Oakland County calls for community action to improve health

Oakland County Health Division will launch the Oakland County Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) on Thursday, June 23, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the San Marino Club in Troy. This community call to action will empower healthcare providers, business owners, and community leaders to improve the overall health of the county. Those who wish to attend this event must register by Monday, June 20, at oakgov.com/health.

“This is a game changer for public health in Oakland County and Michigan,” said County Executive L. Brooks Patterson, who highlighted the CHIP in his 2016 State of the County speech.

“Oakland County and our partners in this effort will announce a Community Health Improvement Plan and ask Oakland County businesses and organizations to align their wellness strategies with the plan. If we are able to get the buy-in we are seeking from Oakland County companies, we will move the needle on public health forward in Oakland County.”

Throughout 2015, Oakland County and its community partners conducted a comprehensive countywide Community Health Assessment (CHA) of residents and businesses to get the big picture on health practices in the county and the health status of residents. A part of the Energizing Connections for Healthier Oakland (ECHO) initiative, the CHA was the first time that such a survey has been done on this scale in Michigan. The CHA looked at 11 core categories which included health resource availability, behavioral risk factors, maternal and child health, environmental health, and more.

“Oakland County is using the data from the CHA to reshape the focus of its public health policies and initiatives in a way that will have the greatest impact on improving the overall health of our
residents and thereby improving the quality of life in the county,” Patterson said.

“This is the county’s most comprehensive health assessment to date,” said Kathy Forzley, manager/health officer of the Health Division. “Through this assessment, we are confident that the health issues prioritized in the CHIP are the most relevant to the health of those who live, work, and play in Oakland County.”

Representatives from the California-based Prevention Institute will serve as keynote for the event. They will conduct an afternoon workshop, providing participants with initial steps and concrete examples on how to put the CHIP to action. Copies of both the CHIP and CHA will be available to attendees. To learn more about ECHO and the CHA, visit oakgov.com/health or email echo@oakgov.com.

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