WELL CONNECTED COMMUNITIES
Well Connected Communities is a nationwide effort to cultivate wellness led by America’s Cooperative Extension System (in partnership with National 4-H Council) with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) strives to foster a Culture of Health in America.
WCC aims to improve the health of 1,000 communities across the nation over the next 10 years. Purdue participated in Wave One and was approved for Wave Two. Wave Two focuses on Delaware and Fayette counties.
Key components of this initiative include development of or strengthening of community led coalitions/health councils; engaging youth as equal partners in these coalitions; addressing issues of health equity; and, establishing youth and adult health/wellness volunteers.
Well Connected Communities Website
Indiana CTSI CHeP/Connections IN Health
Community Health Partnerships (CHeP) of the Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (CTSI) aims to link the experience and skills of community leaders, health professionals, and university researchers to improve the health of Indiana citizens. Indiana University, Purdue University, and the University of Notre Dame are collaborating to engage Indiana communities and citizens as partners in the research process to achieve the goal of a healthier state. With the advice and participation of community leaders, CHeP seeks to provide better ways to conduct and disseminate research about health to Indiana’s communities and citizens. Purdue Extension expands the reach of CHeP to be statewide in scope.
Approximately 20 Purdue Extension Educators are cost-shared as part of the Indiana CTSI CHeP partnership. These educators are connected with health partnerships and/or health coalitions in their communities. CHeP cost-shared educators reported that due to Purdue Extension efforts in 2019 – 2020, 147 agencies and partnrs were directly influenced to improve health. In addition, 89 new community-university partnerships were developed or created. Purdue Extension Educators have served as members of the CHeP Trailblazer grant review team since 2015.
An initiative named Connections in Health began in 2019 and is in strong partnership with Purdue Extension. CHeP has contracted with IDOH to oversee its chronic health disease coalitions. These include: CADI (Cardiovascular Disease, Diabetes and Stroke Coalition of IN), HHWA (Hoosier Health and Wellness Alliance), INJAC (Indiana Joint Asthma Coalition) and the Cancer Coalition in conjunction with the Simon Cancer Center. The Connections in Health team provides many opportunities for partnership and coalition training. CINH is working with local counties to determine how best to impact health locally. Grant and Vermillion counties have been extensively involved this year. Other counties will be engaged in the future.
Connections IN Health Initiatives
Cardiovascular and Diabetes Coalition of Indiana – CADI
