DeWitt and St. Johns
Healthy! Capital Counties is hosting a series of community dialogues around Clinton, Eaton and Ingham counties as a follow-up to its recently released 2012 Community Health Profile and Health Needs Assessment.
The group is hosting seven sessions open to the public and with the aim of encouraging Capital-area residents to identify areas to improve the health of the community.
“Over the next month, the public will be invited to examine the report and take part in discussions at various community dialogues,” said Anne Barna, Project Coordinator. “Together we will decide what issues are most affecting health in our area, and develop an action plan for improvement.”
The first-of-its-kind Community Health Profile and Health Needs Assessment is packed with important data, including maps on the spread of health problems in the region. The report measures factors that go beyond health care and explores what causes people to be healthy (or not) in the first place.
This report is the first step in a comprehensive health improvement effort that spans three counties, four hospital systems, and a myriad of community members and organizations.
“Once we identify those priority health needs, we will develop a plan to improve health across the whole community where we live, work, learn and play,” Barna said.
Although residents of the Capital-area are welcome to attend any of the community dialogues, there will be two held in Clinton County at DeWitt on July 10 and in St. Johns on July 13.
“We need the members of the community to participate in these dialogues to help shape the delivery of healthcare to the residents in our communities for years to come,” said Marcus Cheatham, Health Officer, Mid-Michigan District Health Department. “By working together as a community we can more effectively have a positive impact on the health of our residents and sustain programs and services that will help our communities thrive.”
11The initiative is funded by each of the participants as well as through a Demonstration Site grant from the National Association of County and City Health Officials through funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
Find more information about Healthy! Capital Counties at www.healthycapitalcounties.org. The public may sign up to attend a community dialogue in their area or to view the report by visiting the website.