Funded through a 5 year, $4.5 million grant from the Harvest Foundation, the Martinsville Henry County Coalition for Health and Wellness began operations in April 2005.

 

The Harvest Foundation was formed in May 2002 with the proceeds from the sale of Memorial Hospital of Martinsville and Henry County.  Its mission is to research and responsibly invest in programs and initiatives to address local challenges in health, education and welfare.

 

In order to assess the health status of Martinsville City and Henry County residents, the Harvest Foundation commissioned a Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey in spring 2003. ** Results from the study were also compared to the national health objectives described in Healthy People 2010 in order to progress towards the vision of improving the quality and years of life for all citizens and eliminating health disparities among different segments of the population.

 

Results from this survey indicated the need for wellness and prevention programs in order to decrease the incidence of, and complications from, obesity, high blood pressure and cholesterol, arthritis, diabetes and heart disease.  No less important are the need for initiatives addressing the health challenges this community faces due to recent, continuing negative trends in population growth, economics and employment.

 

In an effort to ensure that health initiatives in the Martinsville and Henry County community address the challenges facing different segments of the population, representatives of the Harvest Foundation, local health leaders and a consultant team worked to identify strategies for (1) improving health access and care coordination, especially for the uninsured and underinsured and (2) promoting wellness and disease prevention (risk behavior reduction).  Through consensus building and guided by data, a grant request was proposed to the Harvest Foundation to create a new, tax-exempt entity, the Martinsville Henry County Coalition for Health and Wellness, which will develop, fund and oversee the implementation of programs in the areas of wellness, disease prevention and health care access and coordination.

 

**The full report and summary may be accessed electronically through the Harvest

Foundation’s website, www.theharvestfoundation.org

 

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Board Of Directors

James E Rountree Sr, EdD	President
Gray Friedrichs, OD.	Treasurer
Susan Selman	Secretary
Edna Morrison
William C Randolph
Kay Smith

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