As Community Heath Improvement Week comes to a close, let’s continue celebrating impactful stories like this, raising awareness and working together in advancing the health of our communities. Partner with your local CHC, empower each other to make a difference in the community.
Two weeks ago, on Memorial Day, the City of Dayton, OH and its surrounding areas were bombarded by 16 tornados. It has been heart wrenching to see the destruction and yet uplifting to see the community come together.
Many folks may not know that during the same weekend we also experienced a KKK “rally,” where 9 members of a KKK affiliated group from Indiana attempted to taint our glorious city with hate. They were met instead by 1000 people from disparate groups coming together in a peaceful counter demonstration. Why they came to Dayton, a city of love and acceptance, is still unknown.
What does this have to do with Community Health Centers (CHCs)? CHCs are at the heart of every city, community and rural population in America. They are the thread that ties us together to improve our population’s health and community well-being. I might even venture to say that we should simply call them Community Centers, not to minimize what they do, but to broaden the perception of what they deliver.
Immediately after the massive tornado destruction, CHCs in Dayton united to gather food and water, supplies desperately needed for those that had lost everything. Many of these same CHCs had no water or power, and employees themselves had lost their homes. Did they do this out of the kindness of their hearts? Probably, but more importantly they did it because they understand the impact that environment and social drivers can have on a person’s health.
The idea of coming together to support one’s community in time of need isn’t a new concept for CHCs. When all the support for the tornado relief dries up in Dayton, and the media has moved on, the CHCs will continue to support the community. Across the country CHCs provide a slew of social support to ensure that the person’s whole well-being is considered. Social services such as cooking classes to foster good nutrition, food as medicine programs that collaborate with local food banks, yoga instruction and mindfulness therapy, free bicycle “rental” programs for youth, and new-mother education initiatives are invaluable to improving health and wellness.
At i2i, I’m lucky enough to see the impact that these organizations have on our communities across the country, and now I hope you do, too. Population Health is so much more than a software tool – it’s a mission and commitment to do more. If you’re thinking about how to get involved with your community, I recommend starting with your local Community Health Center. #ValueCHCs
