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Tillamook County Wellness Awarded Kiwanis Community Giving Fund

Tillamook County Wellness Awarded Kiwanis Community Giving Fund

by | Oct 5, 2023 | Connect Well, Featured, Work Well

To promote the well-being and growth of children, access to regular physical activity is essential. Over the past three years, Tillamook County Wellness’ Health Promotions Committee has been offering fun, physical activity programs designed to introduce families to local outdoor recreational opportunities. Where participants qualify for exciting prize drawings.

Historically, we’ve collaborated with schools, local libraries, the Oregon Food Bank, and various community partners to promote these activities. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we’ve been able to incentivize participation through rewarding prizes.

Tillamook County Wellness would like to encourage more family participation, especially among families with children aged 0-17 years. Since younger children might not have the means or easy access to parks and other physical activity locations on their own, they depend on older family members for transportation and motivation. This realization has led us to develop a more deliberate strategy for engaging families in 2024.

We plan to identify and acquire participation prizes that are specifically appealing to families. The Kiwanis Community Giving Award Funds will play a crucial role in enabling us to achieve this goal.

Tillamook County Wellness extends its heartfelt gratitude to be the recipients of the Kiwanis Community Giving Fund. Their support is invaluable in helping us achieve our mission of promoting health and well-being in our community to young children in Tillamook County.

Picture of: Janeane Krongos of Tillamook Family Counseling Center and Ron Rush of Tillamook Kiwanis Club

Tillamook County Wellness is a community-driven initiative with a primary focus on reducing the risk of chronic diseases by promoting healthy behaviors from an early age. We believe that by making healthy choices more accessible and enjoyable, we can cultivate thriving and vibrant communities.

The Path to Progress

The Path to Progress

by | Dec 23, 2020 | Connect Well, Move Well, Work Well

Much love has been poured out in recent months; people supporting local businesses, delivering food boxes and reaching out to others. As we step into a new year, we are reminded that we need to show love to ourselves as well. One way we can do that is by taking steps to care for our own mind, body and spirit at the most fundamental levels.

A friend recently shared a story about her visit with someone who had been struggling mentally, emotionally and physically. When asked to explore what he was really missing and needed more than anything else to get better, it came down to three things: Restoration, Hope and Progress. What this man discovered is truly at the core of what each one of us needs to be well.

Restoration – Our bodies have a built-in mechanism for that. It’s called sleep. If you’ve ever been to Disneyland, it’s amazing to see how clean the park is. Despite thousands of people, including children with ice cream cones, overtaking the park each day, it looks immaculate. For that to happen, a whole crew works all night long to make it look perfect for each new day. Believe it or not, you have a whole Disneyland crew working in your body while you sleep, making necessary repairs, sprucing things up and even helping you retain what you learned during the previous day. We need to give that crew eight hours of quality time each night to get that job done. Setting a regular bedtime, and sticking closely to it on weekends, is important for restoration.

Hope – Remember the TV show, Cheers? Or how about Friends or The Big Bang Theory? What each of these has in common is a sense of belonging among the show’s characters. It sounds cliché but it really is true that sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name. That’s because having a sense of connection with others is vital to our well-being. Belonging to a faith community, support group or fitness class is a great way to build connection; as is joining a club with a shared interest, be it quilting, books, dungeons or dragons.  Just getting together regularly with a friend for coffee can fill this need. Even in our current, virtual world, there are ways to gather and share a common experience.

Progress – To move forward. To have a sense of accomplishment is critical for our well-being. The two most important ingredients for making progress are what we eat and how we move. Wait, what? It’s true. Because food and activity are how we derive our energy, these are the two most fundamental things we need to progress toward any goal. Making small steps to our daily habits is progress in and of itself. When we eat healthier foods and exercise regularly, we have more energy, think more clearly, and are more productive.

As you ease into 2021, what small changes will you make to bring Restoration, Hope and Progress into your life?

Help is Here, Now.

Help is Here, Now.

by | Nov 4, 2020 | Connect Well

We’ve been sharing ways to cope well during stressful and uncertain times. For the next few weeks, our Wellness Wednesday tributes go out to partner organizations who provide vital services to those struggling to cope. It’s important to reach out and get help even if a person doesn’t think they are “that bad off,” as we so often hear. Just like with other prevention measures, it is better to seek and get help early. This week’s shout out goes to Tillamook Family Counseling Center.

What are some of the more common issues for which people are seeking help right now?

Anxiety, depression, substance use, trauma history, and becoming overwhelmed by family demands.

What are some common warning signs for this condition? 

Warning signs vary. Common warning signs include: struggles with decision making, limited problem solving skills, trouble managing relationships with others, substance use, challenges managing stress, and difficulty managing employment.

Are there statistics that show how common these challenges are?

There are many statistics that illustrate how common these challenges are. According the National Institute of Health 7.1% of adults have at least 1 depressive disorder in the United States. And, according to the National Institute of Health there is an estimated 19.1 percent of the United States population that have had an anxiety disorder in the past year.

