This document outlines a new initiative called "Building Health and Hope in Rural North Dakota". It aims to address rural health and wellness through primary prevention. Chronic diseases like heart disease, cancer, diabetes and COPD cause 50% of premature deaths and disproportionately impact rural communities. The initiative would partner NDSU researchers and Extension to develop educational programs promoting behavior changes around nutrition, physical activity, and smoking to reduce chronic disease risk factors. The goal is to shift from reactive to proactive models of care through community-based prevention education.

1. Overall Concept of new initiative:
Building Health and Hope in Rural North Dakota
The Situation:
• Society/North Dakota needs to address Rural Health and Wellness from a primary prevention
perspective.
• The agriculture community is the heart of rural communities in North Dakota and home to
chronic health disease trends that demand attention….Rural people and their Agri-‘Culture’
impact how they learn and change behaviors. NDSU is the Land-Grant University for North
Dakota and is charged with bringing the resources for the institution to the entire state to
enhance the economics, health and well-being of its citizens. **Rural ND is also home to large
numbers of veterans (???data). Recent deployments……
• The ‘Rule of 3-4-50’ as presented by Real Admiral Penny Slade-Sawyer, PT, MSW, Director of
Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion at the Department of Health and Human
Services in Washington, DC. in a speech July, 2009, indicates the following key facts that provide
a ‘Call to Action’ for Land Grant Universities:
3 Behaviors (Smoking, Nutrition, Physical Activity)
Cause the 4 Most Critical Diseases (Heat, Cancer, Diabetes, and COPD)
which cause 50% of premature death in this country.
• Recently the American Association of Family Practitioners, represented by California Physician,
Dr. Kevin Grumbach, called for the creation of a national educational effort modeled after the
Extension Service to provide for primary prevention care and education (May, 2009)
Dr. Grumbach said, “Local agents would create a sense of local learning communities among all
primary care practitioners and county/community groups…to promote transformative
educational experiences through primary education, using appropriate technology, and
motivating people to change behavior through both factual and emotional appeals. This
program could be built on the model from university of Oklahoma’s Department of Family and
preventive program started about 15 years ago.”
The Need
• To create a shift from reactive to proactive models of care and education, proactively managing
chronic disease risk factors and early symptoms, while providing preventive care and
education.”
The Partners
• NDSU researchers with attention to health education, motivation, and rural aspects of
education , behavior change and education delivery , and the NDSU Extension Service
• State partners interested in rural health, including but not limited to: UND Rural Health and
USDA Nutrition and Diagnostic Lab in Grand Forks, ND Farm Bureau, ND Farmers Union, Dept of
Agriculture

2. Chronic Disease Issues Demanding Attention in North Dakota
• Cardio-Vascular / Heart Disease
• Arthritis
• Depression/Suicide (Behavioral Health)
The number of Americans under care for depression and other mental illness has nearly doubled
between 1996 and 2006, and the cost of treating them jumped by nearly two-thirds. Heart
disease, cancer, asthma and trauma-related disorders were among the other most costly
conditions. (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, US Dept of Health and Human Service)
Reported in: Medical News Today, 8-5-09
• COPD/Asthma
• Arthritis
• Diabetes
• Hypertension
• Cancer
Emerging Rural Health Related Concerns that can be prevented/reduced with early diagnosis,
education and/or proper nutrition
• Health Literacy
• Hearing Loss
• Macular Degeneration
• Dementia
• Back injury/ergonomics
The questions for NDSU research and education faculty
• What research and educational efforts have been conducted by NDSU faculty?
• How can the wealth of health-related research at NDSU benefit more North Dakotans?
• Am I willing to invest one hour of my time to attend an informational meeting on November 9th
(Monday) at 11 am or Nov 10th at 3:30 in Morrill 311?