North Country Healthy Heart Network

We continued our efforts to build a chronic disease prevention system that has the capacity to support regular, ongoing delivery of evidence-based chronic disease prevention programs across seven counties in rural, upstate new york. We also continued rebuilding our tobacco cessation and childhood obesity prevention programs. Of note, we assisted 7 North Country healthcare provider organizations to establish and/or improve their nicotine cessation treatment protocols; supported 7 rural school districts to implement policies, plans, and programs designed to increase youth access to nutritious foods and/or opportunities for before/after school recreational activities; maintained and promoted a website that facilitates enrollment in chronic disease prevention and self-management education (cdpsme) programs; and led efforts of a Network of 35+ health and social care organizations across a 7-county region to develop and adopt both a strategic and accompanying business plan. We entered into paid service agreements with 8 of our Network partners who offered twice as many programs as the year prior (24 versus 12 the year prior) and enrolled 200 individuals to participate (a 52% increase over the prior year). Feedback from program participants has been overwhelmingly positive, as illustrated by this malone, ny resident's feedback: "i have developed two new habits that after almost two months i can really see are making a difference. I also feel happier and feel i can sustain these changes going forward. What a life changing difference this program can make"