COMMUNITY HEALTH TRUST OF PAJARO VALLEY
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Mission Statement
The mission of the Community Health Trust of Pajaro Valley (CHT) is to foster a healthy and equitable community through leadership in advocacy, collaboration, and wellness. CHT prioritizes preventing health disparities for low-income people, people of color, immigrants, and farmworkers by increasing access to fresh produce, affordable nutrition education, and diabetes support. Through the promotion of activities, choices, and lifestyles that emphasize preventing illness and improving quality of life, as opposed to emphasizing disease treatment, CHT is forging a new directional path for health services and programs in the Pajaro Valley.
About This Cause
CHT embraces a comprehensive definition of wellness that includes the equitable pursuit of activities, choices, and lifestyles that emphasize disease prevention and mitigation. The organization prioritizes the elimination of health disparities for low-income people of color, immigrants, and farmworkers in Pájaro Valley. CHT’s current programs include: DIABETES HEALTH CENTER: The Diabetes Health Center, a community-based direct service program, provides medical nutrition therapy and diabetes self-management education to help individuals cope with obesity, pre-diabetes, diabetes, and other health issues. The Diabetes Health Center offers culturally relevant, bilingual, inclusive, and low-cost nutrition appointments by registered dietitians and does not deny services because of inadequate insurance or an inability to pay. The impact of the Diabetes Health Center has been significant: in 2021, the average participant’s hemoglobin A1C measurement was reduced from the diabetes range (8.2) to prediabetes range (6.2) after multiple sessions with CHT’s dietitians. GROUP CLASSES: The group diabetes education class has two parts: Session 1 - Journey to Better Diabetes Management and Session 2 - Exercise and Eating Healthy for Diabetes. The first session teaches participants how to test blood sugar levels and plan for proper diabetes management. It also introduces health and behavior change strategies like mindfulness and managing stress. The second session covers exercise, nutrition, and meal planning. VEGGIERX: VeggieRx is a program which provides free fruits and vegetables to increase access to healthy food options for individuals experiencing food insecurity. Qualified individuals who are enrolled in VeggieRX receive vouchers that are redeemable at El Mercado or El Mini Mercado (see below), as well as the Watsonville Farmers Market. Participants can select their choice of seasonal, fresh produce and receive healthy recipe ideas from registered dietitians. EL MERCADO FARMER’S MARKET: El Mercado is a seasonal, health-centric farmer's market which increases access to fresh produce, nutrition information, health screenings, and referrals to social services. In its inaugural season in 2021, El Mercado had 600-1,200 visitors per day, peaking during the summer season. EL MINI MERCADO: El Mini Mercado is CHT’s year-round food pantry located in the Diabetes Health Center. It is stocked with a selection of fresh seasonal produce and is open five days a week. El Mini Mercado serves as a second redemption sites for participants of the VeggieRx program. COMMUNITY GARDENS: The Carey-Davis Community Garden was founded by the Watsonville Police Activities League (WPAL) to serve the youth and families living in the Carey & Davis Avenue areas. As of March 2021, through a collaboration with WPAL and the City of Watsonville, CHT took over the garden’s day-to-day management and now ensures that the garden continues to grow and thrive. CHT hosts monthly meetings of a community garden council, comprised and led by neighborhood residents, organizes workshops for the residential gardeners, and hosts weekly hands-on educational meetings with WPAL youth. COMMUNITY OUTREACH: As part of ongoing outreach efforts, CHT’s dietitians and a community health worker provide nutrition education, grocery store tours, health screenings, and resources throughout the community at locations such as the Carey-Davis Community Garden, El Mercado Farmers Market, Staff of Life Natural Foods, and CHT’s annual health fair. ESTRELLAS DE ESPERANZA: CHT is the fiscal agent of Watsonville-based dance group Estrellas de Esperanza. Founded in 2006, Estrellas de Esperanza has the mission of learning traditional Mexican folk dances to share throughout Santa Cruz County, particularly in local schools and at public events in Watsonville.