September 2021: Property rebirth under way

The following press release was prepared by MysteryVisits Communications in late August 2021 on behalf of Capital for Change Inc. of Wallingford, Connecticut ....

~ Groundbreaking launches property-rebirth plan to improve Hartford’s North End ~ 

HARTFORD, Connecticut – A new effort to ensure access to affordable housing was launched Thursday at a groundbreaking event hailed by developers as a rebirth for the former Barbour Gardens apartment complex.

Heritage Housing Inc., the property developer, joined representatives of the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority, Connecticut Department of Housing, City of Hartford, the office of U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), PNC Bank, and Capital for Change Inc. to celebrate the milestone and inspect the renovations.

Since the 1960s, the site at 383 Barbour Street has played an important role in the city's effort to provide affordable housing. But years of neglect and deterioration had pushed it toward desolation, culminating in the relocation of all residents from the buildings in 2019.

Over several years, a team effort among Connecticut-based organizations generated a renewal plan for the building that, on completion, is expected to have a positive impact on its North End neighborhood.

The $10.54 million renovation is being undertaken by Norwalk-based Heritage Housing Inc. and is part of a larger $37 million acquisition and renovation project encompassing five separate affordable housing properties in Hartford.

The developer anticipates re-opening an extensively upgraded, 74-unit complex in early 2022, including 48 units offering Section 8 assistance and 26 units of additional affordable housing.

“Many developers would walk away from a challenging property like this,” said David McCarthy, Heritage Housing's founder and president. “But we live and work in Connecticut, too, and my view is that -- if you work in the field of affordable housing and witness degradation as in Barbour Gardens -- you should do something to help.”

Brian Robinson, senior vice president for originations and capital markets for Columbus,Ohio-based National Affordable Housing Trust (NAHT), spoke at the event on behalf of Wallingford-based Capital for Change Inc. NAHT is a joint venture of San Francisco-based Low Income Investment Fund (LIIF) and Washington, D.C.-based Stewards of Affordable Housing for the Future.

Brian Robinson, senior vice president for originations and capital markets for Columbus, Ohio-based National Affordable Housing Trust (NAHT), spoke at the event on behalf of Wallingford-based Capital for Change Inc. NAHT is a joint venture of San Francisco-based Low Income Investment Fund (LIIF) and Washington, D.C.-based Stewards of Affordable Housing for the Future (SAHF).

“We are proud to be part of this collaborative effort with like-minded partners, providing a meaningful and impactful investment that will transform this neglected building with unacceptable living conditions into a home for 84 families who can have an affordable, quality place to live in Hartford,” Robinson said.

“Renovating the Barbour Gardens apartments is cause to celebrate,” said Nandini Natarajan, chief executive officer and executive director of the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA).

“CHFA financing and low-income housing tax credits in this property – and the four other Heritage Housing properties soon to be renovated – will improve the quality of life for residents and preserve a total of 206 affordable housing units in the City of Hartford,” Natarajan added.

The renovated complex will include a new community room and office, features that had been absent earlier, McCarthy said. Unit interiors will be entirely redone, including new plumbing, HVAC, fire protection, safety features, in-unit laundry connections, roofs and windows.

“This is going to address every deficiency in the building,” McCarthy said. “We’re also consolidating some of the smallest units into larger ones, to accommodate larger families,” he said.

Founded in 2017, Heritage Housing has worked to redevelop sites in Connecticut, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Vermont, and Michigan. The company became interested in Barbour Gardens in 2018, but faced several months of uncertainty in the wake of HUD’s Section 8 termination.

By 2019, the former Barbour Gardens had become so infested with mold and vermin that tenants’ health and safety were threatened. Local community groups led by the Center for Leadership and Justice (formerly the Christian Activities Council) organized a residents' effort to make public officials aware of the unsafe conditions. As a result, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development terminated the site’s Section 8 contract and all tenants eventually relocated. Left unoccupied, the property faced a blighted future.

As complications ensued, Heritage Housing cancelled its purchase contracts a number of times, but continued to consider the site's potential for improvement.

“We just kept working on solutions,” McCarthy said. “In many ways, people had just turned their backs on this property, and we didn’t want to do that. We want to do projects that are beneficial to the state of Connecticut, our home state.”

McCarthy commended the staff of Capital for Change for its persistence in working with his company as well as the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority, the U.S. Department of HUD, the City of Hartford, the Hartford Community Loan Fund and New York-based Local Initiatives Support Corporation. Their combined effort helped shape a financial package that made the purchase and renovation feasible.

