Members to vote on board of directors
The Polk County Wellness Coalition met March 24 and announced there will be a meeting of the general wellness coalition membership on April 28 to approve the newly nominated board of directors.

Community Care
of Western NC
Wellness coalition members heard March 24 a report on Community Care of Western NC (CCWNC), formerly known as Access II Care, which has been in the area for 12 years.
Funding for Access to Care initiatives has come to Polk County from CCWNC, which is funded by the N.C. Office of Rural Health. CCWNC’s work is primarily based around the Medicaid population and they are directed by legislature to work with Medicaid recipients to ensure they have access to medical care.
CCWNC works through community partnerships, like Polk Wellness Coalition, to find out what the community’s top health issues are and assist them with what they collectively agree they want to do.
CCWNC provides a variety of programs such as palliative care. In addition, two pharmacists are on staff to review medications of clients; they fund case managers to work with clients. Polk County’s part-time case manager is Jamie Callaway.
CCWNC also has the HealthNet Initiative to replicate the same efforts they are doing for Medicaid recipients for the uninsured ages 18 – 64 who are at or below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Limit.
CCWNC has worked through the RPM District Health Department since June 2008, providing the Health Navigator Program. The funding has recently added a nurse practitioner for the Saluda Medical Center and CCWNC has also provided funding for Polk Wellness Center in the past.
CCWNC also works with the Thermal Belt Outreach Ministry to provide gap coverage for clients waiting to get on prescription assistance and with Blue Ridge health clinic to provide psychiatric meds for Polk County residents.

Caregivers fair
The wellness coalition also discussed a caregivers fair the organization plans to sponsor in November, which is caregiver’s month. The fair is being organized for Nov. 12.
Vendors are invited to provide information on their services. There will be a speaker and lunch will be provided for caregivers.
The next meeting of the Polk County Wellness Coalition will be April 28 at the Polk County Library.