About HASS, LLC

Health Assessment System and Services (HASS) LLC and Missouri State University, in collaboration with Physical Therapy Specialists Clinic and University Of Missouri Extension Center, are pleased to announce the awarding of the SOARHigh Phase 2 Project, funded by the Missouri Foundation For Health.

The SOARHigh Phase 2 Project is a school-based, three-phase interventional program, which was established based on the initial results of the SOARHigh Phase 1 Project. Phase 1, initiated in 2014 and completed in the Fall of 2015, was a collaborative endeavor of area SOAR Board members. This collection of local educators, professionals and healthcare providers was instrumental in establishing the foundation. Phase I was funded by a grant received from USDA-Rural Development after a 2012-2013 report revealed significant disparities and overall negative health outcomes for area residents. The participating schools for SOARHigh Phase 1 included: Houston, Van Buren, Mountain Grove, Couch, Licking, Koshkonong, Dora, West Plains, Thayer, Eminence, Ava, Faith Christian Academy, Mountain Grove Academy and Mountain Grove Home School Community. The following schools will be participating in the exciting induction of Phase 2: Couch, Dora, Eminence, Houston, Koshkonong, Mountain Grove, Thayer, West Plains and Cabool.

Southern Ozarks Alliance for Rural Development (SOAR), along with SCOCOG, PTSC and OMC became concerned with a variety of regional factors that could adversely affect student health, SOARHigh Phase 1, undertook a fact-finding project to assess the state of health for youth within a 7-county area in south-central Missouri.

SOARHigh Phase 2 was developed in response to the outcomes determined by Phase I. The findings suggested that 39% of students had high blood pressure, 80% were lacking in proper nutrition, 20% were pre-diabetic and 20% consumed alcohol or smoked. Furthermore, 34% of students were underweight and 15% were obese. According to the data, scarcely 50% of our area students are within normal, healthy weight ranges. The goal of SOARHigh Phase II will be to address those deficiencies noted in Phase I and implement interventional measures to improve and reduce previously identified health risks, thus paving the way for a healthier, more successful and empowered community.

This spring, PTSC will begin working closely with area students and educator staff to create a program that can be easily implemented within the schools to promote positive health habits. Utilizing nutritional supplementation with a daily allowance of fruit and vegetables, using a nationally acclaimed fitness program, and E-Mode™ for tools to developmental and emotional resilience and stability.

The student portion of the program was implemented in August of 2018, and will be completed January of 2020. Final program analysis will be completed in fall or winter of 2020.

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SOARHigh Team