by Michelle | Oct 12, 2018 | Why I'm In
The Tillamook County Wellness “Why I’m In” interview series highlights our community partners and what has inspired and motivated them to work toward the common goal of improving community health.
What drew you/your organization to Tillamook County Wellness?
Swanson: As a member of the media, covering stories on health and wellness is important to me. I’m all about education and outreach. It’s important to get this information out into the community.
There is so much bad news in the world. This is about sharing the good news and that’s really what people want to hear about. I feel like our community was ready for this.
I’ve been involved with the wellness efforts from the beginning. We always wanted this to be about positive messaging. No shaming. Just simple, practical tips – eat a little better, walk a little more – that kind of thing. That’s what appealed to me and made me want to get involved.
What, if any, changes have you seen come about as a result of this work?
Swanson: If you did a Marketing 101 study, this would be an example of how well a campaign will work when the community is ready. I have been amazed at how quickly this concept of Wellness has caught on. The fact that about 85% of people recognize Tillamook County Wellness as a brand is absolutely amazing.
The other thing that has been so great is to see all of our community partners working together and that this is truly county wide. It’s been so much fun to work with innovative people and see some of the outside-of-the-box thinking.
What have you learned from being involved in this work?
Swanson: I have learned how to slow down and assess things. I’m totally a boots-on-the-ground, let’s-get-started kind of person. Yet, early on, it was clear that what we were doing wasn’t sustainable.
When we stepped back from the original YOW effort to focus on Diabetes prevention, I was afraid we would lose momentum. I have learned that sometimes you shouldn’t just jump in. Sometimes, even if we don’t want to, we need to stop the horse and make sure we are on the right horse, on the right road, going the right direction and doing it for the right people.
That was really hard for me – to hit pause – but now I see that this was the right path.
The other thing I have learned is that change can be really hard both for individuals and for organizations, and it doesn’t happen overnight. All good things take time.
What are your hopes for this work as it relates to you/your organization?
Swanson: As a media representative, my job is incredibly stressful. If I could, I would prefer to just cover the good things like health and wellness, outdoor activities, gardening and food. Even though that’s not realistic, this work is shaping our focus for the Tillamook County Pioneer. We really want to help our community through this platform. The work I am doing in Wellness aligns with what we want to do as an organization, providing the best possible news and resources we can for our community.
What are your hopes for this work as it relates to changing population health in Tillamook County.
Swanson: My hope is that we can keep building on what we have started, taking it to a larger scale to impact more people.
I also hope to see more of us embracing change. That’s part of developing community resilience and building a sense of community. You see that when mother nature deals us a blow – how people step up and help each other out in times of crisis.
I also like the idea of templating this and bringing it to other communities.
by Michelle | Sep 27, 2018 | Why I'm In
The Tillamook County Wellness “Why I’m In” interview series highlights our community partners and what has inspired and motivated them to work toward the common goal of improving community health.
“WHY I’M IN” with Stacie Zuercher, Community Programs Supervisor, Northwest Senior & Disability Services (NWSDS)
What drew you/your organization into Tillamook County Wellness?
Zuercher: Commissioner Bill Baertlein was on the NWSDS board and was very involved in my agency, which is how I initially got involved in the planning for the “Year of Wellness.”
I like that this is a ground-up initiative and not top-down. The “suck in” is for me is that the doors are open for anyone who wants to participate. What are families saying they need? This about asking our community members about their health needs and responding in a thoughtful way – not just looking at statistics.
What, if any, changes have you seen come about as a result of this work?
Zuercher: In our first year we were able to establish a lot of important resources like the tillamookcountyhealthmatters.org website. Initially, there were a number of wonderful agencies doing a lot of collaborative work and we were creating a lot of programs and opportunities for community engagement but this was a lot of work and all of these agencies were going in different directions.
A major shift came about when we realized there was so much good work already happening and we asked ourselves, “What could Tillamook County Wellness do to support what was already happening and even enhance it?” That’s when we shifted our focus to reducing risk for Type 2 Diabetes.
Now this is about supporting other work by providing coordination and alignment toward a common goal. Instead of being a “one hit wonder,” we are all setting our organizational egos aside and are working together to really improve community health in a big way.
What have you learned from being involved in this work?
Zuercher: My career experience, before coming to Tillamook, was in memory care, skilled nursing and assisted living facilities. In all honesty, I really had blinders on about public health. I came into my current job right as Tillamook County Wellness was forming, which was great. This experience has helped me gain an understanding of how investing in health and wellness provides a trickle-down effect for everyone in the community.
