CHANGE is currently organizing on two fronts relating to Health:

1. COAD: Community Organizations Active in Distaster [see information below]

2. Seniors Organizing. Seniors interested in organizing to solve local, regional, or national problems directly effecting senior citizens should contact Deltra Bonner at deejaybonner@aol.com or call the CHANGE office.

Some of our history working on issues of Health and Wellness:

• 40 CHANGE leaders audited free and reduced-cost health clinics in Forsyth County. Based on the results, we worked with First Line to produce a booklet explaining clinic availability and eligibility requirements for people without health insurance. Thousands of these booklets were distributed. (The booklet was updated in 2009)

• In May 2005, CHANGE turned out more than 150 people to the County Commissioners’ meeting to support sustained funding for the Downtown Health Plaza (DHP). The commissioners voted to maintain the $1.5 million county contribution. In 2006, CHANGE leaders worked with officials at DHP, Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, and Forsyth Medical Center to secure continued county funding for DHP, but efforts were unsuccessful. CHANGE held a press conference with more than 50 clergy and other leaders to protest the County Commission vote. CHANGE continues to work with DHP and the two hospitals to address this issue.

• In 2008 CHANGE launched a lead-poisoning mitigation campaign. After months of research, CHANGE held a lead summit to present their findings at the Main Public Library on Sept. 9, 2008. CHANGE found that lead is present in just about every house and apartment built before 1978 and is widespread in houses built before 1960 and that lead is extremely hazardous to small children. Dr. Monroe, the county’s health director, admitted that, “Lead is not adequately addressed” in current laws and regulations especially in Forsyth County. At a follow-up of the lead summit on Oct. 21, 2008, CHANGE leaders honed positions, which were then presented at a public hearing on a proposed tightening of the Board of Heath regulations in November. More than 70 members of CHANGE showed up and several CHANGE volunteers spoke before the Board of Health.  At its December meeting, with a large group of CHANGE members in attendance, the Board of Health adopted the changes in the regulations. In return, CHANGE pledged to engage in a public education campaign on the hazards of lead (which is ongoing). CHANGE quickly recognized that even though Forsyth County has the oldest housing stock of any metropolitan community in North Carolina we had never received a Federal HUD grant for the removal of lead hazards (many other communities have). CHANGE leaders began meeting with the Winston-Salem Health Department and Neighborhood Services to ensure completion of a HUD grant proposal. In September 2009, Winston-Salem was awarded more than $2 Million from HUD, largely because of the CHANGE effort, to support a Lead Hazard Reduction program. This program will remove lead hazards from over 150 homes and should save the health and lives of a number of children each year.
• In the aftermath of an apartment fire displacing 97 elderly and disabled people, Winston-Salem’s safety net fell apart. In January 2010, the Health and Wellness team called together the leadership of several dozen community service agencies and went down a list of needs following such a disaster. In a follow-up meeting at the Red Cross, it was determined that Winston-Salem and Forsyth County needed a central organizing group, a Community Organizations Active in Disasters, or COAD. After several planning sessions, COAD was created and leaders were elected. Later in the year a plan was enacted for mobilizing in an emergency. COAD was also added to the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Emergency Command Center. COAD continues to meet quarterly. CHANGE continues to promote healthy housing initiatives as a program partner on the Advisory Board for Lead Safe Winston-Salem which supports the activities of the HUD Lead Hazard Remediation grant. CHANGE members also participate in the Forsyth County Lead Coalition.