Starke and Pulaski counties’ health rankings took a bit of a hit in 2021, after years of modest improvements. The 2021 County Health Rankings were released earlier this spring by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin’s Population Health Institute.
When it comes to health factors – which include everything from health behaviors and education levels, to air quality and access to health care – Starke County ranks 89th of Indiana’s 92 counties, down from 84th last year. Pulaski County fared better, but had a more dramatic drop, going from 33rd to 55th.
But efforts are underway to address some of those factors. The Starke County government has been working to reduce food insecurity for some time, according to Purdue Extension Community Wellness Coordinator Debbie Mix. But she says the Farmers to Families Food Boxes program has helped reach individuals in Pulaski County, along with Starke.
“That was a real successful program,” Mix says. “It was distributed throughout the entire county, so the Francesville and Medaryville area was able to get food boxes as well as in the Winamac and Monterey area.” Mix says a big concern was migrant families, who experience food insecurity not only when they’re working, but also during the winter.
One category where the local area is lagging, according to the rankings report, is access to exercise opportunities. Just 56 percent of Starke County residents were considered to have good access, compared to 75 percent in the state as a whole. In Pulaski County, that percentage drops to 36.
Mix says that one way the local community has tried to address that is by starting a weekly walking group in Winamac. “They meet on Monday night at 7:00 p.m. over at the United Methodist Church,” she explains. “It has just started, but they’re doing walking and then trying to walk over to somewhere where they can learn a little more about Pulaski County.” Going forward, she hopes to incorporate nature tours with Extension Educator Phil Woolery, as well as art walks.
Meanwhile, Mix says Moving Starke County Forward’s summer walking challenge will return Memorial Day weekend. Once again, awards will be given to those who walk the most, but with an adjustment to make the program more inclusive. “If someone who’s older walks slower, we don’t think they should be penalized because they don’t walk as fast as they used to,” Mix says. “So now we’re doing minutes, and if someone walks 10 minutes or 20 minutes or whatever, regardless of how far they’ve gotten, that will count equally.”
On top of that, the Girls on the Run program continues to help younger residents stay active.
But a number of other challenges remain. Both counties have fewer primary care doctors, dentists, and mental health providers per resident than the state as a whole, according to the Health Rankings, and fewer Medicare recipients got a flu shot in the local area and over more than half of the children who need clear aligners for oral health have not gotten them.
When it comes to health outcomes, like length and quality of life, Starke County slipped a spot from 73rd to 74th, while Pulaski County went all the way from 69th to 81st. Local residents are less likely to make it to age 75 than Hoosiers in general.
