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Blanket Indy With Care –
Supporting our Homeless Initiative Program…

February featured a campaign to raise awareness and support for our Homeless Initiative Program!  The campaign included efforts on the social media front as well as a direct mail piece that may have been sent to your home.  Take a look at our news archive to read what it was all about. A huge thanks to everyone who took a few minutes to support the campaign. You are helping thousands of homeless people in Indy get much-needed care and reach their goals!

Whatever you call ‘em, check ‘em –
A fun spin on a serious subject…

Bebops, Bazooms, Pillows, the Girls… Our Whatever You Call ‘Em, Check ‘em campaign has been ongoing since mid-April to raise awareness about breast health and the importance of regular check-ups and screening mammograms, particularly for women living in poverty.  A fun question posed on Facebook asked “What do YOU call ‘em?”.

Thanks to everyone who encouraged a woman in your life to take care of her “girls,” and to help others do the same. So many social, economic and cultural barriers prevent low-income women from getting a screening mammogram. You ARE making a difference in Indy!

We had many WONDERFUL patient and staff stories about breast cancer
- you can find them here.

Spring Into Action!
Getting residents active on the southeast side…

On Saturday, April 30, HealthNet teamed up with students from the University of Indianapolis to pilot a walking program called Spring Into Action.  Nearly 100 Indianapolis residents participated in the kick-off, a 1-mile fun walk throughout Fountain Square. Participants stopped at certain spots along the route to get their blood pressure checked and body fat estimated.
A great turnout for what will be a great program!  Click here to read more about it.

Social Media Presence
Giving you inside information daily…

Pictures of health center construction on Facebook… What’s up with our Outreach programs with @GiveACareIndy… FQHC Advocacy with @Indy_HealthNet… More detailed info with our e-newsletters!  There are a number of ways to keep up-to-date with what is going on with us!  Sign up for all or sign up for one – you don’t have to just sit and watch. Our social media outlets are here to get YOUR perspective and gain feedback from YOU.  Comment, retweet, and enter a discussion on how we can all give greater care to those who need it most in Indianapolis.

You’re not alone.

Join the “feeling unpleasantly plump” club that, according to a joint report from the Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, includes a startling 29 percent of Indiana adults. Indiana’s adult obesity rate was at 28.1 percent in 2010, ranking it 17th in the nation. That’s down from 16th in 2009, but the state’s obesity rate climbed from 27.4 percent.

Now that spring is here, put “staying active” on your “to-do” list. Learn how much exercise you need to control your weight, and try these 20 tips for fitting more activity into your day from the Harvard School of Public Health.

You can also help others in Indy do the same.

According to Trust for America’s Health, “individuals must be given the tools they need to engage in more physical activity, since even the smallest amounts of activity can lead to major improvements.”

The communities we live in should allow greater opportunities for activity, including places for safe and affordable public recreation and increased availability of sidewalks.

HealthNet and the University of Indianapolis are partnering to bring a free and fun walking program to the Fountain Square community this spring. Fountain Square, while home to some trendy restaurants and shops, is also located in one of the poorest zip codes in the city. Students worked with HealthNet’s Health Promotions staff  to design safe, accessible walking trails. The program is set to kick off in April, and will include incentives for residents to stick with their health goals.

If you’d like to help HealthNet’s Health Promotions in their efforts to bring similar programs to other Indy neighborhoods, small donations can help a lot. Let’s make Indy a healthier place to live!