The Peru Gazette

A Message from the United Way of the Adirondack Region
January 24, 2017 (Plattsburgh) A new online resource is available to help Clinton County residents and their healthcare providers find programs focusing on different aspects of health improvement. The Clinton County Health Department (CCHD) has collaborated with United Way of the Adirondack Region, Inc. to create a directory of health improvement and lifestyle change programs. The directory is housed on the existing Adirondack Region 2-1-1 website (www.211adk.org), serving Clinton, Essex, and Franklin Counties.
By clicking a new icon on the ADK 2-1-1 site, labeled Health Improvement Programs, users will be directed to a separate portal. The purpose of the directory is to provide a comprehensive database that can be easily searched by local residents, allowing them to find and enroll in programs that meet their needs, and by healthcare providers seeking programs to which they can refer patients. Program sub-categories are physical activity, obesity prevention, mental health, parenting, chronic disease management, diabetes management, arthritis management, and weight management. Programs not fitting these sub-categories will continue to be listed on the main ADK 2-1-1 website.
The portal is designed to grow as additional healthy lifestyle options become available to county residents. In addition to Health Improvement Program entries, specific scheduled activities will be listed in a Google calendar on the portal’s main page, allowing users to easily view opportunities. This is an especially useful tool for communicating single activities or activities that take place over a limited time period.
United Way Executive Director/CEO, John Bernardi notes that “addition of specific programs aimed at improving resident’s health by linking them to specific programs provides added value to the community.”
The portal is intended to be a comprehensive resource. Reaching that goal will require that organizations share information about their program offerings. Clinton County Health Department is currently responsible for collecting and maintaining the portal’s information. All organizations with suitable programs they wish to see included should contact Allison Taylor at 565-4993 or complete a data entry form at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/211HIP
This project was funded by the Clinton County Health Department through its Healthy Neighborhoods Fund Initiative, a grant provided by the New York State Health Foundation. Access to ADK 2-1-1 has been provided by United Way of the Adirondack Region which will continue to work with the Health Department to promote the new portal. The project addresses an identified need in the community for a single comprehensive resource where residents can find information on programs of this type.
The Health Department is an accredited full service department serving the residents of Clinton County. The Health Department’s Mission is to improve and protect the health, well-being and environment of the people of Clinton County. Visit www.ClintonHealth.org for more information.
The United Way of the Adirondack Region, Inc. is a voluntary fund-raising and human service organization that serves Clinton, Essex and Franklin Counties. The United Way and its volunteer Board of Directors works to unite a cross section of volunteers and agencies, both public and private, in a community-wide effort to deliver needed health and human service programs. Visit www.unitedwayadk.org.