Couple Transforms Health

by Michelle | Jan 11, 2019 | Being Well

Tillamook couple makes positive health and lifestyle transformation with innovative program

By Patti Atkins, APR, Columbia Pacific CCO

TILLAMOOK, Ore. — When Mandie Phipps was diagnosed with pre-diabetes, she knew that she was going to have to make some significant changes to improve her health. But when her partner, Shawn Parker, decided to join her and include the whole family, they were able to transform their lives for the better.

Columbia Pacific’s Community Advisory Council in Tillamook County teamed up with local health care providers, OSU Extension and Tillamook Family YMCA to offer an evidence-based Diabetes Prevention Program that was developed by the Centers for Disease Control for members on Oregon Health Plan. The instructor was trained as a certified Community Health Worker through a partnership that was forged with OSU Extension.

Beginning with diagnosis, the yearlong pilot program encourages participants to learn more about diabetes, diet, exercise and healthy lifestyle changes. The participants can also join the YMCA for one-third of the cost, the other two thirds are covered by Columbia Pacific CCO and the YMCA.

“My health care provider at Tillamook Regional Medical Center gave me a prescription for the program,” said Phipps. “I realized that this was very serious and that I was going to need to make some significant changes to stay healthy.”

“I joined Mandie for moral support,” said Parker. “But in the first class we took a test where I learned that I was at high risk for pre-diabetes as well. We realized that we were going have to overhaul our entire lifestyle.”

“In the classes, we learned about how to evaluate healthy food choices,” Phipps continued. “We read labels, count calories and fat in everything we eat now. We began to practice good portion control. We have almost cut out all soda and drink water about 90 percent of the time. And we added walking as a family activity in the evenings instead of just hitting the couch and watching TV.”

“We used the activity trail at the middle school, next to our house, as a walking path after dinner to spend quality time together as a family. We focused on our diet first and lost most of our weight. Then we slowly added exercise. Since we started in April, Mandie is down 31 pounds and I’m down 40 pounds. And we are still losing weight, even when we take time off for vacations and holidays. Our children are in sports now as well. It’s helping the whole family be healthy.”

At the end of the first year, program collaborators will decide how to improve or continue this project. More information will be announced.
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About Columbia Pacific Coordinated Care Organization
Established in September 2012, Columbia Pacific CCO coordinates health services for more than 25,000 Oregon Health Plan members in Columbia, Clatsop and Tillamook counties. For more information, please visit www.colpachealth.org.

The Gift of Resiliency: Protecting a Growing Brain

by Michelle | Jan 3, 2019 | Being Well

The Gift of Resiliency: Protecting a Growing Brain

By DeAnna Pearl, M.A.T, B.S., Certified Prevention Specialist, SOS Tillamook – Prevention, Tillamook Family Counseling Center

What does it take to build resiliency in ourselves?   What is resiliency?  The definition is the ability to overcome challenges of all kinds–trauma, tragedy, personal crises, plain ole life problems–and bounce back stronger, wiser, and more personally powerful.

It’s important because this is what we need to do when faced with life’s inevitable difficulties. AND it’s important because there is a growing social science research showing that you can bounce back, even from a lifetime of “risk factors” or very painful trauma or tragedy, and how you help those you care about bounce back.

However, it takes clear steps to create a safe and healthy community.  There is a reason for age restrictions for legal use of alcohol, marijuana, tobacco, gambling, etc. The brain has not fully developed its regulatory system (frontal lobe) until the average age of 23.  The resiliency factors that a community can provide greatly impact the access and exposure to risk factors during the most formable brain growing years, ages 0-24.  The use of drugs and alcohol at an early age can hardwire the brain and can lead to abuse and addiction.

The simple act of reducing the normalization of use, abuse and addiction is a protective factor.  Example, not providing scratch-it tickets in Christmas stockings reduces the potential brain pathways that can lead to highs and lows of gambling.  Disallowing the casual use of alcohol under adult “supervision.”  The brain makes connections with all of these experiences which can actually hard-wire it for future use, abuse and addiction.

