City may tap $884K in ARPA funds to boost health of 150 Fifth Ward residents
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Evanston’s Human Services Committee last week discussed using federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act to develop a two-year program to improve the health outcomes of residents in lower-income neighborhoods.
At Tuesday night’s meeting, the committee talked about allocating $883,700 in ARPA funds toward an Evanston Pathway to Wellness program to help improve the health of residents living in census tract 8092, which encompasses much of the city’s Fifth Ward.
According to a memorandum from Ike Ogbo, director of the city’s Health and Human Services Department, “residents of census tract 8092 report substantially greater prevalence of chronic diseases such as obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes and asthma.”
It also states that “1 in 3 residents of census tract 8092 reported having been diagnosed with high blood pressure.”
“Time and time again – whether it is life expectancy or chronic illnesses – no matter what it is, 8092 kept coming up,” said Council Member Bobby Burns (5th Ward), who participated in the meeting via Zoom.
“Obviously, as a council member that represents this area, and who grew up in Evanston, and whose friends and associates make up this area, this was really disheartening.”
The Pathway to Wellness program is intended to address specific chronic diseases and health conditions. Ogbo’s memo lists them as “diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, asthma, mental health and well-being.”
The pilot project will target census tract 8092. The memo notes that “residents from other census tracts are welcome to participate, but priority will be established based on residents who live in the most health impacted census tracts of the City.”
Ogbo and the committee welcomed Neticia Waldron, founder of Whole Woman Wellness, and her business partner Xiaoxu Kang, CEO of KangarooHealth, to learn more about the proposed two-year pilot.
According to Ogbo’s memo, Whole Woman Fitness will conduct fitness and nutrition classes for pilot participants and create customized meal plans.
The memo states that the city and Whole Woman Fitness will “work in conjunction with selected Evanston-based food establishments by providing participants with an offering of a variety of healthy food choices,” including prepared meals for participants with conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity. “The integration of health and access to nutritious food will result in a holistic approach to mental health, physical health, and nutrition.” The first year of the program, participants will receive $200 monthly food vouchers.
Waldron introduced Kang’s virtual care management and coaching program, KangarooHealth, to the panel as another component of the pilot. KangarooHealth clients are given digital monitors and an app to keep track of their health, and participate in daily check-ins. Licensed nurses and therapists provide patients with weekly personalized feedback.
In many Black, Indigenous and people of color communities, Waldron said that emergency care is the only form of health care provided. “Due to the time constraints, trust issues, or lack of resources, in [BIPOC] communities, there are very many stories of early demise and fewer stories of 90th birthday parties. … This means there is a gaping [disparity] in life expectancy,” Waldron said.
For now, the proposed Evanston program can only manage 75 residents each year of the two-year pilot, “but the plan is to ensure its sustainability in subsequent years and to increase the number of participants through grants, donations, and other funding sources,” Ogbo’s memo states.
The proposal for the Pathway to Wellness program was discussed by the committee, but no vote was taken Tuesday.
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