Bootheel and Ozark Heart Health Projects

These projects are coalition-based efforts to reduce chronic diseases by training local coalitions to help people in Bootheel and Ozark communities stop smoking, improve diet, and increase physical activity.

Background
In 1989, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (MDHSS) entered into a cooperative agreement with the CDC to launch the Bootheel Heart Health Project in southeast Missouri. The goal was to reduce illness and death from cardiovascular disease by helping local communities form Heart Health coalitions, which in turn help residents decrease smoking, increase exercise, eat more healthfully, and check blood cholesterol levels. Results were encouraging, showing significant increases in the number of people who exercise and check cholesterol levels. In 1994, the Prevention Research Center (PRC) at Saint Louis University was founded. The PRC’s main research project, the Ozark Heart Health study, was patterned after the Bootheel project with Bootheel project staff working in close partnership with Ozark study staff.

Mission
To prevent death and disability from chronic disease in under-served Missouri communities by:

  • Promoting healthy lifestyles
  • Performing research projects
  • Applying research findings locally

Priority Populations
Missouri rural communities in the:

  • Bootheel
    A 4-county area along the Missouri River flood plain; predominantly African-American
  • Ozarks
    An adjoining 8-county area in the Ozark Mountains; predominantly Caucasian

Role of the Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services
The MDHSS is strongly linked to the Prevention Research Center, and our staffs collaborate on research development, implementation and analysis:

  • The Director of the Division of Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion serves as co-investigator on the core research study, Coalition-Based Efforts to Reduce Chronic Diseases
  • MDHSS staff are members of the Prevention Center community advisory board
  • Local research and education activities in rural communities are coordinated by a MDHSS team from Jefferson City and Poplar Bluff

The success of PRC research projects would not be possible without the committed teamwork developed between PRC researchers and key administrators in the MDHSS. This collaborative relationship has strengthened the public health infrastructure in the state of Missouri through public health research, education, and service.

Primary Outcomes
The coalitions aim to bring about changes in the three major modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) - smoking, sedentary behavior and diet.


Intermediate Environmental and Policy Objectives

  1. Establish local clean indoor air ordinances that severely restrict smoking in public places in at least 50% of communities in intervention areas.
  2. Establish comprehensive local ordinances prohibiting tobacco sales to minors in at least 50% of communities in intervention areas.
  3. Establish comprehensive smoke-free schools policies in all school districts in intervention areas.
  4. Establish school lunch nutrition policies that lead to reduced fat consumption and increased fruit and vegetable consumption in all school districts in intervention areas.
  5. Establish community walking trails in at least 50% of communities in intervention areas.
  6. Establish exercise clubs in all intervention areas.
  7. Increase health professional activities in counseling and referral for smoking cessation, diet modification, and initiation and maintenance of physical activity in intervention areas by 100%.

Accomplishments
Please click on the title 'Accomplishments' to open an Adobe Reader file listing the accomplishments of the Bootheel and Ozark Heart Health projects.
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