Obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease are preventable diseases that are among the most harmful and widespread in America. The good news is that with small changes to behaviors they can be prevented.

Microclinic International worked with Bell County residents to develop a 10 month program to help people make small but lasting changes to their behaviors. This program is combined with changes to the local environment that aid a healthy lifestyle - for example, establishing a farmers market and building an exercise trail.

Schools are encouraged to get involved in the program through a grant system. Schools can apply for grants of between $3,000 and $5,000 that provide seed funding to support one initiative. This initiative must support healthy eating and/or physical fitness.

This project provides the money for one grant. In previous years these grants have funded initiatives such as school gardens and running tracks.

Bell County, Kentucky, is nestled in the Appalachian region of Southeast Kentucky and is home to approximately 29,000 people.

Bell County has been chosen to pioneer the first-ever microclinic model in the United States due to its rich community bonds, sincere willingness to achieve well-being and lead healthier lives, strong desire to extend social care and support to those within their communities who are in need.

Like many areas throughout the US, Kentucky has seen an increase in the number of people affected by preventable diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently reported that 15 southern states have regions with diabetes rates above 11 percent, compared to 8.5 percent in the rest of the country.

In Bell County
- 34% of adults are obese
- 12.4% have diabetes,
- there are between 593 and 747 deaths per 100,000 people due to heart disease
- the average life expectancy in Bell County is almost 5 years shorter than the national average
- 3.3% of people 25 or older hold a bachelors degree, and 9th grade is the highest educational attainment for 18%
- 56% of people 16 or over are not in the labor force
- 23% of households have an annual income of less than $10,000.

Community member details not available yet.

Direct Impact of Your Project

This project funds a grant for one school. The average school has 200 children who will benefit directly from the funds.

Extended Impact on Your Partner Community

Every school that applies for a grant will learn about the program and the benefits of healthy eating and exercise. Assuming 10 further schools apply and that 20 people from each school were involved in writing the grant, this is a further 200 individuals.