What are some of the specific services Tillamook Family Counseling Center provides that help individuals with these concerns?             

  • Individual, family, and group counseling                                                                            
  • Medication management      
  • Peer support services                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
  • Substance use disorder treatment                                                                                                   
  • Crisis services and support
  • Developmental disabilities services and supports
  • Parenting services and supports

For more details visit our website: https://tfcc.org/

What are some common outcomes for people who receive these services?   

People gain the ability to manage anxiety in ways that are not harmful, improvement of depressed mood, improved quality of relationships, improved communication skills, and the improved ability to manage stress.

Are these services covered by insurance and/or do you offer a sliding scale for payment?     

Yes, our organization is recognized by most insurance providers and we are part of the Columbia Pacific Coordinated Care Organization (CPCCO). Columbia Pacific Coordinated Care Organization is the entity that manages health benefits for the Oregon Health Plan. Our organization also has a sliding scale fee system available for individuals without health insurance.

How has COVID-19 impacted services?

The Tillamook Family Counseling Center is continuing to offer services during the pandemic. Most of the visits are being done remotely through telehealth or by phone. In-office services are very limited at this time and primarily targeting individuals with very challenging behavioral health issues. Crisis services are available 24/7 and can be accessed by phone and mobile response.

We’ve been sharing ways to cope well during stressful and uncertain times. For the next few weeks, our Wellness Wednesday tributes go out to partner organizations who provide vital services to those struggling to cope. It’s important to reach out and get help even if a person doesn’t think they are “that bad off,” as we so often hear. Just like with other prevention measures, it is better to seek and get help early. This week’s shout out goes to Tillamook Family Counseling Center. Click on the link below to learn more. (Italics will only appear in the social post teaser)

What are some of the more common issues for which people are seeking help right now?

Anxiety, depression, substance use, trauma history, and becoming overwhelmed by family demands.

What are some common warning signs for this condition? 

Warning signs vary. Common warning signs include: struggles with decision making, limited problem solving skills, trouble managing relationships with others, substance use, challenges managing stress, and difficulty managing employment.

Are there statistics that show how common these challenges are?

There are many statistics that illustrate how common these challenges are. According the National Institute of Health 7.1% of adults have at least 1 depressive disorder in the United States. And, according to the National Institute of Health there is an estimated 19.1 percent of the United States population that have had an anxiety disorder in the past year.

What are some of the specific services Tillamook Family Counseling Center provides that help individuals with these concerns?             

  • Individual, family, and group counseling                                                                            
  • Medication management      
  • Peer support services                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
  • Substance use disorder treatment                                                                                                   
  • Crisis services and support
  • Developmental disabilities services and supports
  • Parenting services and supports

For more details visit our website: https://tfcc.org/

What are some common outcomes for people who receive these services?   

People gain the ability to manage anxiety in ways that are not harmful, improvement of depressed mood, improved quality of relationships, improved communication skills, and the improved ability to manage stress.

Are these services covered by insurance and/or do you offer a sliding scale for payment?     

Yes, our organization is recognized by most insurance providers and we are part of the Columbia Pacific Coordinated Care Organization (CPCCO). Columbia Pacific Coordinated Care Organization is the entity that manages health benefits for the Oregon Health Plan. Our organization also has a sliding scale fee system available for individuals without health insurance.

How has COVID-19 impacted services?

The Tillamook Family Counseling Center is continuing to offer services during the pandemic. Most of the visits are being done remotely through telehealth or by phone. In-office services are very limited at this time and primarily targeting individuals with very challenging behavioral health issues. Crisis services are available 24/7 and can be accessed by phone and mobile response.

If you are interested in services provided by Tillamook Family Counseling Center call (503)842-8201 or (800)962-2851.

Wellness + Well-Being = A Perfect Fit

Wellness + Well-Being = A Perfect Fit

by | Sep 22, 2020 | Connect Well

We are pleased to announce a unique partnership that increases support for Tillamook County Wellness and other collaborative community health improvement efforts. At a system level, Adventist Health has created a Community Well-Being Division and has acquired Blue Zones, a global approach for helping people live longer, better lives. These investments are part of Adventist Health’s commitment to inspiring health, wholeness and hope in the communities they serve, including Tillamook County.

The exciting news is that the Blue Zones initiative shares the same strategic approach as Tillamook County Wellness – to work together across sectors to shape policies, systems, environments and culture to improve individual and community well-being. According to the CDC, about 70% of our health and longevity is influenced by the environments where we live, work, learn, play and age. Those environments and our community cultures also influence our habits, for better or worse. By strategically investing our collective energies to shape these environments, systems and cultures, we can do a lot more to reach our goals of improving health and quality of life for everyone.

