Health Council/Jefferson Joins Awarded 5,000 Grant for Governor’s Healthier Tennessee Initiative

Left to right (Front Row): Rev. Debra Shultz, Health Council Chair/Resce 180; Gail Advent, Rural Clinic; Holli Finchum, Health Department; (Second Row) Rob Burke, DCS; Sherrie Montgomery, Health Department; Tina Hyleman, Head Start; Patty Harris, Head Start; Risa Karisa, Relative Caregiver Program; Judith Moody, Community Activist; Sarah Vaden, UT Extension; Karen Everett, Safe Space; Dr. Lois Symington, ET Technical Access Center; Kevin Poe, Jefferson Joins Chair/Public Defender’s Office
(Back Row) Tabetha Colangione, Coordinated School Health; Keith Shultz, Rescue 180
Submitted by Rev. Debra Shultz

Jefferson Joins is on the on the move and have just received their first $5,000 grant from the Governor’s Healthier Tennessee Initiative.

The Jefferson County Health Council is the parent organization of Jefferson Joins.

Healthier Tennessee representatives came to the council last year to offer a grant opportunity to promote fitness, nutrition and anti tobacco education.

“We are excited for Jefferson County, and believe they are going to achieve some healthy goals. We are encouraging the group to reach out to the community and broaden their membership,” shares Stacey Bauguess Northeast Regional Director for the Governor’s Foundation for Health and Wellness.

“This is an awesome opportunity for our community to raise the ‘healthy living bar’ in their homes, workplaces and places of worship,” explains Jefferson County Health Council President and Vice Chair for the Jefferson Joins Committee, Rev. Debra Shultz. “We want to extend an invitation to our community to join us in our meetings, and get on board with us.”

“Education and awareness about our health pays a return on investment immediately and long term,” adds newly appointed Chair for Jefferson Joins, Kevin Poe.

Shultz emphasizes that the bottomline is that the program is obtainable, “We want the Jefferson County community to know that the Governor’s Initiative is not an unreachable or an unreasonable health-oriented goal to set. There is absolutely a place for everyone to connect, in all three areas: nutrition, fitness and lowering tobacco use. We want to see our Health rankings in better standing in these areas. When we work together as a community we can make a difference.”

“We are way down in tobacco usage – going from a very high 40% of adults who smoke, down to 21%. So, it proves that awareness and prevention campaigns work,” shares Certified Prevention Specialist, Keith Shultz, Assistant Director of Rescue 180, and member of Jefferson Joins.

For more information about the Governor’s Healthier Tennessee Initiative, times of meetings etc. please contact Chair, Kevin Poe @ kpoe2000@gmail.com.

Currently, the Jefferson County Health Council meets every 3rd Tuesday at noon, in the Health Department conference room downstairs lunch is provided for our guests. For more information you can contact President, Rev. Debra Shultz, at Rescue180@Yahoo.com.