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April 9th, 2009
Margaret J. Weston
Community Health Centers Receives Prevention Partnership Grant
Margaret J. Weston Community Health Centers has received one of five
Prevention Partnerships grants from the South Carolina Department of
Health and Human Services. The Prevention Across the Lifespan (PAL)
Partnership Project is a comprehensive, approach to diabetes
prevention services that focuses on preventing complications of
diabetes through health promotion and social support. The purpose of
the grant is to engage community members and community partners in a
collaborative process over the next year to implement a coordinated,
comprehensive, community-based system of services for people with
diabetes and at risk for developing diabetes in Aiken County. The
amount of the grant is $173,824.00.
"Many complications of diabetes can be prevented or slowed down by
early recognition and management," said Dr. James L. Coleman, Jr.,
Chief Executive Officer. "We are taking prevention to all ages, all
populations and all manifestations of diabetes. The concept of
diabetes prevention and management across the lifespan is one that
will be effective in Aiken County."
The PAL Project objectives include providing diabetes education and
health promotion activities to pregnant women at risk for
gestational diabetes, children that have risks for developing Type 2
diabetes, and older adults that have diabetes type 2 or other
chronic illnesses. According to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, rates of diabetes rose from 4.9 percent in 1990 to 6.5
percent in 1998, an increase of 33%. "Increases in sexes, all ages,
all ethnic groups, all education levels and nearly all states
reflect the rise in obesity for all Americans," said Dr. Coleman. In
South Carolina, the prevalence of diabetes is 9.3 and in Aiken
County, 12.5, significantly higher than state and national rates.
A Partnership Advisory Board will assist Margaret J. Weston
Community Health Centers in conducting the project. Partners include
Lower Savannah Council of Governments (LSCOG), LSCOG Area Agency on
Aging, Aiken Area Council On Aging, South Carolina Department of
Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) State Diabetes Prevention
and Control Program, SCDHEC Diabetes Coalition, SCDHEC Region 5
Aiken County Health Department, First Steps of Aiken County, and
Aiken County. The first meeting of the Partnership Advisory Board
will take place on April 30, 2008 at the Center in Clearwater.
Project activities will include a series of self-management classes
that include nutrition and physical activity for MJWCHC prenatal
patients, children aged 6-11 at risk for Type 2 Diabetes, and older
adults at area Senior Centers and independent living facilities.
Classes begin on June 1, 2008 and will continue until March 31,
2009.
Prevention Partnership Grants are supported by the South Carolina
Department of Health and Human Services. The focus of the grants is
development and expansion of innovative preventive health programs
and activities with documented outcomes for South Carolinians.
Multiple grants in varying amounts will be awarded through a
competitive process. Grants should target preventive health programs
related to premature and/or pre-term births or chronic diseases
associated with obesity, diabetes, hypertension, or asthma.
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