In an effort to make healthy living more accessible on Rosebud, the Sicangu Community Development Corporation is launching Woyute ki Pejuta Waste Heca (WPW) or “Food is Good Medicine.” WPW is a free nutrition and wellness coaching program that seeks to help community members overcome their health challenges and live a healthier lifestyle.
Participants will receive several forms of support – including financial assistance – to help them develop healthy habits. “We know that everyone is at a different point in their health and fitness journey, so we want to be able to offer something for everyone,” said Sicangu CDC’s Health Initiative Katrina Fuller, who will be overseeing the program.
Among the services offered through WPW are monthly classes at the Diabetes Prevention & Wellness Center in Rosebud. These monthly classes will be broken down into three sessions, which will vary from month to month. According to Fuller, the typical class will consist of a half hour each of a cooking demonstration, fitness and personal training, and a classroom session on health topics such as nutrition, sleep, or stress.
Participants will also set health-related goals for themselves. “As an outcome for this program, we want people to gain skills to help improve their health and their families health -- physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually,” said Fuller. “A great way to do that is by creating a personalized health plan with achievable goals.”
Individuals who participate in the classes earn $1 per family member per day (maximum of $4 per day for a family of 4) as credit to purchase healthy food at the Sicangu Harvest Farmer’s Market in Mission, which is held from May to October.
The program is modeled after so-called food prescription programs, in which doctors “prescribe” a certain dollar amount of fruits and vegetables to their patients, instead of medication. “We did a pilot food prescription program last year, but we are really expanding it this year,” said Fuller. “This year we are offering a lot more services and we hope to have a lot more community members take part.”
Applications for the program opened last week, and Fuller is hoping to fill all 30 available slots before the program starts in May. The application can be found at www.sicangucdc.org/health. Questions can be sent to Fuller via call or text at (605)319-6544 or by emailing katrina.fuller@sicangucorp.com.