Hampshire woman focuses on children’s health

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Photo of Lisa Cumings of Hampshire, community health liaison for Kishwaukee Community Hospital

Updated: March 15, 2012 8:04AM

HAMPSHIRE — Lisa Cumings of Hampshire is working to help others become healthier and stay that way.

Cumings has worked as the community health liaison for Kishwaukee Community Hospital in DeKalb since August 2010.

“Kishwaukee Community Hospital created this position in order to focus on the health of the community,” Cumings said. “With the current health care reform, we need to know how we can become more involved in the prevention of chronic disease and illnesses. I work with the school districts and other community partners in order to bring about changes such as healthier breakfasts and lunches for students and safer bicycle paths.”

The Community Wellness Program at the hospital has adopted the nationally recognized childhood obesity program known as CATCH (Coordinated Approach To Child Health).

“We offer CATCH lessons during the day at Cortland Elementary and Tyler Elementary schools in DeKalb School District 428,” Cumings said. “We conduct after-school CATCH kids’ clubs at Southeast Elementary and West Elementary schools in Sycamore Community School District 427.”

The CATCH program recently ensured that students could get their fill of fruits and vegetables. “I wrote a $13,767 grant that gave every elementary school in DeKalb a fruit and vegetable bar,” Cumings said.

Two classes that Cumings teaches to female students at DeKalb County schools are Girls Only, a program on puberty; and Dove Real Beauty, a program that helps girls gain better self-esteem.

Cumings is a leader in the Pioneering Healthy Communities program. More than 50 people have signed up to support the program including state Rep. Bob Pritchard, R-Hinckley; Sen. Christine Johnson, R-Shabbona; city leaders from DeKalb and Sycamore; and representatives from Kishwaukee College, Northern Illinois University, and local school districts and businesses.

The PHC group received a $12,000 grant last summer through Kishwaukee Community Hospital and the Kishwaukee YMCA that allowed them to travel to Washington, D.C., and be trained on how to collect and study data pertaining to the health of the community.

The group conducted a walkability study of schools in DeKalb and Sycamore. They also performed GIS mapping to show poverty levels in the area, the percentage of obesity in DeKalb County, the location of local farmer’s markets, and the grocery stores that accept food vouchers.

“After we had gathered the information, we held a big town hall meeting on Jan. 19 at DeKalb High School,” Cumings said. “We invited key people in the community and anyone else who wanted to attend. We divided attendees into two groups: Increasing Physical Activity and Healthier Eating. We will submit our plan in March for policy changes relating to these categories.”

Cumings said she always knew that she wanted to one day become a nurse who helped people to stay well.

She attended Loyola University Chicago, where she played basketball on a scholarship while also enrolled in the nursing program. She earned her bachelor of science degree in nursing. She later attended the University of Georgia on a teaching assistantship and earned a master’s degree in health promotion and behavior.

Cumings and her family have lived in Hampshire since 2006. Her husband, Russell, is the associate principal at Hoffman Estates High School. The couple has two children: Hannah, 12, and Jacob, 10.

They are active members at St. Charles Borromeo Church in Hampshire. Cumings serves on the education council, teaches second-grade religion class, and takes Holy Communion to the homebound.

“I teach my kids the same things that I teach kids at schools,” Cumings said. “We talk about Go, Slow and Whoa foods and the importance of Five a Day: two servings of fruit a day and three servings of vegetables. We are faced with all the same challenges of eating healthy just like any other family. I teach them moderation, how to stay balanced, and encourage them to be physically active every day.”