This has also allowed me to develop a whole new set of skills in community collaboration, outreach and marketing, which help me advocate better for the needs of seniors and people with disabilities.
What are your hopes for this work as it relates to you/your organization?
Zuercher: Personally, I just love Tillamook. I am excited that I get to be part of something that helps Tillamook County. I hope that it motivates people to want to be more engaged in their own community, to take advantage of all the resources that are here and makes people proud of where they live.
Professionally, my goal is for seniors and people with disabilities to feel like they have access to resources. If you are an isolated senior or have health needs, I want you to feel confident that you can find the help you need.
What are your hopes for this work as it relates to changing population health in Tillamook County.
Zuercher: From a population health perspective, I hope that individuals feel supported by their community. That health issues are not a scary thing that people avoid but instead, that they’re thinking about being proactive in ways that help them be as healthy as they can be.
If there is a message we can get out there – whether it is about having healthy families, preventing chronic disease, safety for isolated seniors, or whatever – I just hope that the resources we have created will debunk the myths and fears people have about being healthy.
So often people think, “Diabetes runs in my family. I am at high risk because my mom had it or my dad lost his limb to it, so, this is scary and I don’t want to face it.” Instead, I want people to realize that there are resources here for them. This doesn’t have to feel scary or overwhelming. Hope is what gets people through life’s difficulties.
by Michelle | Sep 20, 2018 | Why I'm In
The Tillamook County Wellness “Why I’m In” interview series highlights our community partners and what has inspired and motivated them to work toward the common goal of improving community health.
“WHY I’M IN …” Interview with County Commissioner Bill Baertlein
How did you come to be involved in the Year of Wellness, now Tillamook County Wellness?
Baertlein: When I was first elected as county commissioner, I noticed there was a lot of competition and siloed work between our local health care and mental health care agencies. Everyone was – and is – doing good work but it wasn’t having the impact we would all hope to see. My initial thinking was that, maybe, if we had one project, where we could all work together, we could make a difference in community health.
In 2014, I attended a community-wide strategic planning session hosted by Adventist Health. It was there, in a breakout session on Chronic Disease Prevention, that I floated the idea of having a “Year of Wellness.” People were very receptive to the idea. From there, I reached out to Marlene Putman, our County Public Health Administrator, and asked her to help bring the idea to fruition.
What, if any, changes have you seen come about as a result of this work?
Baertlein: Intuitively, I see more people out walking. People seem to be talking about health more and in ways that show they are more aware of the benefits of healthy living. I can’t put it into numbers but that is something we hope to track as we move forward.
What have you learned from being involved in this work?
Baertlein: I have learned that all our community organizations really do want to collaborate. Despite the inherent competition among some agencies, there is a willingness to set those things aside and work toward a common goal. This is something really remarkable.
Personally, I have learned to change my own eating habits. I have always been a walker but I knew I needed to eat better. This has given me the motivation to improve my habits.
What are your hopes for this work as it relates to you/your organization?
Baertlein: My hope is that, 20 years from now, we will see the changes we have started will have led to improved lifestyles and a decline in chronic disease rates. This is the difficult part of public service. We don’t always see the results of our work right away. The changes in policy we make now, often affect things way out in the future. Prevention is a long-term investment. Of course, we want to help people right now. We need to be compassionate. But we also have to be strategic with how we invest our limited resources.
Do you have anything else you would like to share about this work as it relates to changing population health in Tillamook County?
Baertlein: This has been a lot of fun. It has been very satisfying to look back and see the changes we have initiated. We are building something from the ground up. It is something we can all be proud of.
by Michelle | Sep 20, 2018 | Why I'm In
The Tillamook County Wellness “Why I’m In” interview series highlights our community partners and what has inspired and motivated them to work toward the common goal of improving community health.
“WHY I’M IN” Marlene Putman, Administrator, Tillamook County Health & Human Services Department
What drew you/your organization to Tillamook County Wellness?
Putman: For me, Tillamook County Wellness is both a professional and personal calling. This has allowed some of my own personal beliefs to take root within our organization as well as for me as an individual. Overall, I’ve always been very healthy. However, my experience of having Polycystic Kidney Disease and a kidney transplant has impacted my health. The effects of medication and work stress have had a huge impact on me both mentally and physically.
Working in healthcare has actually been very unhealthy for me. As healthcare providers, we tend to think about everyone else’s health and not our own. This work has helped me think more about how I can become more healthful.
Before becoming a County Commissioner, I asked Bill Baertlein, “If you could have an impact in health services, what would you do?” That’s when we talked about doing a “Year of Wellness.” It was an opportunity for us to work together to influence community health in a positive way.
