VITALYST MINI-GRANT.PDF

Maricopa County — Formal (2018-04-25)

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Vitalyst
HEALTH FOUNDATION
April 6, 2018
Julie Scholer
Office of Community Health Innovations Supervisor
Maricopa County Department of Public Health
4041 N Central Ave
Phoenix, AZ 85012
Julie:
This letter is to confirm that Vitalyst is approving your Live Well Arizona mini-grant in the amount
of $14,990 for the funding of Sunnyslope community engagement to improve SMART Circulator
access and collaborate with your five community partners in building healthy community capacity.
For Vitalyst, health starts with place. Your collaboration in Sunnyslope is working closely with
CHWs, residents, and your partners to make the area a more connected and healthy place.
Voice matters too. Not just community "input" or "engagement," but authentic community
influence. We see this project as a means for residents to be equal partners and directors of
outcomes.
Healthy community work takes the entire community's investment in its place and people. We
look forward to working with you, alongside Sunnyslope's residents, businesses and governing
entities to help improve health and well-being.
Sincerely,
Jo w Ford
Jon Ford
Director, Strategic Initiatives
480-650-8997
A CATALYST FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH
602.38s.lisoo www.vitaI3,stlwalth.org ,).!1.39 N Central Ave, Suite isso, Plioonix Arizona gson.

2018 Live Well Arizona Mini-Grants
Vitalyst Grant Submission — Office of Community Health Innovations — Julie Scholer
Idea/Thew), of Change - "What are you going to do?" = 3 points
The History
The Office of Community Health Innovations (OCHI) at Maricopa County Department of Public
Health (MCDPH) has partnered with residents and stakeholders within the Sunnyslope
Neighborhood for the past few years. Over this time, residents have greatly informed OCHI's
understanding of the challenges of living in Sunnyslope, as well as its joys, privileges, and
assets. For instance, there is pride for the strong anchor institution of HonorHealth, Sunnyslope's
rich heritage, and the North Mountain scenery and its trails. Last year, OCHI took steps to
coordinate the work of several projects in a concerted effort to align with the Vitalyst
Foundation's Elements of a Healthy Community. OCHI is focused on bolstering and sustaining
on a select group of core place-based projects within the neighborhood — support of Desert
Mission Food Bank; support of the re-opening of the Mountain View Park Community Garden;
Healthy Retail work at Café Quetzal; and healthy living work at Sunnyslope Manor.
The work with Sunnyslope Manor has spawned several partnerships and projects. OCHI and
Desert Mission have worked with the residents and staff of Sunnyslope Manor for three years to
increase their access to healthy foods and active living. A community garden was installed with
support from Sunnyslope High School students. This work is coupled with nutrition education
and a garden committee led by residents. The garden project has now expanded to include the
residents from the adjoining apartment complex, La Cascada and Sunnyslope High School has
agreed to provide on-going support to maintain the garden.
In addition to the garden work at Sunnyslope Manor, OCHI wanted to show residents how to use
the free Valley Metro SMART Circulator to access recreation, food, healthcare, and other
resources. As a result of this experience, it was noted that there was little knowledge about the
SMART Circulator, including its route, and how to use the services. It was also noted that many
of the stops for the SMART Circulator are not marked or conducive for use by older residents or
residents who might be experiencing mobility issues. OCHI staff approached Valley Metro with
some of the issues that the residents identified and as a result developed a strong working
partnership. OCHI is currently collaborating with Valley Metro to update the rider transit book
map for the SMART Circulator to include points for food, recreation, and healthcare. Valley
Metro has expressed interest in working with OCHI to update more of the Circulator routes
within the County with this same type of information.
The Ask
The experience of working with Sunnyslope residents and Valley Metro has fostered additional
opportunities that can positively impact the health of Sunnyslope residents. OCHI is seeking
funding to increase the capacity for resident engagement at all five of the place-based project
sites. The intended outcome of the project is to improve access to the transportation system
(SMART Circulator) so that residents will have increased access to food, free or low-cost
recreation and activity, and access to care. In addition, future opportunities are in place to
impact safety and design as we address walkability and access to circulator stops.

OCHI will partner with residents and stakeholders at the five identified sites (Desert Mission
Food Bank/Honor Health, Sunnyslope Manor, Café Quetzal, Mountain View Park-Keep Phoenix
Beautiful, and Sunnyslope Community Center) to engage and empower residents. This will
include utilizing interns, Community Health Workers, and internal staff to conduct surveys with
residents to gather input about their needs, knowledge, and awareness of the SMART Circulator,
and any barriers related to using the service. Staff will also conduct field trips with residents at
the sites to help engage them in using the service and to gather information about signage, stops,
and other barriers related to using the service. A promotional campaign will be created to help
residents understand the opportunities available within Sunnyslope related to care, recreation,
and healthful eating. Residents will also participate in walkability assessments near their sites to
help identify environmental barriers. This information will be used to develop advocacy plans
that can be used in the future to educate residents about policy, system, and environmental
change opportunities and empower them to be able to advocate for healthy changes in their
community.
With the interest by Valley Metro to mimic this effort across their service area, there is potential
to positively impact the ability of residents to increase their access to transportation, healthy
foods, recreation, and healthcare resources across the county.
Partners/Collaborators - "With whom are you going to do it?" = 3 points
• Sunnyslope Manor Residents & Staff
• Desert Mission Food Bank/Honor Health
• Sunnyslope Community Center
• City of Phoenix, Neighborhood Services, Keep Phoenix Beautiful
• Valley Metro
• Café Quetzal Store Owners and residents
• Ability 360
• Sunnyslope Family Services Site Council
• Maricopa County Department of Public Health — Office of Communications and
Marketing, Office of Public Health Policy, and Office of Performance Improvement
Approach/Strategy - "How are you going to do it?" = 3 points
Project Action Items
• Provide resident/intern stipends to survey residents at the five place-based sites (Desert
Mission Food Bank, Honor Health, Mountain View Park Community Garden, Café
Quetzal, and Sunnyslope Manor) where the project will be promoted to build on our
knowledge about the SMART Circulator and any barriers to riding the free service.

---------------$2,134.00
---------------$1,356.00
NOT-TO-EXCEED

Maricopa County by and through its
Chairman, Board of Supervisors
Steve Chucri
Attest:______________________, Office of Clerk of the Board Approved as to Form:________________, Attorney for County