Signature Programs
Health and wellness are complex concepts rooted in the interaction between individuals, communities, and the community capitals. This thematic area aims to foster equitable health and wellness at the community level through community-led, evidence-based educational programming, technical assistance, and facilitated processes that recognize the importance of the social determinants and culture of health.
Enhancing the Value of Public Spaces: Creating Healthy Communities
In Indiana, community leaders make decisions about public spaces such as parks, trails, farmers markets, schools, and Main Streets every day that affect the health and wellness of the community. Using Purdue Extension’s Enhancing the Value of Public Spaces: Creating Healthy Communities program, facilitators coach communities through the development of a high-quality action plan for their public spaces. The plan can guide decisions and better position communities to take advantage of opportunities to promote healthy eating and active living.
Collaborative Projects
Indiana Healthy Opportunities for People Everywhere (I-HOPE)
Over the past few years, a spotlight has been cast on how the health of Hoosiers is affected by the conditions in which people live, play, learn and work, including disrupted preventative healthcare and exacerbated chronic illness. Purdue Extension works alongside I-HOPE partners throughout the state to address health disparities, including preventable differences in the burden of disease, injury, violence, or opportunities to achieve optimal health.
Taking Action to Address Substance Use in Communities (TASC)
Taking Action to Address Substance Use in Communities has been developed by a team of health professionals and Extension professionals from Purdue University, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and The Ohio State University to provide a theoretical framework for Extension professionals as they work with communities to create a collaborative approach to addressing substance use disorder. The waning and irregular access to treatment providers in rural areas, combined with a need to increase efforts to help individuals with SUD enter recovery, call for community-based approaches which increase collaboration among community organizations and individuals involved with substance use prevention, treatment, and recovery support.