An Overview of the National Prevention Strategy:

The goal of this conference is to create an intellectual environment through which health, wellness, social, and community organizations can explore the kinds of partnerships that will expand their capability to serve local communities.  The National Prevention Strategy, released June 16, 2011, aims to guide our nation in the most effective and achievable means for improving health and well-being. The Strategy prioritizes prevention by integrating recommendations and actions across multiple settings to improve health and save lives.  The Strategy envisions a prevention-oriented society where all sectors recognize the value of health for individuals, families, and society and work together to achieve better health for Americans.  The Strategic Directions provide a strong foundation for all of our nation’s prevention efforts and include core recommendations necessary to build a prevention based strategy. Each Strategic Direction can stand alone and can guide actions that will demonstrably improve health. Together, the Strategic Directions create the web needed to fully support Americans in leading longer and healthier lives.  The four Strategic Directions are:

1. Crating Healthy and Safe Community Environments, includes those with clean air and water, affordable and secure housing, sustainable and economically vital neighborhoods (e.g., efficient transportation, good schools), and supportive structures (e.g., violence free places to be active, access to affordable healthy foods, streetscapes designed to prevent injury);
2. Providing Clinical and Community Preventive Services, consisting of screening tests, counseling, immunizations or medications used to prevent disease, detect health problems early, or provide people with the information they need to make good decisions about their health.
3. Empowering People, by providing them with the knowledge, ability, resources, and motivation to identify and make healthy choices; and
4. The Elimination of Health Disparities, which are often linked to social, economic, or environmental disadvantages (e.g., less access to good jobs, unsafe neighborhoods, lack of affordable transportation options).

CONNECTING THE DOTS — EXPLORING COMMUNITY MODELS FOR PREVENTIVE CARE AND VETERAN’S TRANSITIONAL WELLNESS:

The “Healing with CAARE” model, and its newly launched “Center for Accessible-Affordable Health, Research, and Education” (CAAhRE) provides North Carolina’s socially disadvantaged with quality healthcare services; ranging from preventive screenings and outpatient treatment, to full dentistry services and Post Traumatic Stress counseling for the area’s veterans community.  Additionally, the center conducts evidence-based research to advance industry practices, legislative standards, etc., while also offering clinical training to Duke University Medical Center’s and University of North Carolina Health Center’s residency physicians.  CAAhRE serves as an extension of the organization’s current infrastructure, to not only provide quality access and education to its clients, but to also bolster the organization’s research capabilities and clinical expertise to advance the ways in which healthcare is delivered!  This endeavor has led to an expansion of services, which include:

1. The Jeanne Hopkins Lucas Education and Wellness Center (which provides free dental clinic, nutrition classes, and case management services);
2. A Cancer Screening platform offering free pap smears and referrals for free mammograms;
3. Substance Abuse Comprehensive Outpatient Treatment;
4. HIV Testing, Education and Prevention;
5. Mental Health Services;
6. Job Readiness Curriculum(including GED and “Job-Link” programs);
7. Small Business Training and Entrepreneurial Developmental Services; and
8. A Pantry Hub to address basic emergency needs for food, clothing, and hygiene supplies.

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