About Healthy Ansonians
History

The Healthy Ansoninans Task Force started in 1996 when the Anson Community Hospital Board of Trustees asked Fred Thompson, Ph.D., hospital administrator and chief executive officer, to form a community relations task force to re-establish community roots.

At that time the state program, part of the Healthy People 2000 initiative on the federal level, had already established 11 objectives. To become state certified, the local task force had to work in at least two of these areas.

The Anson County task force chose four of the state objectives, although there were needs in all 11 areas. These were substance abuse, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), maternal and child health and injury control. The Injury Control Sub-Committee later added the Anson County Safe Communities/Safe Kids to its outreach.

The task force adopted the name Healthy Ansonians 2000 Task Force. The "2000" was dropped in 2001.

The task force developed an action plan that was submitted to the Office of Healthy Carolinians in Raleigh. Certification was granted in 1996 and re-certification in 1998 and 2001. The Healthy Ansonians Task Force will be considered for its third re-certification in 2005.

Since 1996, Healthy Ansonians has added four more initiatives. These are the Mobile Health Screening Clinic, the Anson Parish Nurse and Health Ministries, the Asthma Coalition and Anson County Physical Activity and Nutrition Coalition.

Healthy Ansonians is chaired in alternate years by the CEO of Anson Community Hospital (Dr. Thompson) and the director of the Anson County Health Department (Dr. Francis Kateh).

The task force meets on alternate months (January, March, May, July, September and November) from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. on the third Wednesday of the month. Meetings are currently held at the Scout Hut located between North Greene Street and Washington Street in Wadesboro.

• American Cancer Society
• American Red Cross
• Anson Baptist Association
• Anson County Health Department
• Anson County Partnership for Children
• Anson County Schools
• Anson Women's League
• Asthma Coalition
• Branch Banking & Trust
• Department of Social Services

• Domestic Violence Coalition
• Emergency Medical Services
• Methodist Association
• Police and Fire Departments
• Sandhills Center for Mental Health
• South Piedmont Community College
• Wadesboro Civitan Club
• Wadesboro Kiwanis Club
• Wadesboro Lion's Club
• Wadesboro Rotary Club

Healthy Ansonians Programs

Walls To Climb, a one-day camp held annually since 1997, addresses the issues of good decision making and self-esteem in eight to 12-year-olds.

The Teen Outreach Progam (TOP), also offered through the Anson County Partnership for Children, targets teen pregnancy prevention.

The TIPS (Teen Information and Parenting Services) provides services to pregnant teens and teen parents.

In collaboration with the Anson County EMS, the county became a state-certifed Safe Community through the Governor's Highway Safety Program.

The Safe Communities/Safe Kids program addresses safety issues in the county.

Anson Parish Nurse and Health Ministries teaches the concept of holistic health -- body, mind and spirit.

Camp Summer Breathe reaches children affected by asthma.