Hillsdale Residents Find PATH for Chronic Disease Management

Bringing Knowledge to Life! / Partner Report / HillsdaleCounty
20 Care Drive
Hillsdale, Michigan49242-5039
Phone: 517-439-9301 / E-mail:
Fax:517-439-4290
Web:msue.msu.edu/hillsdale
August 2009

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Hillsdale residents find PATH for chronic disease management

Hillsdale County MSU Extension’s health and nutrition associate Candace Gardiner teams up with Region 2 Area Agency on Aging’s Chris Godbold to provide a six-part chronic disease management program called PATH (Personal Action Towards Health).

Shirley Marsh, a PATH participant, was inspired to pen this poem at the start of her journaling exercise. Journaling is one activity that PATH participants use to express their thoughts and help manage symptoms related to chronic disease

Finding the Path

I’m in this hazy maze,

This quagmire of discontent.

No one pushed me into it:

I’ve made it my confinement.

I know there is a way out:

I have not, just yet, found it.

I know the sun is shining:

But clouds keep it in hiding.

Though academically

Understood, feelings don’t jibe.

Heresies ride herd on me.

I don’t know what to prescribe.

This depression haunts my soul:

Is it chemical, mental,

Hormonal or all of these?

I want to find the portal

Just waiting for time to pass

Is irrelevant and not

Conducive for solutions.

I’ve thought about it a lot.

I prayed to God for some help.

“Hellooooooooo. . . God, where is my help?”

I am attending a class,

With like-minded who need help!

Shirley Marsh works on her journal during a PATH session.

MSU Extension hosts strategic growth and placemaking program

Hillsdale County MSU Extension, the Hillsdale County Planning Commission and the city of Hillsdale sponsored an economic development seminar that covered a wide variety of topics.

The 35 participants included elected and appointed officials, industrial and economic development representatives and local business owners.

Continued

Strategic growth and placemaking—continued

The program featured a look at the differences between the old economy and the global new economy, the roles of placemaking, education, regionalism, intergovernmental cooperation and entrepreneurism and the importance of approaching growth strategically.

The main goal of this program was to help leaders and other individuals learn about who their real competitors are in a global economy and what it takes to position communities to prosper in the new marketplace.

The workshop provided the tools and resources to undertake strategic growth and placemaking in Hillsdale County and develop asset-based strategies at a scalethat can truly make an economic differencein the county’s future.

In an evaluation of the program, 80 percent of the participants stated that they had learned something new and 60 percent said that they view the issue of economic development differently than before the event.

As a result of this program, 76 percent of the participants felt they were better prepared to undertake strategic growth and placemaking in Hillsdale County and 72 percent said that they were inspired to do something different or make a change in their current practice or community.

Some examples of doing different things include establishing cross-functional teams to develop business opportunities and capitalize on area assets, putting more thought and action into regional planning and working to change individual and personal mind sets about the community and the state.

At the end of the program, 80 percent of the participants (28 individuals) indicated an interest in being involved in future discussion and follow up activities associated with this seminar to promote positive change in Hillsdale County.

Jasneet Sharma, Land Policy Educator

Hillsdale County 4-H Shooting

Sports Club is on target with activities for area youngsters

The Hillsdale County 4-H Shooting Sports Club was established three years ago. With the partnership and the strong support of the Hillsdale County Conservation Club, a group of 30 youths and adult volunteers learned to safely handle shooting sports equipment and build their skills at the conservation club’s facility.

This spring, the club was awarded a State 4-H Participation Fee grant to purchase practice bows, arrows, BB guns and targets.

Many youths had expressed an interest in being part of the shooting sports program, but did not have the means to purchase the needed equipment. Since the practice equipment is available for all youngsters to use, club membership has more than doubled to include 75 youths.

They visit the conservation club each week to learn, practice shooting and improve their skills.

In July the club hosted the first Tri-State/County Shooting Sports Invitational. Members of 4-H shooting sports clubs from across Indiana, Ohio and Michigan were invited.

More than 50 Michigan and Ohio youths took part in archery, trap, BB gun and rifle contests, while adult volunteers from Steuben County, Indiana came to gather information about the program so they can start a club there.

The 4-H Tri-State/County Shooting Sports Invitational gave participants an opportunity to meet their peers from across the tri-state area, share their thoughts, experiences and fun, learn from each other and challenge each other in a healthy, safe environment.

Insa Raymond, 4-H Extension Educator