Darlington County First Steps Expands on Health
Darlington County First Steps (DCFS) is enlarging its focus in the health arena. DCFS programs have addressed family wellbeing, school readiness, reproductive health and contraceptive education in their various programs which all deal with health in some capacity. As time progressed and perspectives broadened, a glaring red flag appeared that could not go unnoticed: the state of men’s health.
“Men’s health is a focal point for us because they are often the forgotten ones. If men aren’t well or informed, then our community isn’t either,” said Patricia Sullivan, Communications Specialist for DCFS. Men’s Health is one avenue that will bring DCFS’ vision to fruition- Strong Families in Healthy Communities.
DCFS has secured its position as a Men’s Health Network Affiliate where they will work to advance strategies and policies that address and reduce health disparities in males. To kick off the men’s health initiative in Darlington County, DCFS partnered with Gospel in the Park and CareSouth Carolina to conduct a Mini-Health Fair where men had the opportunity to check their blood pressure, cholesterol, and Body Mass Index (BMI). In addition, Mayor Mel Pennington signed a proclamation declaring June as Men’s Health Month in Hartsville. The proclamation “encourages all citizens to increase awareness of the importance of healthy lifestyles, regular exercise, and medical check-ups for preventative health practices and early detection efforts.”
Statistics show that there is a need for better health among Darlington County citizens. Below are Darlington County rankings compared to other counties in South Carolina, provided by County Health Rankings and Roadmaps (1 being the best, 46 being the worst):
•Health Outcomes- 35
•Length of Life (premature death)- 40
•Health Factors- 34
•Health Behaviors (adult obesity, physical inactivity, sexually transmitted diseases, teen births, etc.) – 38
•Clinical Care (uninsured, preventable hospital stays, diabetes monitoring, etc.) – 38
•Social and Emotional Factors (children in poverty, single-parent households, unemployment, social associations, etc.) – 27
DCFS has established a Men’s Health Collaborative Committee, which is a community-driven initiative under the leadership of DCFS. The committee consists of representatives from the Department of Social Services, Nurse Family Partnership, S.C. Thrive, CareSouth Carolina, the faith-based community, other non-profits, and local businesses. They all provide support, direction and guidance for this initiative.
Improving the health of communities is to create a culture where the health of all individuals is priority number one. It takes everyone working together to achieve Strong Families in Healthy Communities.