A New Diabetes Intervention and Prevention Program for Nueces County.

(Corpus Christi, Texas) The University of Texas Community Outreach (UTCO) has partnered with Catholic Charities of Corpus Christi to bring a new Diabetes Prevention Program to serve all areas of Nueces County. The program promotes education and resources for healthy eating, increased physical activity and the prevention of diabetes. Under a grant funded by the State of Texas, the program’s goal is to make positive and measurable changes in the health and well-being of Nueces County families.

Community health workers and partnerships with other community agencies provide assistance for, but not limited to, the following: Nutrition Classes; Exercise Classes; Diabetes Education; Prescription Medication Assistance; Transportation Assistance; Assistance with applications for Medicaid and other government services; and Resources for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Intervention.

Current efforts of the program include:

· Programming in the community of Banquete, Texas through the Banquete ISD Afterschool Center for Education (ACE) program for students in grades K-8.

· Outreach with the homeless population from the Mother Teresa Shelter in Corpus Christi which includes daily diabetes screenings and weekly physical activities.

· Home-based classes are offered using a chronic disease self-management model with the goal of engaging families in the diabetes prevention efforts. Sixty-one families are currently enrolled in this program.

This relatively new program, which was started in November 2009, has already touched the lives of so many. Robert H. (client) states that he ”likes the Diabetes Prevention Program because he is learning a lot about his diabetes and what he can do to help himself.” He also enjoys the education. Jesse Z. (a 31 year old double amputee/client) calls the community health workers ”angels” for the help they are giving him. He hopes one day to be able to go to work and maybe play basketball in a wheelchair.

All services of the program are Free! For more information, please call (361) 884-0651 X221.

For More Information Contact: Jacki Siller, Nueces County Project Manager, (361) 884-0651 X225 or jsiller@diocesecc.org

We are working in your community…for your community!

Catholic Charities of Corpus Christi is a not-for-profit organization that helps people in 12 Coastal Bend counties with programs like emergency aid, food baskets, counseling, HUD approved housing services, financial literacy classes, immigration and refugee classes, payee programs for the disabled, and a diabetes prevention and intervention program. The Mother Teresa Shelter, a comprehensive day shelter for the homeless, serves more than 165 people daily. Gifts to Catholic Charities are used in the Coastal bend with a cost-effective 96% going directly to client services. The bi-annual fundraiser, ”Dinner and Dialogue with Bishop Mulvey” will be held on October 21, 2010 (for more information 884-0651, X222).