Until the average age of 23, the brain is especially focused on seeking fun and easy entertainment. It first routes decision making through the (1) emotion center (amygdala) resulting in fight, flight, freeze or “freak out” responses.  The dopamine, “feel good” chemical, quickly rewards the (2) pleasure center (nucleus accumbens) which then sends a signal to the (3) frontal lobe (where decisions and judgments are made) causing a reaction. Note: This is the last part of the brain to fully mature and does not have full facility to reason consequences or control impulses.

Continuous exposure to quick fixes such as gambling, drugs, alcohol, marijuana, opioids, sex and violence, means greater potential to be hard wired for external stimuli thus causing the potential cycle of addiction.

Can individuals learn to be more resilient, or are some just born with the ability to bounce back from adversity? Both!  Research suggests that human beings are born with an innate self-righting ability, which can be helped or hindered. The findings are fueling a major shift in thinking about human development.  Instead of obsessing about problems and weaknesses (splat factor) we are beginning to recognize “the power of the positive” (bounce factor).  Identifying and building individual and environmental strengths better support helping people overcome difficulties, achieve happiness, and attain life success.

Prevention is Intention: Building Safety Resiliency in Our Community

by Michelle | Dec 28, 2018 | Being Well

By DeAnna Pearl, M.A.T, B.S., Certified Prevention Specialist, SOS Tillamook – Prevention, Tillamook Family Counseling Center

Children represent a quarter of our population and informing them about safety and preparedness is an integral part of our community’s resiliency.  Youth are strong and resilient in the face of disasters, often adapting to stresses that weaken most adults, and yet they are incredibly vulnerable. Young children, in particular, are completely dependent upon many systems in their lives for their survival: their parents, their broader families and communities, the institutions and organizations that care for them and teach them, and officials and policy-makers who shape their environment.

With this in mind, SOS Tillamook and Garibaldi Elementary School teamed up to bring a specific focus for October’s Red Ribbon Week (RRW.)  RRW is a week of awareness for youth focusing on drug and alcohol prevention.  However, “We need to move beyond just saying ‘no,’” comments DeAnna Pearl, SOS Tillamook Program Manager.  “We need to help students learn about why we say ‘no’ and how it can protect one of the most valuable organs in our body, our brain.” By protecting our brains, we have a better chance of being safe and growing to our potential.

DeAnna visited GES 4/5^th grade classrooms to talk about safety, how it works, and why we have rules.  One question led to another. DeAnna, “How does walking on the sidewalk keep our brains safe?”  Reply, “So we don’t get hit by a car!”  DeAnna, “How do we keep our brains safe when we are sad? “Reply, we talk to a friend or adult.”  DeAnna, “How do we keep our brains safe on the beach?”  Reply, “Watch out for sneaker waves and don’t turn your back on the ocean.” DeAnna, “How do we keep brains safe from drugs or alcohol?” Reply, “Say no thanks, I got to feed the alligator in my back yard!”  One of the best responses over the three days: “I didn’t know that there is a reason for rules.”

With this theme in mind, SOS Tillamook invited all GES 4-5th grade students to submit a picture depicting what being safe looks like for entry into the 2019 SOS Tillamook Calendar. The theme of the calendar is, “Prevention is Intention: Preparedness and Safety.”  Of the artwork submissions, 20 were chosen as finalists.  On Nov.15^th at the GES Family Night, the final selections were displayed so attendees could vote on their favorite.  The winning artists receives a certificate and recognition.

Watch your mailbox for the 2019 “Prevention is Intention – Building Safety Resiliency in Our Community” SOS Tillamook calendar featuring drawings from Garibaldi Grade School students about how to be safe. Other features include safety and preparedness information and community resources.

To find more information on kids and family emergency preparedness go to https://www.ready.gov/kids.

For more information on prevention, contact DeAnna Pearl, (503) 815 5426 or DeAnnaP@tfcc.org.