HALO project

Creating a Healthy Community
Provena United Samaritans Medical Center, Danville, IL

Guiding Principle: Continuous Improvement

In the Fall of 1994, the results of four Danville community needs assessments pointed to a dire need for support across various areas – including health, education, transportation, economic vitality, government, housing, community safety and others. Local leaders seized the opportunity to make a positive impact and the HALO Project, a healthy community initiative of the Provena United Samaritans Medical Center Foundation, was formed.

HALO is committed to building a community culture that supports healthy life choices and a high quality of life for community members of all ages. HALO also provides very successful programs for area youth.

“These effective community programs help local youth and their parents gain knowledge and confidence to overcome obstacles and make informed healthy choices to improve their lives,” says Kathy Richard, Director of HALO. “Through collaborations with other community organizations, our programs help to build a community of healing and hope. By participating, children and their parents can work together to achieve the outcomes that matter to them – a healthier, more active life.”

At the elementary school level, HALO organizes the annual Children’s Health, Safety and Activity Fair, which has featured booths from 60 community health partners sharing information regarding health resources available in Vermilion County. In 2007, over 300 children and 200 adults visited the fair, which included educational activities like first aid and simple wound care, poison control information, asthma control education, diabetes awareness, behavioral health information, sun safety and bicycle safety. In addition, HALO provided over 100 free bicycle helmets to children and their families. Local dentists were also able to provide 70 dental screenings to children whose families cannot afford or do not have access to dental care.

Another interactive activity for elementary school children is the Body Walk, which travels to local elementary schools throughout the year to encourage children to begin practicing healthy habits at an early age. Through this program, area youth are able to receive hands-on health education so they can begin practicing healthy habits at an early age. The program consists of 13 booths that address body health issues, such as the sun’s effect on skin, lice, nutrition, smoking, eye care, happiness and a hand washing “germ box.” After visiting the booths, the children take a virtual trip inside the human body. The children crawl through tunnels, stopping at large-scale replicas of the mouth, stomach, heart, lungs and bones. At each station, the children are taught about that different body part and learn how to keep it healthy. In 2007, 1,204 local children participated in the Body Walk program, which was staffed by more than 200 local volunteers.

At the junior high level, the HALO Project partners with the City of Danville Police Department to sponsor the Junior Citizens Police Academy. Participation in the Academy allows younger citizens the chance to learn about their local police department and the officers who protect them, enhancing the lines of communication between the youth and the police. The end goal is a reduction of crime in the schools and community. In 2007, 28 children participated in the Academy led by 11 local police officers. At the end of the Academy, a graduation ceremony was held, officiated by the Mayor of Danville.

For those in high school, Young Women Aware, under the umbrella of HALO Project’s Education Committee, hosted guest speaker Vicki Crompton-Tetter at Danville High School. Mrs. Crompton-Tetter is a spokesperson for dating violence prevention who has been featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show™ and in several magazines. Her book, Saving Beauty from the Beast, details her devastating experience in being faced with the tragic murder of her daughter by her daughter’s boyfriend. Her message for the hundreds of students who gathered was to educate parents, teachers and teens on the signs and symptoms of dating violence. The students connected with the life-saving message that was shared, and their conversations about dating violence continued in classrooms afterwards.

Danville High School and other community stakeholders partnered with HALO to host another powerful speaker, Pulitzer Prize winner and nationally syndicated columnist Leonard Pitts, Jr.,
who spoke on the issues of drugs, alcohol and teen pregnancy. Mr. Pitts spoke to more than 3,300 students from ten high schools in Vermilion County. One class held a debate on the issue
of teen pregnancy – using statistics and personal experiences – to discuss the ideas Mr. Pitts presented to the students.

In total, more than 10,000 young individuals in the Danville-area benefitted from programming organized through the HALO project during 2007.

“Through Provena United Samaritans Medical Center’s Foundation, HALO creatively addresses local community needs and builds on Provena’s strengths to make a difference. By putting these educational and interactive programs in place, people can participate in the community around them and learn how to become healthy citizens,” Richard shares. “HALO challenges the
community to reclaim their responsibility for their mental and physical health, and gives them the tools to do so. Together, we can change outcomes and the youth in our community can look
forward to healthier, longer lives.”

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