What, if any, changes have you seen come about as a result of this work?
Putman: Community awareness has been raised around the importance of your own health. I believe people are thinking more about their health and what they can do to improve it. They are more aware of what they are eating and of becoming more active, as well as drinking more water and striving to get enough sleep.
In my work place, we have talked about our internal policies. Do we have a healthy meeting policy? Are we thinking about the need for people to stand and move while they work? Are breaks long enough for people to go for a walk? Do people feel supported? I know that we have purchased a lot of standing desks in the last several years! And, we have learned that having an internal champion pushing these changes from within is important.
Personally, it has reminded me to build in time to just move more. I try to walk to meetings, get up and talk to people. I have revisited my work schedule and am learning how to scale back where I can.
What have you learned from being involved in this work?
Putman: I have learned that people need time to process and think about the health behavior changes they can make before they can or will make those changes. This is true for organizations as well as individuals. In theory, we know what we need to do but we have to consider how we will actually act on that knowledge.
I’ve realized that we all have perceptions about what we think it takes to be healthy. It is easy to judge ourselves and feel like we are falling short. The question is, does this make me feel better? That’s the important thing.
What are your hopes for this work as it relates to you/your organization?
Putman: I hope we really do succeed in changing attitudes about what it means to be healthy. And not just attitudes, but actions.
My hope is that, organizationally, and maybe even within the County, we support and encourage employees to exercise, provide time to exercise throughout the day, and/or offer a Y membership to employees, like other businesses.
I also hope to see more youth involvement. We need youth involvement as they will be impacted by health behaviors that are being established today. Youth voices in policy development are critical to future changes in the schools and community.
I am hopeful that organizations will continue to work together and support each other, like having fun walking challenges.
What are your hopes for this work as it relates to changing population health in Tillamook County.
Putman: My hope is that we reach our goal of reducing risk factors for Type 2 Diabetes and that we can measure our impact. It feels good to be hopeful and look at the possibilities, rather than the impossibilities. Everyone has hopes and dreams. This is about giving people hope, regardless of what their circumstances are. Having a positive attitude is half the battle.
by Michelle | Sep 14, 2018 | Why I'm In
The Tillamook County Wellness “Why I’m In” interview series highlights our community partners and what has inspired and motivated them to work toward the common goal of improving community health.
“WHY I’M IN” – An Interview with David Butler, President, Adventist Health Tillamook Regional Medical Center
What drew you into the Year of Wellness, now Tillamook County Wellness?
Butler: Wellness is a movement I personally believe in. I like feeling good. This is a personal commitment that my wife and I have made to each other and to our children. We want to have a fruitful life and enjoy each other and our family and friends for as long as we can.
From a faith-based perspective, I believe God created these amazing bodies, this machinery, that can take care of itself if we are putting the right things into it. I think it’s to our advantage to understand what works for each of us. What may work for one person, may not work for others. In general, though, there are best practices we can follow and that’s what we are doing here.
As an organization, I have always been in favor of “well care” rather than “sick care.” That’s why I love Tillamook County Wellness. It’s focusing more on long term health. We know we can prevent Type 2 Diabetes. There is so much evidence out there. We are almost negligent if we don’t do this.
What, if any, changes have you seen come about as a result of this work?
Butler: I am seeing more education, more marketing. I think a lot of this is just about education – people understanding that they can have hope and that there is a way out. Demonstrating how they can feel better and how they can eliminate some of the ailments they’ve had.
Our CHIP program is a great example of how we are changing health. We have had 500 residents go through the program since it started. That’s 10% of the city’s population! People lose weight, their health improves and they feel better. The results we have seen have been amazing.
On the healthcare side, I am seeing excitement on the part of some of our providers. I like that this is about more than one organization. We are seeing prejudices, walls and barriers coming down by educating, communicating and partnering.
What have you learned from being involved in this work?
Butler: I’ve learned that you need to have thick skin and be persistent; that, if you stay the course and don’t give up, you can achieve quite a bit. People will get on the bandwagon and provide resources and help. I’ve learned that, when you get a lot of people changing, you get everyone’s attention and then even more people want to become part of the movement.
What are your hopes for this work as it relates to you/your organization?
Butler: My hopes are that we see more businesses and organizations support this. By that I don’t just mean going to meetings but contributing resources and money. I’d also like to see civic organizations and mom and pop businesses supporting this within their organizations. We are not talking about expensive changes in lifestyle habits. We aren’t talking about running a marathon here. We are talking about tweaking things. It’s about getting outside for fresh air and sunshine. My family bought a trampoline and we are all using it. It’s great for our health and it’s fun.
