Access to health

Good health is the cornerstone to a better life. It influences everything — from a child’s academic performance to an adult’s earning potential.

Access to nutritious food, health care services and health insurance are essential to good health. At United Way of Greater Stark County, we’re working to create healthy systems and environments that support healthy lifestyles for our community members.

To positively impact our community, we need your help. Join the fight, and together, we can ensure a healthier future for Stark and Carroll Counties.

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OUR VISION

We envision a community where individuals and families have access to healthcare and improve their health.

COMMUNITY CHALLENGES

Many Stark and Carroll County residents
face ongoing educational challenges

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34% of Stark County third-graders are overweight or obese
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The infant Mortality Rate – the nuber of infants who died within the first year of life per 1,000 births – a higher rate than the statewide average of 6.9 and the national average of 5.96
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3.0 Infant Mortality Disparity Ratio – black infants die at three times the rate of white infants, a 6.7 IMR for white infants compared to 20.2 MR for black infants
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3% of children brought into custody sighted parental drug use as a factor with heroine and opiates being the most frequent at 17 percent
  • 34 percent of third-graders are overweight or obese (Source: Stark County Community Health Improvement Plan, 2012)
  • 8.2 Infant Mortality Rate – the number of infants who died within their first year of life per 1,000 births – a higher rate than the statewide average of 6.9 and the national average of 5.96 (Source: Stark County THRIVE, 2013)
  • 3.0 Infant Mortality Disparity Ratio – black infants die at three times the rate of white infants, a 6.7 IMR for white infants compared to 20.2 IMR for black infants (Source: Stark County THRIVE, 2014)
  • 3 percent of children brought into custody sighted parental drug use as a factor with heroin and opiates being the most frequent at 17 percent (Source: Stark County Mental Health and Addiction Recovery, 2015)

COMMUNITY CHALLENGES

Many Stark and Carroll County residents
face ongoing educational challenges

the research tells us

Food insecurity can damage children’s health and brain development years before they enter a classroom. By kindergarten, food-insecure children often are cognitively, emotionally and physically behind their food-secure peers. (Source: Children’s Health Watch)

How we invest in solutions

 Across the five elementary schools served by Backpack for Kids, 82% of the children receive free or reduced lunches during the week. United Way supports the Backpack for Kids program and it provides nutritious meals (two breakfasts, two lunches and two snacks) for the weekend to more than 2,200 children - to ensure they come back to school on Monday better prepared to learn and concentrate. (Source: Stark County Hunger Task Force)

why it matters

We are creating healthy systems and environments
to promote healthy lifestyles for all ages.

  • Increase health insurance and health care access
  • Improve access to healthy food and nutrition programs
  • Provide information and resources for prenatal care

Improved access to health strategies through:

  • Healthy beginnings – predominantly addresses 21 and under
  • Healthy lives – predominantly addresses 22 and older
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Poor Nutrition

Poor nutrition contributes to many of our community’s greatest health challenges including heart disease, diabetes, obesity and infant mortality.

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Lack of Health Insurance

Lack of health insurance coverage is a significant barrier to accessing healthcare services. People without health insurance are less likely to have a primary care doctor and are more likely to go without care because of cost. Therefore, they often receive less preventative care, dental care, chronic disease management and behavioral health counseling.

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Limited Access to Healthcare

Limited access to healthcare services can result in reduced health outcomes and potentially unnecessary complications, including premature death.

COMMUNITY IMPACT

How We Measure Our Results
United Way invests $889,814 in 22 programs focused on improving access to health for Stark and Carroll County residents. To reach our goals, we look for multiple indicators and outcomes.

Indicators

  • Number of individuals served participating in healthy food access and nutrition programs
  • Number of individuals served with access to healthcare services and supports
  • Number of individuals enrolled or reenrolled in healthcare insurance

outcomes

  • Healthier BMIs: The percentage of children and adults served who have increased their consumption of fruit or vegetables, and/or moved toward a healthy weight (BMI)
  • Better birth outcomes: Percent of babies served who experience healthy birth outcomes, including carried to full term, born at a healthy weight, and/or celebrate their 1st birthday
  • Reduced risky behaviors: Percent of youth/adults served who avoid or reduce risky health behaviors such as drug or alcohol abuse, nicotine and tobacco use, unprotected sexual activity or teen pregnancy, mental health crisis or suicide attempt
United Way collaborations and funded partner programs help create healthy systems and environments that support healthy lifestyles for our community members
Community Investments List
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Stark County THRIVE

PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT

One of the funded partner programs United Way supports through the health initiative is Stark County THRIVE (Toward Health Resiliency for Infant Vitality and Equity). Every child deserves to celebrate a first birthday and this program, funded in part by United Way, is a county-wide collaborative striving to reduce Stark County’s infant mortality rate. Learn how this initiative is helping to improve access to prenatal care and reduce the number of sleep-related deaths.
Learn more