Bristow-Results from a recent Creek County survey show about 79% of respondents want a better variety and quality of fruits and vegetables where they shop; while about 74% say they would exercise more often if the community had more free or low-cost programs like walking or yoga available at parks or recreation areas near where they live to help them be more physically active.
These and other findings were gathered from a Comprehensive Community Needs Assessment conducted by the TSET Healthy Living Program serving Creek County. TSET HLP coordinators and community partners spent several months gathering input from local residents and collecting public health data, in order to develop strategies for improving wellness throughout the county, especially in areas that need it most.
“We spent a lot of time and effort on the assessment process in a very challenging year,” said Lisa Prescott program coordinator of the TSET HLP serving Creek County. “But the work was important to identify what steps we need to take as a community to improve the health of local residents.”
Year 1 of the TSET HLP’s five-year grant cycle, which began July 1, 2020 and ended June 30, was dedicated to a thorough assessment of tobacco use, nutrition access and physical activity environments within areas of the county with the poorest health outcomes. The program will spend the remaining four years working with community partners on implementing strategies to improve health outcomes as guided by the local data and public feedback.
TSET HLP coordinators are in the process of finalizing their implementation strategies with guidance from TSET program officers and the Oklahoma State Department of Health’s Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.
The wellness strategies selected specifically for Creek County will be announced later this summer once they are finalized. But for now, Lisa Prescott said TSET HLP coordinators and community partners are eager to share what they have learned with local residents as they prepare for the next phase of improving wellness in our area.
“We are so appreciative of our Community Collaborative group members, to everyone who participated in the survey and World Café community discussions, and for the support we get from TSET,” Prescott said. “We look forward to working as a community to overcome barriers to healthy environments in our county so our families and neighbors can live longer and healthier.”
To learn more about the TSET HLP in Creek County, contact Lisa Prescott at lisa.prescott@okstate.edu or Danielle Bryant at danielle.bryant@okstate.edu.