Another hope is that the food and restaurant industry in our county jumps on the bandwagon and starts offering more healthy options. Maybe even offering special “approved” menu items that align with our wellness efforts. We are stepping up in our own hospital cafeteria, intentionally offering healthier options in the ingredients we serve.
What are your hopes for this work as it relates to changing population health in Tillamook County.
Butler: If I think about taking that “big swing” it would be to see Tillamook County meet the criteria of a Blue Zone, places where people are living longer, healthier lives as whole population. We know there is a link between lifestyle and chronic disease and mental health but what are we doing about it? Wellness means reversing a chain reaction. If we can change our lifestyles, we can reduce disease, depression and even suicide rates.
by Guest | Jul 20, 2018 | Why I'm In
Tillamook County Wellness (formerly YOW) continues it’s work because of the extraordinary level of engagement and collaboration among partners, volunteers and the community. The series “Why I’m In,” will feature what has inspired and motivated these efforts toward a common goal of improving community health.
“WHY I’M IN …” Eva Manderson, Director, Northwest Regional Childcare Resource & Referral and Preschool Promise Manager for NW Early Learning Hub
What drew you/your organization into the Year of Wellness, now Tillamook County Wellness?
Manderson: I was drawn to this type of work through a prior experience while at Tillamook Early Learning Center. We received a wellness grant from the State that allowed us to implement new procedures, support different projects and provide training that resulted in: 1) Teachers increasing children’s movement inside and outside the classroom, 2) Children increasing the amount of fresh fruits and vegetables they consumed daily, 3) A decrease in screen time within the classrooms and 4) Encouraging our moms to breast feed for the first full year of their baby’s life.
Where that was an organizational effort, Tillamook County Wellness is more of a community-based movement. It felt like a natural extension of that previous work. I really believe that, if we learn how to build healthy habits when we are young, we won’t have as many habits to change when we are adults.
What, if any, changes have you seen come about as a result of this work?
Manderson: Personally, connecting with this movement has prompted me to remember the more-healthy me “before kids” and I have resumed some healthy habits and made other positive changes.
I have worked really hard to fit in a walk or a run when I can but I am also more intentional about fitting in more movement opportunities throughout my day, whether that be parking farther away or scheduling a walking meeting. Being active doesn’t have to mean participating in a prescribed activity or exercise program. And I am giving myself permission to avoid things I don’t enjoy, like not running on a wet, rainy day and instead finding something else I will enjoy.
I also planted a garden with my kids this year. We’ve been enjoying tending it together. So far we’ve eaten fresh strawberries, raspberries and cilantro. We’re looking forward to other home grown goodies soon.
What have you learned from being involved in this work?
Manderson: It has been really impressive to me to see the level of community involvement. Granted, Tillamook is an involved community, but I have been especially impressed with the diversity of the people involved in Wellness. There are many people from all walks of life, who bring all different types of experience, to this work. You don’t just see the athlete and the nutritionist working on this. And it’s not just the medical community or the health community. It’s people from many types of work: social services, behavioral health, schools, business to name a few. For some people, it may be harder to engage in this work and it speaks volumes to me that they have chosen to engage and help create the changes we need to see in the community.
What are your hopes for this work as it relates to you/your organization?
Manderson: I wear a lot of hats. I didn’t mention that I also serve on the Tillamook District 9 school board. My hope is that we can shift community norms and see people choosing as their default, healthy foods and being more active. I believe that, when we can do that with our youngest kids – the babies – then, when they go to school, we will see those changes reflected in student health, which we know is linked with academic success. And academic success is linked to life success and happiness. It’s silly but my hope is that, when I go to the end-of-the school-year BBQ, the carrot bin will be empty and maybe the ranch pump will still be full. That will happen when our children make healthy food choices as their default.
What are your hopes for this work as it relates to changing population health in Tillamook County.
Manderson: I want to see that, when it’s a nice day, and parents are waiting for their kids, (picture me with my soccer mom hat on,) they’ll get out of their cars and move while they are waiting for their kids. It used to be that, when I had a few minutes to wait for my kids, I would sit in my car, answer emails, practice my Spanish, or scroll through my Facebook feed. Other times, I might sit on the sidelines and visit with other parents, which is great. But we can take advantage of those moments to be more active. Of course, we need to give grace to ourselves when we don’t always choose the perfect option, like not wanting to run in the rain but, shifting our awareness of when those opportunities present themselves is something I hope we can achieve in this work.
It seems like there is a growing number of people who are doing this. It’s so nice to see more people out, interacting, walking and talking to each other.
