Snyder reports on health care project

Feb 10, 2009 at 01:30 pm by Observer-Review


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Snyder reports on health care project

DUNDEE—Plans are continuing to move forward on the Health Improvement Project for Barrington, Dundee and Starkey. Last week project coordinator Lauren Snyder attended the Starkey town board meeting to update members on the current status of the project, now coming up on year two. Snyder asked the board for a letter of support for the project.
The first year was one of assessment during which the community was surveyed to see what residents like about the community. During the upcoming year the group will be looking at the 164 surveys that have been returned as well as interviews that have taken place to identify the assets or strengths of the community. Snyder said of the surveys returned, half were completed by young people. More input is being sought and there is a possibility that youth would interview adults, gaining their input as well as the process being a good experience for the youth. She said this may change some of the priorities of the project.
Snyder said several things have been targeted in the preliminary work including making Dundee more welcoming, for example through the Main Street Revitalization team work, more activities for senior citizens, youth and families and how services can be brought to people who live in the area. Snyder used General Education Development (GED) classes as an example of a service that could possibly be offered in the community. Currently classes are available in Penn Yan. Jobs were also high on the list, especially opportunities for youth.
Snyder said, “This is a starting place.” One of the next steps would be to bring people together to work on the priorities that have been identified.
One such project is a farm market which is slated to begin in June in the parking lot at Dundee Methodist Church. The market, which will be from 3 until 6 p.m. Wednesdays, will offer a source for local produce as well as nutritional information and a casual meeting place. Snyder said the group has met with representatives of the church and Giles ShurFiine on details of the project and it is “looking very good.” She added, “We are excited about the possibilities here.”
Another possibility would be increased use of the community portion of the Dundee Youth Center. Snyder said the project may allow for purchase of a television that could be used for community education programs, making that portion of the building an education center. During a brief discussion that followed, councilman Fred Shoemaker said, “I would like to see GED classes at the Youth Center.”
The health improvement project is unique in several ways, particularly because it is the lone rural project of the five projects that have been funded by the Greater Rochester Health Foundation. Sponsor of the project is the SAY Rural Health Network. The three municipalities in the southern portion of Yates County were selected because they have the highest rates of poverty in Yates County. The project focus is to make communities healthier. The grant notes, “if the community is strong and vital the residents are more apt to be healthy. One fact that stands out is that only 10 percent of individual’s health is determined by health services. The balance is determined by personal behavior such as eating healthy and physical activity, social relationships, physical environment and economics.”
Snyder has been attending meetings of the three municipalities to update officials on progress of the project.
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