As part of this new investment, the role of director of Community Well-Being has been created for each of the communities in which Adventist Health is a partner. With Tillamook County Wellness already in place, this presented a truly unique opportunity. As directed by the Board of County Commissioners, Tillamook County Public Health serves as the “backbone” for the Wellness initiative. Since it began in 2015, Michelle Jenck has served as Coordinator, working with the Wellness backbone. With this alignment in place, Michelle Jenck has been selected to serve as Adventist Health’s Community Well-Being director for Tillamook County; and, through a partnership agreement, Michelle will continue to provide overall coordination of Tillamook County Wellness. In both roles, she will continue to serve as a connector for and among community partners in key areas impacting individual and community health.

 “This level of collaboration is something that we have hoped for since the start of Tillamook County Wellness. We are optimistic this new position and partnership will inspire other community partners to consider how they can invest resources to collaborate further in ways that support health in Tillamook,” said Marlene Putman, Tillamook County Public Health Administrator and Director of Tillamook County Community Health Centers.

Eric Swanson, President of Adventist Health Tillamook agrees. “My vision is for Adventist Health to be a trusted partner in our communities. I believe the new director of community well-being demonstrates Adventist Health’s commitment to stand alongside our partners in public health and in the larger community to bring health, wholeness and hope to the communities we serve.”

Michelle holds a Master of Education in Health and Kinesiology, as well as certifications in behavior change and weight management coaching. She has worked as a fitness instructor in multiple disciplines for over 20 years, also serving as a governing board member for Adventist Health Tillamook since 2006. She is a passionate advocate for community health, social responsibility and early childhood development. “I’m humbled and honored to be selected for this role. This is more than a job for me. It’s a passion project. We’ve built a lot of momentum and this new partnership just really ups our game. I can’t wait to see what we can do together” said Michelle.

If you are interested in learning more about Tillamook County Wellness or how you can get involved in making your community a better place to live, work, learn, play and age, contact Michelle at jenckmd@ah.org or visit our partner websites: Tillamook County Community Health Centers, Adventist Health Tillamook, and Tillamook County Wellness.

Investing in Community Health

Investing in Community Health

by | Sep 18, 2020 | Move Well

Two-for-one sales are always popular.  We get twice as much for the cost of one.  What if we can get a three-for-one deal?  Wouldn’t that be awesome?  In healthcare, this is referred to as the “Triple Aim.”  Developed by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, this framework sets a goal of improving population health, as well as quality of individual care, while at the same time reducing healthcare costs.

It may sound too good to be true, but great strides are being made to accomplish the Triple Aim.  This isn’t just a good idea.  It is necessary, given escalating rates of preventable illness and healthcare costs.  Because the factors that influence health extend beyond the healthcare system, other sectors must become part of the “Triple Aim” solution.  Government, schools, businesses, faith-based and civic organizations are just some of the partners that can help.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has developed the Health Impact Pyramid, a resource that helps communities understand how to get the best return on investment when working to improve population health.  Traditionally, most of the time and money invested in helping people get or stay healthy happened at the top of the pyramid in the form of counseling, education and clinical interventions.  While these are important strategies, they require more individual effort and often do not fully address the underlying, root causes affecting individual health.

Research has shown that investments in factors that influence a person’s education, employment and housing status, known as socioeconomic factors, can achieve a much higher rate of return.   For example, community investment in early childhood development and care impact a child’s success in school and this will likely lead to a better job down the road.  Education and employment status are associated with better health in adulthood.

The second level of the pyramid relates to making default choices healthier where people live, work and play.  If we live close to a store that sells fruits and vegetables, we tend to eat more of those foods than someone who must travel a long distance to purchase them.  Similarly, conveniently located sidewalks, bike lanes and trails make being active easier.  Research shows that people who live in walkable communities are more active and healthier.

Continuous, paved pathways provide safe, accessible opportunities for all citizens to become more physically active.  Currently, there are few places like this in Tillamook County.  Kilchis Point Reserve, near Bay City, is a popular trail.  Another good example is Bud’s Fitness Trail at Tillamook Junior High School.  These paths allow people of all abilities to enjoy being active outdoors and accommodate strollers, walkers and wheelchairs.  These off-road paths, such as the planned Crosstown Connections rail spur between Goodspeed Park & Hoquarton Slough, allow families with small children to recreate safely, even allowing a young child to skate, ride a bicycle or scooter – all important activities for physical development and social connectivity.

These paths are free to the public and open year-round.  The return on investment comes from the increased health and community livability these resources provide.  Development of the proposed Salmonberry Rail Trail within our coastal communities stands to not only generate significant economic development but also positive community health benefits.

By visiting a local recreational area, you can check off a square on your Explore Your Outdoors BINGO card to enter to win a prize. Cards are available on-line at https://tillamookcountywellness.org/move-well/great-places-to-get-moving/ or can be picked up at NCRD, the Y and Inn at Cape Kiwanda. You won’t want to miss out – the adventure ends September 25th!

 

For more local health and wellness information, follow Tillamook County Wellness on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

 

Author: Michelle Jenck, TC Wellness Coordinator