Sanilac County’s Journey to Promote Health, Well-Being, and Equity
Five years into the Sentinel Communities Surveillance Project, Sanilac County’s community capacity to promote health and well-being has remained fairly constant, grounded by anchor institutions and local collaborations centered around healthcare and economic development.
Regional organizations that include Sanilac and neighboring counties also provide important capacity to promote health and well-being. In addition to ongoing work to address substance use in the region, other initiatives have sought to revitalize Sanilac County through scholarships for residents to obtain higher education or complete trade school, campaigns encouraging residents to donate to local nonprofits, and initiatives to encourage former Sanilac residents, particularly those with a healthcare background, to move back to the region. There has been little movement in terms of health priorities and narrative over the past five years, although there is slightly more emphasis on the importance of prevention. Given the racially homogeneous population in Sanilac County, racial equity has traditionally not been a part of the conversation, although this has changed somewhat with state-level initiatives. Within Sanilac County, health equity is largely centered around broadband access as a boon to telehealth.
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Community Capacity
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Major Initiatives
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Health Priorities and Narrative
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Health Equity
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Lessons Learned: Where is Sanilac County Five Years Later?
Sanilac County has remained largely the same in terms of health priorities and efforts to promote health and well-being, although there has been an increasing recognition around the importance of health prevention and promotion, particularly with respect to mental health. Collaborations have been important in meeting a diversity of needs, particularly for children and young families, although there remain important gaps in healthcare and other services. Other communities can learn from Sanilac County’s investments in its younger children and families and creative strategies to meet mental health needs, particularly for men who may be more reluctant to seek services.
Because Sanilac County is a smaller region where local stakeholders know and have a long history working together, decision-making related to health and well-being is often expedited. Yet, barriers remain, particularly due to a shortage of health providers, a lack of broadband access, and a lack of public transportation.
Facilitators:
State policies and cross-county collaboratives to promote efficiency and minimize duplication
Local businesses share health information
Small-town connections and support
Barriers:
Lack of broadband access
Health-provider shortage area and a medically underserved population
Lack of a reliable public transportation system
Stakeholders are spread thin