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| PCF WORKS AS CATALYST FOR CHANGE IN ROCK FALLS | ||
Macoupin County residents of all ages are digging out their old walking shoes or buying new to get into the groove of walking. Residents are becoming more active with the assistance of the Macoupin County Public Health Department Walking Program. Jori Koffman, a Peace Corps Fellow from Western Illinois University and intern at the Health Department, and Kent Tarro, Administrator for the Health Department, believe in programs that benefit overall health. Their desire to implement a program that reaches into the community to fight osteoporosis, lower blood pressure, and increase metabolism prompted them to start a walking program. In May, 101 residents stepped into the initial program which challenged them to walk 1000 minutes in 15 weeks. Tarro feels it is advantageous to have the program set up in small amounts of time because, “life is easier to look at in smaller pieces.”A second walking program with the goal of walking 800 minutes in 8 weeks began in September and has also been well received by residents. “The walking program has evolved since implementing the first one and will continue to do so. This is the first time the health department has promoted physical activity with a specific program, and each day we are learning how to make the program a better fit for county residents,” Koffman states. Participants are walking during lunch breaks, walking on county roads, walking to run errands, and encouraging others to join them. “The program gets people out walking. It gives people a walk with a purpose,” states one resident who now walks to the grocery store at lunch time to purchase her lunch rather than bringing it from home. “The program is a friendly motivator to get people up and out and moving,” says Koffman. According to Kathy Newhall, Healthy Community Access Program Coordinator, “Not only has Jori assisted employees and residents to step out to improve their health; she’s also been promoting health using the media and by going into county schools.” Koffman has also played key roles in surveying small businesses on health insurance issues, surveying restaurants on their smoking policies, and conducting community outreach. Koffman completes her internship and graduates with a Master of Science degree in Health Education from the Department of Community Health and Health Services Management in December. Tarro says, “There will be a gap when she leaves. She’s helped us to achieve so many goals.” Becky Voyles, Health Education Coordinator, echoes similar sentiments, “Jori has been instrumental in making a lot of programs work. The things she’s come up with, we’ll continue to do.” Newhall adds, “Jori is very positive. We think she’s irreplaceable. Someone will have a tough job filling her shoes!”
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