Counties: Buncombe, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain and Transylvania.
2022 Quarterly Coalition Meeting Schedule
- Quarterly Coalition → January 14, April 8, July 8, October 14 9-10:30am
- Join the meeting(s) here: https://unc.zoom.us/j/
95055829623 - Click HERE to download our meeting schedule flyer!
Advisory Council Meeting Schedule
Are you interested in being a member of the Advisory Council for the WNC Fall Prevention Coalition? Our Advisory Council meeting dates and times are below. Send us an email with your interest and county(s) you would want to represent!
Advisory Council → March 11th, June 10, September 9, December 9 2-3:30pm (Zoom link: https://unc.zoom.us/j/99919679548)
Interested in learning more or being a member of the WNC Fall Prevention Coalition?
Upcoming Events
Save the Date: WNC Annual Falls Prevention Conference at MAHEC, Asheville, NC Sept. 9, 2022
Fall Prevention Awareness Week, Sept. 19-23, 2022
Join a Committee!
See below for committee description/goals/committee chair contact information:
Email fallpreventioncoalitionwnc@gmail.com
Include your name, organization and which committee you are interested in supporting.
Committees:
- History, Vision, Mission and Bylaw Creations
- Communications and Membership
- Research and Data
- Education
- Strategic Planning (To begin in 2022)
WNCFPC Mission
The WNC Fall Prevention Coalition is committed to reducing the number of falls and fall-related injuries in Western North Carolina.
WNCFPC Vision
The WNC Fall Prevention Coalition continues to assist the population of Western North Carolina in reducing the number of falls and fall-related injuries through focused, coordinated effort with health care, governmental and community partnerships through evidence-based programming, infrastructure development and maintenance, community awareness and education, risk assessment, multifactorial interventions, data collection and evaluation, and advocacy for supportive local/state/federal governmental actions.
WNCFPC History
The Western NC Falls Prevention Coalition began as the Falls Prevention Task Force on March 24, 2009, with 5 key members from the Land of the Sky Area Agency on Aging, Mission Hospital Trauma Center, Mission Wellness Center and a UNCA Project manager. The following committees were established: Community Awareness and Education; Provider Education; Community Screening and Referral; and Advocacy for Supportive Policies & Environments.
In 2012, Dr. Kate Queen, from Clyde, NC received a grant for WNC to create county Falls Prevention Coalitions. With the help of MAHEC, 2013 they began implementing county falls prevention coalitions in 17 counties including the hospitals, health departments, home health agencies, EMS, senior center, and other older adult community focused groups. After the funding sources were depleted, many of the county wide coalition members began attending the WNCFPC initially at Mission Hospital.
By 2014, the coalition was having quarterly lunch time meetings in Asheville at Mission Hospital with the following subcommittees: Community Awareness and Education: Develop and apply effective marketing materials to engage and better inform the public about fall risks and proven strategies to reduce falls. Care Transitions: Educate and Advocate for Supportive Policies and Environments for Fall Prevention in Long Term Care and Care Transitions; Provider Education: Identify, develop and implement training programs for both clinical and community providers to raise awareness about falls prevention, And the Community Screening and Referral: Lori Schrodt, PT, PhD from Western Carolina University Physical Therapy Program created Building Better Balance, a falls prevention screening program with trained laypersons to offer community based falls prevention program. By 2014, the WNC Falls Prevention Coalition had over 80 (82) individuals listed as members of the coalition.
In 2015, the Coalition’s quarterly lunch meetings were hosted by MAHEC and began their Annual Spring Falls Prevention Conference which has continued annually.
The primary focus of the Coalition since establishing the partnership with MAHEC has been the annual conference and quarterly meeting. The leadership has continued to change in 2016 Heather Bauer and Ayden Jones Co-Chairs of WNCFPC. Then in 2018 Cynthia Moses became WNCFPC Chair. Then in 2019 Stephanie Stewart became WNCFPC Chair until 2020. In 2020 All WNCFPC meetings became virtual meetings due to the COVID 19 Virus and have continued virtual to present time. Current co-chairs are Martha Zimmerman and Jennie Rhyne became WNCFPC co-chairs to present.
