Project Grant P1050526

RURAL HEALTH NETWORK DEVELOPMENT PLANNING GRANT PROGRAM - APPLICANT ORGANIZATION INFORMATION: FISH, 804 ELMVIEW RD, ELLENSBURG, WA, 98926; SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCY; KVFISH.ORG DESIGNATED PROJECT DIRECTOR INFORMATION: PEGGY MORACHE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR; (509) 925-5990 (V); PEGGY@KVFISH.ORG GRANT FUNDS REQUESTED: $100,000 PROJECT TRACK: REGULAR NETWORK PLANNING GRANT TRACK NETWORK PLANNING GRANT PROJECT: CENTRAL WASHINGTON FOOD IS MEDICINE NETWORK LEGISLATIVE AIM: AIM #1: ACHIEVE EFFICIENCIES; AIM #2: EXPAND ACCESS TO, COORDINATE, AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF BASIC HEALTH CARE SERVICES AND ASSOCIATED HEALTH OUTCOMES; AND AIM #3: STRENGTHEN THE RURAL HEALTH CARE SYSTEM AS A WHOLE FOCUS AREA/NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED: FISH'S FOCUS AREA IS DIET-RELATED CHRONIC ILLNESS. PROPOSED SERVICE REGION: KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON PROPOSED SERVICES: FACILITATE NETWORK MEETINGS, USE A CONSENT PROCESS FOR SHARED DECISION-MAKING, ADVOCATE FOR INSURANCE REIMBURSEMENT, CONTRACT WITH INSURANCE PROGRAMS, CONDUCT A FOOD AND NUTRITION SECURITY ASSESSMENT, DEVELOP A STRATEGIC PLAN, CONDUCT A NETWORK ORGANIZATIONAL ASSESSMENT, AND EVALUATE AND REPORT PROJECT OUTCOMES AND PROGRESS. POPULATION TO BE SERVED: THE NETWORK WILL SERVE FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTER PATIENTS WITH, OR AT RISK FOR, DIABETES, HYPERTENSION, AND/OR OVERWEIGHT/OBESITY. IN ADDITION, IT WILL SERVE LOW-INCOME, HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND LESS-EDUCATED POPULATIONS, ALL OF WHICH ARE MORE LIKELY THAN THE TOTAL POPULATION TO HAVE DIABETES, HYPERTENSION, AND OBESITY. NETWORK MEMBERS: CENTRAL WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY, A HEALTH PROFESSION SCHOOL; COMMUNITY HEALTH OF CENTRAL WASHINGTON, A FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTER; FISH, A SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCY; KITTITAS COUNTY HEALTH NETWORK, A SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCY; KITTITAS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT, A PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT; AND LINC FOODS, A FOOD HUB. FIVE OF THE SIX (83.3%) MEMBERS ARE LOCATED IN A HRSA DESIGNATED RURAL AREA. MEMBERS HAVE ALREADY BEGUN TO INTEGRATE THEIR FUNCTIONS AND SHARE CLINICAL AND/OR ADMINISTRA TIVE RESOURCES BY PILOTING MEDICALLY TAILORED MEAL AND PRODUCE PRESCRIPTION SERVICES. EXPERIENCE IN SERVING RURAL UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS: CENTRAL WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY OPERATES A FIXED FOOD PANTRY FOR FOOD-INSECURE STUDENTS. COMMUNITY HEALTH OF CENTRAL WASHINGTON SCREENS PATIENTS FOR FOOD INSECURITY; AND PROVIDES MEDICAL NUTRITION THERAPY, SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION PROGRAM FOR WOMEN, INFANTS, AND CHILDREN'S (WIC), CARE COORDINATION, AND BEHAVIOR CHANGE SUPPORT SERVICES FOR PATIENTS WITH DIET-RELATED CHRONIC ILLNESS AND/OR NUTRITION INSECURITY. FISH OPERATES FIVE FOOD PANTRIES, FOUR MEAL PROGRAMS (INCLUDING MEDICALLY TAILORED MEAL SERVICES), THREE GROCERY PROGRAMS (INCLUDING PRODUCE PRESCRIPTION SERVICES), AND TWO FOOD BENEFIT PROGRAMS FOR FOOD- AND NUTRITION-INSECURE CLIENTS. THE KITTITAS COUNTY HEALTH NETWORK PROVIDES CARE COORDINATION SERVICES FOR RESIDENTS WITH HEALTH-RELATED NEEDS. THE KITTITAS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT PROVIDES NUTRITION EDUCATION SERVICES FOR RESIDENTS. LINC FOODS AGGREGATES AND DISTRIBUTES NUTRITIOUS FOOD TO RESIDENTS THROUGHOUT CENTRAL WASHINGTON. BASED ON AN OVERVIEW OF 49 STUDIES, THE NETWORK EXPECTS THE BENEFIT OF FOOD IS MEDICINE SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY TO BE A DECREASE IN GLYCATED HEMOGLOBIN, HYPOGLYCEMIA, BLOOD PRESSURE, BODY MASS INDEX, DEPRESSION, BINGE DRINKING, EMERGENCY TRANSPORTATION, EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT VISITS, ACUTE CARE UTILIZATION, INPATIENT ADMISSIONS AND LENGTH OF STAY, SKILLED NURSING FACILITY ADMISSIONS, AND OVERALL HEALTH CARE COSTS; AND AN INCREASE IN NUTRITION SECURITY, MEDICATION ADHERENCE, AND NET HEALTH CARE COST SAVINGS. THE COMMUNITY WILL BE INVOLVED IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND ONGOING OPERATIONS OF THE NETWORK BY SERVING ON THE STEERING COMMITTEE, SERVING ON THE GOVERNING BOARD, PARTICIPATING IN COMMUNITY FOOD AND NUTRITION SECURITY ASSESSMENT FOCUS GROUPS, AND PARTICIPATING IN STRATEGIC PLANNING FOCUS GROUPS. FUNDING PREFERENCE: FISH MEETS THE QUALIFICATION FOR MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED COMMUNITY/POPUL ATIONS.