PLATTSBURGH
– SUNY Plattsburgh students team up with Clinton County Health Department
encouraging Plattsburgh Housing Authority residents to walk the Saranac
trail.
According
to the 2014 Community Health and Improvement Plan, promoting a healthy and safe
environment is one of two priority areas set by the Clinton County Health
Department.
A
June 12, 2013 presentation from the Clinton County Health Department strategic
community health planning session emphasizes policy, systems, and environmental
approaches. It notes where people live, work, and play significantly impacts
their health. Those healthy public policies create healthy environments
resulting in healthy behaviors and healthy people.
A
walking and trail awareness plan is being put into place by the SUNY
Plattsburgh public relations students. They created events to aid the Clinton
County Health Department initiatives.
“General
promotion efforts may not address the barriers faced by some segments of the
population. Surveys conducted earlier in
the year, indicated that several factors likely to increase trail use such as having someone to
walk with and having other activity options along the trails. The "Walk
with Friends" and "Pockets of Play"(events) addresses both of
these factors and the proximity of the Public Housing to the Saranac River
Trail is an added bonus.” said Karen Derusha principle public health educator
for the Clinton County Health Department.
“I
would like for my students to help the Clinton County Department of Public
Health meet its goal of increasing the number of people who use the trails, and
ultimately help local residents gain healthier lifestyles.” said Michelle
Ouellette, assistant professor at SUNY Plattsburgh in the Department of
Journalism and Public Relations.
The
students focus was low income Plattsburgh residents, they targeted members of
the Plattsburgh housing authority community.
“Our
mission involves provide our residents opportunity. I simply hope that we can
introduce some of our residents to the trails and healthy activity. Aside from
assisting the Clinton County Health Department, we do not have any agenda.
”said Mark Hamiliton executive director of Plattsburgh housing authority.
Walk
with Friends, and Pockets of Play events will take place on Oct. 3 and Oct. 24,
2015.
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