Quality Life

Our communities become a place to live a healthy, active,
and fulfilled life for people of all ages and backgrounds.

What it’s all about

When we say “quality life,” we are primarily referring to citizens’ ability to maintain a positive, mentally and physically healthy lifestyle within the infrastructure offered by Jasper and Newton counties. Residents should be easily able (and encouraged) to lead active lifestyles. When looking for a workout, there is a wide selection of gyms or cycling studios. Conversely, if they want to get outside, there is a robust system of trails that go through the local parks where people go for a run or bike ride. To fuel this activity, restaurants in the area should offer healthy, locally sourced, organic foods. Children, from a young age, should learn how to lead healthy lifestyles through education and after-school programs aimed at getting people active. 

Quality Life by the numbers

Obesity Rate
25 %
Diabetes Rate
23 %
Physical inactivity
20 %
Without insurance
0 %
Residents per doctor
4000 +
Based on estimates from Jan 1, 2023

1. Mental Health Education and Opportunity

Increase understanding of mental wellness and the opportunity to engage in therapeutic activity. 

Mental healthcare is one of the most challenging parts of any modern community. It escapes the auspices of many modern healthcare infrastructures, but it remains crucially important (indeed, often an indicator of whole health) to the health of a community writ large.

One of the most telling indicators of mental health in a community is its access to education regarding mental health. Our community must commit to this sort of educational effort in order to ensure the long term well-being of our people. 

At the same time, with better-educated people, we must ensure that access to mental healthcare is open to any and all citizens of both Jasper and Newton Counties.

2. Mental Health Infrastructure

Build an infrastructure to give residents timely access to care for acute, chronic, and mild mental health issues.

At present, mental healthcare resources are scarce at best, totally absent at worst. Jasper and Newton counties need a commitment to improved infrastructure in mental healthcare to ensure that citizens have access to quality care options at rates they can afford.

Our citizens generally lack any knowledge about how and where to seek help for mental ailments, both chronic and acute. It’s no wonder why: there simply aren’t (in many cases) any quality options available. We must commit to bringing in a more diverse network of mental healthcare resources that includes everything from a fully committed and smart community mental health center, to better school-based resources, to a more fecund network of localized private practices in the field of mental health.

But our commitment must also extend beyond traditional means and ensure that our communities have access to great talent via telemedicine.

3. Access to Urgent Care

Ensure urgent care facilities are available within 30-minutes of every resident.

Modern medicine can largely be handled with a firm commitment to improved technology and mental health resources. But, one gaping hole remains in the infrastructure of Jasper and Newton county: urgent care facilities. These facilities bridge the gaps in an improved healthcare infrastructure by providing emergency medical care ranging from obstetrics to trauma wounds to overdoses.

We must be steadfast in our commitment to recruiting a hospital network to locate their urgent care facilities to multiple comm- unities in our counties. This may likely involve multiple medical networks from various locations but will ensure that local citizens never have to travel further than 30 minutes by car to receive needed emergency medical treatment when it’s most needed.

4. Healthcare via Technology

Leverage technology and tech literacy to significantly broaden access to primary mental and physical healthcare. 

Telemedicine can and will provide improved access to healthcare services badly needed by our communities.

5. Nutrition Education and Access

Drastically improve education about and access to affordable, nutritious eating options.

We must improve how our communities eat, how they find and purchase their food, and how they learn about nutrition.

6. Healthcare Transportation

Ensure that residents are given adequate options for transportation to and from health and health-related activities. 

We must ensure that everyone can make their way to physical doctor offices when needed.

7. Active Lifestyle Education

Increase understanding of physical health and the opportunity to engage in physical activity.

Our residents should be committed to an active lifestyle.

8. Substance Abuse Care

Ensure access to quality, affordable, and effective care for those suffering from substance use disorders.

Our residents should be given rehabilitory and educational care regarding substance use disorders.

9. Pre- and Post-Natal Care

Ensure that expecting mothers receive appropriate education about and access to pre- and postnatal nutrition and care.

10. Purpose for Seniors

Give seniors and retired adults a sense of purpose and community.

For instance, we can help pair active adults with local organizations and the like.

11. Active Lifestyle Infrastructure

Improve communication about and access to healthy activities for all ages.

Communication is key to ensuring participation in group activities in any community.

12. Active Lifestyle Technology

Develop a community-wide program to encourage healthy lifestyle choices for all ages.

Leveraging technology, we can make an impact on communication gaps in and around maintaining an active life.

13. Substance Abuse Prevention

Develop educational programming to help quell the problem of substance abuse.

A commitment to real-world and relatable education is important in helping to fight substance abuse.

14. Year-Round Fitness Centers

Improve access to and use of year-round fitness and activity centers.

We’ll commit to creating year-round centers for our citizens to be active and commit to health.

15. Chronic Disease Management

Provide access to tools and education about chronic disease management for adults with chronic health conditions.

Projects

Increase Mental Health Resources in Schools

The Description

The Description We have heard a lot about the lack of mental healthcare options available throughout Jasper and Newton counties. Currently, Newton does not have any mental healthcare facilities, and the ones that are located in Jasper have 6+ month-long waiting lists. This is particularly a problem for teens and young adults who are unable to receive the support they need. To mitigate this issue, we will train school nurses and administrators on how to treat the unique mental health needs of rural teens. We will also train them to recognize the warning signs of more dangerous mental health disorders and will provide them with the resources they need to get support for these individuals. These individuals will help serve as a support system for teens, so they do not feel alone or have no one to turn to. This will not replace the need for qualified mental health professionals or a mental health facility, but it will provide an extra, easily accessible layer of support for many.

The Rational

There is currently a lack of mental health resources available in the community. Many teens and young adults with mental health issues are going untreated and don’t know where to go for support.

 

The outcomes

We will continue to track how many people are trained and certified, as well as the number of students seeking support.

Health

Children

Education

Plot Points

Food Pantry Meat Supplement

12/16/2022 No Comments

The Description At the foundation of the needs that we have, physiological needs are the most crucial. And yet, we’ve seen an increase in our

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