Recently, Washtenaw County completed its first Community Health Assessment since the COVID-19 pandemic. The primary objective of this assessment was to collect data on community health needs, which will help guide the county and its health partners in making informed decisions about how to improve the overall health of the community.
According to Dayna Brimley, a Community Health Analyst at the Washtenaw County Health Department, the assessment identified three main health priorities for the community: mental health, access to healthcare, and access to healthy food. Brimley stressed that it is crucial for the department to involve community members in developing actionable steps to address these top priorities. She emphasized that they do not want to make decisions in isolation and that by working closely with community input, they hope to create solutions that truly reflect the needs of Washtenaw County.
The next step for the department is to work on identifying specific action items and goals through partnerships with county groups and community members until the end of 2027. By engaging with a variety of stakeholders, they hope to create a comprehensive plan that addresses the pressing health issues identified in the assessment. Contributions to WEMU, a non-commercial, fact-based news source, help support reporting on important community matters. If you would like to support this work, you can make a donation to WEMU today. Stay connected with 89.1 WEMU by following them on Facebook and Twitter. If you have news tips or feedback, you can contact WEMU News at 734.487.3363 or email them at studio@wemu.org