Data provided by the NC Division of Public Health, Injury Violence and Prevention Branch
https://ncfallsprevention.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Falls-by-County-Table-Maps-2018.pdf
Communications and Membership |
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Committee Description: This committee will work on building a WNCFPC specific Facebook page, communicating any website updates to the NCFPC, build a sustainable communication plan for membership in partnership with the Executive Committee (which may include but not limited to: listserv identification, email reminders/check-ins etc.) and research ways to increase and maintain coalition membership. |
Goal this committee would be supporting: 4. Increase and sustain membership in WNCFPC and participation within 14 coalition counties. 6. Broaden communication through quarterly newsletter with recent peer-reviewed falls prevention research, facebook promotion. 7. Identify and confirm WNC fall prevention partnership commitments and promote advocacy opportunities. |
Committee Chair: Divya Venkataganesan, Program Coordinator, Resources for Seniors & NC Falls Prevention Project Specialist, NC Center of Health and Wellness divya177@live.unc.edu or dvenkata@unca.edu |
Education |
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Committee Description: The committee will continue the tradition of an Annual Fall Prevention Conference with MAHEC (Mountain Area Health Education Center) as a partner; engage other strategic education partners as needed, organize, and provide educational programs at each quarterly Coalition meeting to engage, educate, and represent a diverse group of stakeholders |
Goal this committee would be supporting: 5. Expand upon falls prevention educational programs, webinars, and multiprofessional CEU opportunities beyond quarterly WNCFPC meetings and Fall Prevention Conferences/Courses for WNC communities. 7. Identify and confirm WNC fall prevention partnership commitments and promote advocacy opportunities. |
Committee Chair: brea@landofsky.org |
History, Vision, Mission & By-Laws Committee |
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Committee Description: This committee will establish a brief history of the WNCFPC to be posted on our webpage. They will work to develop and propose a Mission and Vision for the coalition for approval by the Executive committee, Advisory Councils and Coalition membership. This committee will develop and propose bylaws reflecting the approved mission and vision for the WNCFPC for approval by the Executive Committee, Advisory Committee and WNCFPC as membership. |
Goal this committee would be supporting: 1. Finalize WNCFPC’s organizational structure, History/Mission/Vision statements and Bylaws. 3. Develop and implement WNCFPC’s 2021-2024 Strategic Plan. |
Committee Chair: Weyland Prebor, Director of McDowell Senior Center wprebor@mcdowellseniorcenter.org |
Research and Data |
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Committee Description: This committee will identify county specific demographics, examining the social determinants of health, and current evidence-based data around fall prevention to assist in developing the coalition’s strategic plan. This committee will develop County Specific Resource lists to be shared on our webpage and other key webpages such as regional Area Agencies on Aging. This committee will collaborate with other committees as needed to ensure accurate data is collected and appropriate research is being presented. The committee will develop County Specific Resource lists to be shared on our webpage and other key webpages such as regional Area Agencies on Aging. |
Goal this committee would be supporting: 2. Complete analysis of WNC county data and identify county-specific needs based on demographics and social determinants of health to reduce falls and consequent mortality. 2a. Develop an educational tool for accessing WNC county-specific health resource data from the existing state-wide platforms, NC2111 and NC360. 7. Identify and confirm WNC fall prevention partnership commitments and promote advocacy opportunities. |
Committee Chair: snap.sfk@gmail.com |
- March 3rd, 2021, 8:30am-10am (virtual)
- Click HERE for Minutes and Meeting Materials
- June 2nd, 2021, 8:30am-10am (virtual)
Interested in learning more, becoming involved or joining a committee? Contact Us!
fallpreventioncoalitionwnc@gmail.com
Martha Zimmerman, PT, M.ED, Co-Chair; Jennie Rhyne, PT, Co-Chair; Divya Venkataganesan, MPH, Secretary