As part of its mission, the North Carolina Center for Health and Wellness (NCCHW) is dedicated to preventing falling among older adults. A Matter of Balance (MOB), a falls prevention program, is a leading national model for combating falling among older adults. In the fall of 2013, the NCCHW, along with other stakeholders, identified gaps and needs for NC MOB programs on a state level, concluding that the creation of an interactive website for Master Trainers and Coaches would be the most effective approach to fulfill MOB needs across the state. With multiple requests for a centralized way of organizing data and an easy way to access MOB data in NC, this website will fulfill a variety of needs that will increase the efficiency of program implementation. The goal of this public service project was to work closely with a professional web designer to create an interactive website for MOB in NC. The process included reviewing of research conducted by NCCHW on MOB gaps and needs, identifying ideal website features, continuously reviewing website progress, pre-testing with community representatives before website launch, as well as reviewing latest literature on MOB. The final product includes a website that will facilitate effective communication between MOB implementers, a direct resource for up-to-date research and comparison of results/statistics, a generated events calendar, and most importantly, an easy to use interface for community members of all ages. With the success of this project, the NCCHW will have a valuable falls prevention resource that is easily accessible and readily available to distribute across the state. Falls are a major health concern in NC, and promotion of prevention programs like MOB, with an accessible website, will certainly spread the word about how to manage falls, and in turn, reduce the number of detrimental falls for older adults in this state. Through this project, I have learned the importance of fall prevention programs for older adults, and the many benefits that evolve from collaboration between community partners. Hands on experience through out this project has strengthened my health promotion skills, and given me an opportunity to understand the necessity of civic engagement to enhance our community connections and health
