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Making a Difference through Fitness
By: LYNNE JETER
Making a Difference through Fitness | Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation, Delta State University, John Sewell, Leslie Griffin, John Hilpert, Butch Caston, Obesity Focus

BCBS Mississippi Foundation Grant Aims to Boost Health in the Delta

CLEVELAND—Last summer, Delta State University launched an initiative to boost health and wellness on campus and throughout the Cleveland community and Bolivar County, thanks to a $700,000 grant from the Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation. Program leaders hope the "Healthy Campus/Community Initiative" will transform the culture of Delta State's campus into the state's flagship health and wellness university.
 
"The grant demonstrates a health unity of purpose among Delta State, the Cleveland public school district, and the community," said E.E. "Butch" Caston, EdD, coordinator of the grant program. 
 
Four major grant objectives include:
  • Providing for the infusion of health curricula in pre-service teacher and leadership programs;
  • Providing a comprehensive Delta State Health and Wellness Center consisting of a fitness center, nutritional counseling lab, exercise physiology lab, and outdoor recreation;
  • Establishing a healthy-friendly environment on campus; and
  • Providing for ongoing health information, screenings and education venues to create a healthy campus culture.
To achieve these objectives, The Initiative is using several components of the national Healthy Campus 2010 movement (see sidebar). It has also incorporated into degree programs the Center for Disease Control-promoted Comprehensive School Health Program model with eight components—health education; physical education; health services; nutrition services; counseling, social and psychological services; health and safe school environments; staff wellness; and family/community involvement.

Healthy Campus 2010 (175)

Delta State University participates in the American College Health Association's Healthy Campus 2010, which has 10 leading indicators reflecting major public health concerns across the United States.
  • Physical activity
  • Overweight and obesity
  • Tobacco use
  • Substance abuse
  • Responsible sexual behavior
  • Mental health
  • Injury and violence
  • Environmental quality
  • Immunization
  • Access to healthcare
"We can't address all at once," said E.E. "Butch" Caston, EdD, coordinator of the program, "so initially we're focusing on obesity and related health issues by developing programs that highlight the importance of eating the proper diet combined with regular physical activity. For example, the Project Fit America activity equipment we've installed at the six local public elementary schools isn't playground equipment. UCLA specifically designed the Project Fit America equipment to address all the deficit areas where children fail fitness tests. Professional training for the elementary teachers by Project Fit America staff was conducted to show teachers and staff how to maximize its use. We'll continue to be there for support."
 
In the first six months of the grant, Delta State has accomplished:
  • Establishing a health and wellness center on campus near the Delta State University Intramural Field;
  • Implementing a new half-mile community fitness trail on campus;
  • Hiring a full-time dietician to work exclusively on grant projects;
  • Collaborating with the Delta State School of Nursing and Bolivar Medical Center to provide health screenings for university faculty, community and students;
  • Developing plans for recreation/physical activity camps this summer;
  • Providing all six elementary schools in the Cleveland School District with Project Fit America activity equipment, and with professional development to instruct teachers and staff on the proper usage of the equipment;
  • Putting into place a plan for all Delta State students and faculty to have biometric screenings at the beginning and end of the fall semester;
  • Implementing a new nutrition and health curriculum and training for Cleveland elementary teachers;
  • Developing nutritional toolkits for Cleveland elementary schools;
  • Proposing health scans to the superintendent of the Cleveland School District to be presented in the spring 2010; and
  • Reaching more than 100 residents at a half-dozen Parent Health Fairs aimed at health screening and raising awareness of the importance of a proper diet and nutrition, along with a fitness regimen.
"We're proud of all these accomplishments, and we're especially proud of getting the Project Fit America equipment on the playgrounds of the Cleveland elementary schools last fall," said Caston. "Getting children into good fitness routines as early as possible is vitally important to their continued health."
 
By mid-October, some 400 students, residents and faculty had received health screenings at the health and wellness center, and elementary teachers had scooped up 50 memberships covered by the grant.
 
"The slots were filled within a day," said Caston. "Because the grant pays for the memberships, the annual $400 membership fee was waived."
 
The Initiative has incorporated a dose of creativity mixed with incentives into the grant-related activities. For example, leaders of the Delta State Cabinet, Cleveland-Bolivar County Chamber of Commerce, and City of Cleveland have been challenged to walk 250 miles—the mileage from the Delta State campus to the Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation office in Jackson and back. And during Staff Appreciation Day, a "Poker Walk" incentive allowed participants to receive a card for every lap walked. After five laps, the walker with the best poker hand received a prize. Summer camps developed to promote participation in outdoor recreational opportunities provide children with opportunities to enjoy kayaking, canoeing, fishing, disc golf, swimming, rollerblade hockey, interactive and team-building games and sports.
 
Several spinoff programs have been very successful. For example, the new Weigh-in Wednesday weight loss program averages 25 faculty, staff and students who discuss nutrition topics such as emotional eating, personal image and fad diets. A master plan was developed for health and wellness center activities that appeal to participants of all ages—XFit, spin, yoga, cardio-funk and water polo classes. 
 
At press time, the Delta State staff was collaborating on a Continuation Grant Application to be presented to Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation for the 2010 calendar year.
 
"The level of ownership the entire community has taken on The Initiative has been thrilling," said Caston, who usually spends several months every year away from Cleveland, but was so excited about the program's potential that he remained on campus year-round. "This is not a 'me' project or a Delta State project. This is a Bolivar County project through and through."
 
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