Public health program launches summer EBT, senior farmers market and ramps outreach; program had roughly 425 early sign-ups

Lisa Pivek, public health CEO, told the Cherokee Nation Health Committee that public health is operating new and revised community programs this summer, including summer electronic benefit transfer (EBT), an expanded WIC farmers-market benefit for Cherokee citizens and a new senior farmers-market benefit.

Pivek said the senior farmers-market program was publicized the previous week and had already attracted “close to 500, 4 20 5, I believe” sign-ups; she and committee members described the figure as about 425 people and said more enrollments are likely as outreach continues. Pivek said the team will attend existing Saturday farmers markets, visit nutrition sites across the reservation and deploy community health workers to increase enrollment. She added that a map of sites and eligibility guidance will be posted on the public-health web page.

Pivek also reported that wellness spaces in Marble City and Kenwood continue to gain members, and public-health staff ran a community 5K at Staywell that drew more than 500 participants. The department will run a quality-improvement project to increase in-person participation while retaining a virtual option.

Committee members asked operational questions. Cody Poindexter asked how to assist a constituent who had trouble with an online link; Pivek said staff helped a similar person and can provide direct assistance. Darryl Legg asked whether the farmers-market benefit would affect recipients’ income eligibility for other commodity programs; Pivek said no, and that adjunctive eligibility applies to people already on Medicaid, SNAP or similar programs. Several committee members asked Pivek to provide a site list and map to staff for broader distribution.

Pivek said the department will continue outreach and refine processes during this first year of the senior program.