
2016
Preliminary
OUTCOMES
123 families were assisted with 82% redemption rate
$18,305.00 redeemed
2015 Financial Information:
2016 Financial Information:
Preliminary data does not include survey questions that are asked at the end of the farmers market season. The data below has been collected during the first segment of the 2016 program.
"267.81pounds lost
"BMI decreased 36.77points"45%of patients measured had improved blood pressure
From May to July 2016, there were 322 patients that received assistance, 746 total family members included with vouchers, and total money spent
$59,080.00
Many of our farmers have been coal miners by trade, and the farmers market has allowed them to remain in their own communities while continuing to provide for their families.
|