Literacy Council of LaPorte County

HEALTHY COMMUNITIES OF LAPORTE COUNTY

In our 12^th year of service, Healthy Communities of LaPorte County (HCLC) was formed to positively impact quality of life for all residents. The HCLC concept arose from a national movement, and succeeds locally by creating new collaborative efforts addressing priority unmet needs. Our goal is to work with dozens of community partners to avoid duplication of effort and combine resources to effectively impact a variety of essential issues.

Healthy Communities grows and prospers by providing hands-on development and project staffing. This unique organization was developed by LaPorte Regional Health System and Saint Anthony Memorial, which generously provided a decade of dedicated operational support. However, the intent was recognized that the organization eventually would move forward to sustain its operations. After four years as a 501©3 organization, HCLC is now self-sustainable through donations and grant-supported projects that provide administrative funding. Our thanks to John W. Anderson Foundation, HealthVisions Midwest and Matthew F. Moore Foundation for assisting with operational support over the past year, and to the numerous entities noted below that help underwrite outstanding council projects.

LITERACY COUNCIL – The Literacy Council of LaPorte County has been very fortunate to secure numerous grants – including a three-year support pledge from Unity Foundation of LaPorte County. Additional funding comes from The Discovery Alliance (TDA), City of Michigan City, Michigan City Community Enrichment Corp., and Dollar General to fund successful projects to improve our county’s low literacy rates.

The successful new Hispanic Kindergarten Readiness focus, collaborating with Dunebrook, provides 3-5 year olds with necessary skills, while parents learn English as well. We also worked with Dunebrook to continue a kindergarten readiness focus in daycare homes.

Our Special Reading Needs project is raising reading levels – and grades – for many students in grades1-5 through additional tutoring opportunities.

We also will hold our second annual Executive Spelling Bee on March 27 to promote literacy awareness and raise funds for council support.

COVERING KIDS & FAMILIES – This coalition has been fervently working to keep our county “ahead of the curve” on Hoosier Healthwise and other healthcare-related issues, as the state’s Family & Social Services Administration programs are moving to privatization. We also are heavily promoting and assisting in enrollments for the new Healthy Indiana Plan. As one of several Covering Kids & Families organizations in the state, our local current funders for this rapidly expanding project include Duneland Health
Council, Hilltop Community Health Center, LaPorte Regional Health System, Managed Health Services, MDwise, and Saint Anthony Memorial.

HEALTH COUNCIL – In 2006-07 we tackled obesity prevention through classes underwritten by the regional 4Community initiative. In collaboration with Purdue Extension, more than 90 persons boosted their nutrition and food label knowledge. The health council also is beginning to work - with literacy council assistance - on a new resource booklet project to benefit at-risk families, and another project to provide teens with needed drug / alcohol / tobacco facts. Funders include Enrichment Corp., Unity Foundation, the Health Department and Sand Castle Shelter for Families and Children.

TOBACCO PREVENTION COUNCIL In its 7^th year as lead agency for the county, Healthy Communities was asked by Indiana Tobacco Prevention & Cessation to oversee additional minority-focused project funding for the current 2-year grant cycle. This resulted in a total of $247,604 coming into the county. Eight organizations currently are providing cessation and educational prevention programs targeting youth, adults, and pregnant women. These programs – including free hospital-based cessation classes – have reached thousands. We sponsor an annual Smoke-Free Fair Day event in July, supported an INFluence event for female leaders last September, and coordinated a press conference to congratulate Purdue North Central and the hospital systems for moving to smoke-free campuses.

In addition, the council is pleased to be receiving an additional $155,000 in grant funds to further boost the “network of cessation” and reduce our county’s 30.7% adult smoking rate. This includes promotion of the state’s free 1-800-QUITNOW line to assist smokers in kicking the habit.

TRANSPORTATION COUNCIL

After many years as a catalyst, HCLC is seeing closure on its efforts to bring together partners to create a transportation link between Michigan City, LaPorte, Westville/Purdue North Central, and out into the county. An expert firm studied the expansion possibilities and discussions are coming to fruition to determine how a combined system of existing social service agency transporters might more efficiently serve needy residents. The considered goal is to combine under one central transportation dispatch system.

INFORMATION AND REFERRAL

One of Healthy Communities’ early successes was a web database of more than 300 local helping services, accessed on our web site at www.laportecounty.net. We are completing another update of that important resource to benefit county residents.

FOR MORE INFORMATION about Healthy Communities, log onto our web site at www.laportecounty.net.

To volunteer, or to provide a support donation, contact:

Executive Director Sandy Gleim

800 Lincolnway, Suite 200

LaPorte, IN 46350

219-326-6260

sandy@laportecounty.net

Literacy Coordinator Judy Hanish at jkh8844@msn.com

Covering Kids & Families Coordinator Cara Logan at logancara@yahoo.com.