And that heart led this AmeriCorps Employee to Manning to conduct a healthcare assessment
After growing up in Manhattan, N.Y., vacationing in the Southern Berkshires, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies and spending years working in New England, Vermont and Massachusetts as a park ranger, the logical question to ask Justin Abrams is how he ended up working in Manning, Iowa. He said he’s asked himself the same question. Abrams wanted to serve his country and applied to go into the United States Coast Guard, but a food allergy prevented that. He then learned about AmeriCorps, and took a position in Rhode Island—that wasn’t a great fit. He went online and saw the Manning opportunity and went for it. With AmeriCorps’ mission to conduct national community service, Abrams took a position working through a grant program at Drake University and the Healthiest State Initiative to help Iowa become the healthiest state in the nation. He says his work at Manning Regional Healthcare Center (MRHC) is one small part of the many different efforts in that initiative.
The survey is currently being developed and Abrams expects it will be available within the next week or two. The questions are designed to identify health concerns in the community and to learn how MRHC can help residents live healthier, happier lives through education, events, activities, or other healthcare related ideas. For instance, the 2013 survey revealed concerns about colon cancer and obesity, and the healthcare center developed educational events and activities to address those issues. Abrams says he would like to see the survey open for a month or even more if possible, but there is a time constraint as the survey and analysis must be completed by March.
His work, however will continue on until next September. When he leaves Manning, he will transition the program and materials to the MRHC staff and says, hopefully, they will look to AmeriCorps again for a person to continue the efforts. The adventurous spirit instilled by his mother and the fact that he is attracted to the small-town energy will make it hard for Abrams to leave Manning, but for now, he is looking forward to what he can do in his time here.
The survey will be made available at SurveyMonkey.com and paper copies will be distributed throughout Manning and Carroll County. Anyone with questions can reach Abrams by email at Justin.abrams@mrhcia.com or by phone at 712-655-2072 ext. 261.
