Healthiest Cities and Counties

Duke-Margolis has partnered with the Durham County Department of Public Health and the Cabarrus Health Alliance under a planning grant from the Aetna Foundation through the Healthiest Cities and Counties Challenge.

This partnership, called the North Carolina Healthiest Counties Cross-Sector Team, uses a multi-faceted approach through several community-based programs underway in both counties led by health department partners, a longstanding Duke University School of Medicine presence in Cabarrus County, and Duke University initiative to improve population health and payment reform to improve population health and health equity in both Cabarrus and Durham Counties. Specifically, we are addressing nutrition/food insecurity, physical activity, tobacco use, integrating physical activity “prescriptions” into clinical care and piloting healthcare delivery and payment reform via community health workers. In each of these major areas, we will track performance measures linked to population health and identify new steps to support them through payment reform.

Project Updates

Cross-Community Collaboration in Cabarrus County

Collaborative action is a part of Cabarrus Health Alliance's mission statement. This commentary highlights several community-based initiatives that the Alliance has used to contribute to the Healthiest Cities & Counties Challenge, and demonstrates the importance of using cross-sector partnerships to address health disparities within low-income populations. Read more in the NC Medical Journal.

The Network of Care -- Cabarrus County

Loop the Loop Routes Expand to Schools

Cabarrus County Gardens Build Community and Combat Hunger -- Read More on The Health Buzz Blog

Double Bucks Incentive Program in Durham County

The Durham County Department of Public Health and Durham Farmer’s Market have teamed up to help underserved populations access local and fresh food. Double Bucks is an incentive program that helps SNAP/EBT customers stretch dollar further by matching up to $10 when the benefit is redeemed at the Durham Famer’s Market. So far, over 500 customers have used Double Bucks to purchase almost $50,000 of healthy foods. The community-based program is just one of many underway to address nutrition and food insecurity as part of the North Carolina Healthiest Counties Initiative’s participation as a finalist in the Aetna Healthiest Cities and Counties Challenge. Watch the Video

End Hunger Durham and Network of Care Pantry Calendar

The Network of Care -- Durham County

Community Health Worker Training -- Durham County

Research Team From Duke-Margolis:

Bradi Granger, PhD, FAAN
Associate Professor of Nursing, Associate Director of Duke Translational Nursing Institute Director of the Duke Heart Center Nursing Research Program

Andrew Olson, MPP
Project Leader, Health Policy Evidence Hub, Duke Clinical Research Institute

Emma Tepfer, RN, BSN
Student, Duke School of Nursing

From the Durham County Department of Public Health:

Gayle B. Harris, MPH, RN, Public Health Director and General Manager for Well-Being
Natalie Rich, MPH, Tobacco Health Education Specialist
Kelly Warnock, MPH, RD, LDN, Nutrition Communications and Health Promotion Program Manager
Michele Easterling, MPH, RD, LDN, Nutrition Director
Mel Downey-Piper, MPH, CHES, Health Education and Community Transformation Director
Joanne Pierce, MA, MPH, Deputy Public Health Director
Denver Bailey, Epidemiologist

From the Cabarrus Health Alliance:

Dr. William F. Pilkington, DPA, Chief Executive Officer and Public Health Director, Cabarrus Health Alliance
Lauren V. Thomas, MPH, Healthy Cabarrus
Jennifer West, MS, ACSM, REACH Program Manager
Marcella Beam, BA, REACH Communications Director
Sarah Mardovich, BS, BA, Public Health Associate
Alicia McDaniel, MPH, CHES, REACH Program Coordinator
Jessica Montana, MPH, CHES, REACH Program Coordinator
Meghan Charpentier, MPH. REACH Program Coordinator

Funding:

Funding for this planning grant has been provided by the Aetna Foundation through the Healthiest Cities and Counties Challenge.