Chronic Disease and the related result "Residents of Swain County are healthy, active, and thriving" are aligned with the following Healthy NC 2020 Focus Areas/ Objectives. 

• Physical Activity and Nutrition
• Chronic Disease
   

How would we experience residents of Swain County being healthy, active and thriving in our community?

Swain County would be healthier and happier byway of increased physical activity and positive nutritional intake, reducing obesity, chronic disease and food insecurity. According to community listening sessions, community members would experience the following if this result were true: 

• Increase physical activity
• More outdoor activity 
• Increase life span
• Increase healthy food options
• Discount for farm to table in restaurants 
• Decrease clinical access as a result of reduced chronic disease
• Hear about chronic disease 
• Smell less cigarette smoke
• Hear more people communicating about healthy options 
• Increase activity with primary care physicians 

What information led to the selection of this health issue and related result?

The Community Wellness Action Team processed the community health assessment data in September and October of 2018 across several meetings. The Community Wellness Action Team was provided information about the relevance, impact, and fesibility around obesity and chronic disease, specifically looking at obesity, chronic disease, and food insecurity. The community members in attendance then unanimously voted to move forward with the chronic disease priority as a result of evaluating the primary and secondary community health data. 

Known risk factors (Healthy People 2020 website) for this issue are as follows: 

• Built-in Environment
• Socioeconomic Status
• Educational Attainment 

The following progress was made in 2019 on our action plan interventions for Chronic Disease in Swain County. 

• Swain Summits
  • The Swain Summits committee was formed in the beginning of 2019 to design, implement and maintain the community wide wellness program. The committee worked on all logistics of a wellness program available to the entire community. The logistics would include the following: a program name, logo, facebook page, advertisements, marketing strategies, flyers and postcards made then distributed, equipment purchased for biometric screenings, wellness challenges designed, educational videos created, an electronic platform purchased and created, volunteers gathered for health screenings, health screenings conducted, and maintenance of program. Program was launched in September of 2019 with 225 residents in Swain County participating in a health screening. The health screening included: 
    • Total Cholesterol -- Cholestech LDX Analyzer
    • Total Glucose -- Cholestech LDX Analyzer
    • Body Composition (weight, body fat, body mass, and water) -- Tanita Scale TBF 400 
    • Blood Pressure and Heart Rate 
    • Pre-Diabetes CDC Screening
    • A Health Risk Questionnaire (physical activity, nutrition, tobacco, and alcohol)

• Swain School Nutrition Policy
  • School Health Advisory Counsel (SHAC) meets monthly
  • SHAC has discussed the policy
  • Swain School Nutrition Policy will be reviewed in spring 2020 by the Swain School Board

Additionally, the following progress was made in 2019 on Chronic Disease in Swain County.

• Committee was formed to evaluate and explore options for expanding the Heart Health Fair to an Adult Health Fair to include Cancer Awareness and Screenings
• Community Baby Shower was held in October for all expecting parents in Swain County, provided health information
• The local Pathways and Greenways Committee has formed a sub-committee to plan and implement the second annual walkability study in the county
• The Swain County Health Department was awarded a Breastfeeding Friendly Designation

The following progress was made in 2020 on our action plan interventions for Chronic Disease in Swain County. 

• Swain Summits
  • Swain Summits Program started with in September of 2019. In March of 2020 the program evaluated the progress of those already participating, as well as, being open for enrollment to new members. Swain Summits conducted three public health screenings and three private health screenings during the month of March 2020. 
  • Swain Summits Program started with 233 participants in September of 2019. In September of 2020, 71 participants completed their year end evaluation through private health screenings.  In September of 2020, Swain Summits also held open  enrollment to new Swain Summit members. 
    • 310 pounds were lost since September 2019
    • 61% decreased or maintained body fat
    • 212.4 pounds in fat lost since September 2019
    • 51% improved or maintained their cholesterol levels since September 2019
    • 48% improved or maintained their glucose levels since September 2019
    • 59% improved or maintained their health score since September 2019
    • 15% increased meeting 150 minutes of physical activity a week
    • 16% increased coping with stress positively
    • 12% increased comsuming two to three cups of vegetables per day
    • 7% increase in consuming six ounces of whole grains regularly
    • 8% decreased adding salt to food regularly
    • 1% decrease in consuming processed sugars regularly
• Swain School Nutrition Policy
  • School Health Advisory Council (SHAC) met monthly until the COVID-19 Pandemic
  • SHAC has paused all discussion on the policy until further notice
  • Swain School Nutrition Policy has been paused and will be taken to the Swain School Board for review at an undetermined time

Additionally, the following progress was made in 2020 on Chronic Disease in Swain County.

• 4th Annual Health Fair was held on February 4, 2020 with 88 people in attendance
• Heart Health Lunch and Learn provided by Swain Community Hospital with 30 people in attendance
• Innovations Mammogram Bus was hosted at the Swain County Health Department on February 4, 2020 and July 21, 2020