Franciscan Health Michigan City is offering a new prescription drug program to help manage chronic diseases.
After successfully completing the four-week free program, participants receive shopping vouchers for fresh fruit every month for six months.
The Produce Prescription Program originated at the Franciscan Alliance’s healthy food pantries at the Lake County Fresh Start Market, where those in need could shop for free. The Produce Prescription Program later expanded to locations in central Indiana and is now available in Michigan City.
The expansion to Michigan City was made possible by a “Together We Will” grant from the Indiana Department of Health.
Franciscan Health Michigan City previously offered a diabetes food prescription program focused exclusively on assisting patients with diabetes. This new program focuses on managing all chronic diseases, including but not limited to obesity, heart disease, and cancer.
“Our focus is on holistic care,” said Danielle Crowder, director of Franciscan Alliance Community Health Improvement. “When you think about chronic disease management, the challenges are often the result of many other social factors. Chronic disease management can be exacerbated by living in a food desert, lack of quality fruits and vegetables, lack of transportation and personal mobility issues.”
Participants do not have to be patients of the Franciscan Health system to participate. Participants must have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, be moderately to severely food insecure as screened, and complete a four-week Cooking Matters course.
The course is offered through a formal partnership between Franciscan Health and the Indy Hunger Network, which provides Franciscan staff with certification to deliver the course.
The program runs for four weeks from July 9 to July 30, on Tuesdays from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Central Time.
To register and for more information, contact Selena Tinoco at [email protected] or call (219) 221-4153.
The Produce Prescription Program is made possible in part by donations to the Franciscan Health Foundation’s Food Insecurity Fund. For more information or to donate, visit online or call (219) 661-3401.
