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Genesee County, Michigan – A significant triennial event that involves local communities in Genesee County in identifying and prioritizing public health concerns, the Greater Flint Health Coalition is about to publish its 2025 Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA). Key local healthcare providers including Henry Ford Genesys Hospital (previously Ascension Genesys Hospital), Hurley Medical Center, McLaren Flint, and the Genesee County Health Department are working on this project together.
Through direct resident feedback, the CHNA is an indispensable instrument for evaluating the health needs of the community. This feedback is essential for shaping a community health improvement plan that tackles the most pressing health concerns as determined by the most impacted individuals.
Senior Director of Programs at the Greater Flint Health Coalition, Nichole Smith-Anderson underlined the importance of the CHNA.
“The CHNA is a really special tool because it makes sure the work that we and our partners do has the best interest of the community at heart. Instead of us determining what health issues we think need to be addressed, we can look at the CHNA responses to find direct resident feedback and use that information to guide our efforts,” Smith-Anderson explained in a news release.
The evaluation this year aims to recognize the wide range of factors affecting personal health outcomes, including many socioeconomic determinants including housing, transportation, and medical service accessibility. The strategy acknowledges that community input is essential in determining which elements to give top priority since health is affected by a lot of elements other than only medical treatment.
The CHNA process benefits greatly from the strong partnerships the Greater Flint Health Coalition has nurtured over the years with various stakeholders in the community.
“We are truly grateful for the longstanding relationships we uphold with so many great community partners because they allow us to share our efforts far and wide, ultimately ensuring that no one in our community goes unnoticed,” said Smith-Anderson. “Being so well connected is our greatest strength when it comes to making sure resident voices are heard.”
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Reflecting the coalition’s commitment to inclusiveness, surveys are made available both online and in paper form throughout Genesee County and for the first time in Spanish and Arabic. Residents are urged to take part since their opinions directly affects the projects and actions meant to raise the general state of public health in the area.
Since its founding in 1996, the Greater Flint Health Coalition has been front and foremost in tackling health inequalities and enhancing public health through cooperative efforts and direct community involvement. It facilitates a comprehensive approach to health and well-being by serving as a link between businesses, community leaders, healthcare providers, and citizens.
Residents who would want to take part in the CHNA or learn more about the coalition’s activities are advised to visit the Greater Flint Health Coalition’s website or get in touch individually via email. The CHNA this year not only shows the coalition’s continuous dedication to the welfare of its local residents but also enables them to help to shape the future health landscape of their neighborhood.