As part of that effort, in late 2019 the staff of Capital for Change closed on a $2.3 million predevelopment/acquisition loan that prevented the property from going into foreclosure. At the same time, McCarthy worked to secure permanent financing, including low-income housing tax credits.

“A project such as this is core to our mission – to broaden access to affordable housing for underserved communities,” said Carla Weil, director of commercial lending at Capital for Change. “The project is transformational for this neighborhood, with which we're familiar because the site is close to others where we’ve also invested.”

The level of financial support from Capital for Change for the project was significant, Weil said, adding that any concerns the organization’s staff might have had were reduced when they considered Heritage Housing’s track record and personal persistence.

“We had a great deal of confidence in the developer and their commitment to the changes they were proposing,” Weil said. “So, we determined that this project was important for us to support.”

The new $37 million financing package repaid the Capital for Change acquisition loan and provided funds to renovate all five properties, including Barbour Gardens. The Connecticut Housing Finance Authority provided a $20.9 million first mortgage and authorized $13.9 million of low-income housing tax credits, which were purchased by PNC Bank. The U.S. Department of HUD renewed four existing Section 8 contracts and – working with Heritage Housing and the City of Hartford – provided new Section 8 assistance to the Barbour Gardens property.

More information about Heritage Housing Inc. may be found online at HeritageHousingInc.com. More information about Capital for Change is available online at CapitalForChange.org and the organization's Facebook page, “Capital for Change, Inc.”

Capital for Change's mission is to provide flexible, creative and responsive financial products and services to benefit low- and moderate-income persons, and minority and otherwise underserved individuals, businesses and communities. Its programs and products broaden access to affordable housing, energy efficiency and job opportunities.

Capital for Change Inc. was created in 2016 through the mergers of the Community Capital Fund, Connecticut Housing Investment Fund and the Greater New Haven Community Loan Fund, shaping an organization with a statewide history of service stretching back to 1968.

August 2021: Oaklawn holds Hospitality Classic

During August 2021, MysteryVisits Communications provided this press release on behalf of Oaklawn ... 

~ Runners, walkers gather in Marshall for 2021 Oaklawn Hospitality Classic ~ 

MARSHALL, Michigan – Adam Foreman and Meghan Currie were named the first-place male and female winners Aug. 28 during the 2021 Oaklawn Hospitality Classic.

With a time of 17 minutes and 27 seconds, Foreman – a resident of Marshall – scored the top speed during the race. Currie, an Albion resident, came in with a time of 21 minutes and 35 seconds.

Other top male runners in the event were Jesse Howell of Marshall, whose time was 19 minutes and 52 seconds, and Jeff Klingler of Coldwater, coming in at 20 minutes and 5 seconds.

Other top female runners in the event were Kelsie Letts of Marshall, who ran the course in 23 minutes and 9 seconds, and Alison Thomas of Portage, whose time was 24 minutes and 12 seconds.

The overall event paid tribute to Oaklawn's “frontline heroes” who've worked long hours during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic to maintain the health and safety of the communities Oaklawn serves, said the event's coordinator, Sarah M. Jack.

Under a sunny sky and conditions that Jack described as hot with a high temperature of 90, the 5k race was conducted throughout downtown Marshall beginning at the Fountain Circle, observed by approximately 50 spectators.

That race drew 199 participants and was followed by a mile-long “fun run” that involved 73 others. Corresponding virtual events brought the total involvement for the event to 286, Jack said.

Oaklawn's Hospitality Classic, which traditionally has been held annually in May, was delayed this year because of the coronavirus pandemic. Last year's event was conducted online because of similar safety concerns.

This year's event did not include a 10k race and, because of the schedule change to summer, events connected to the school-based 100 Lap Club were cancelled.

Participants in this year's event ranged in age from 3 to 75. Most were from communities throughout Michigan, but other runners and walkers came from Indiana, Colorado and Georgia.

George Youngdahl of Marshall sang the National Anthem at the onset of the day’s activities, accompanied by a color guard from Marshall's Scout Troop No. 373.

The day included several activities, community celebrations and musical offerings, including performances by Motor City Soul and Fire Lake and a coney dog-eating contest sponsored by the Copper Athletic Club.

Eaton Corp. was the overall event's top corporate sponsor. John Lubis, engineering manager at Eaton Corp., expressed thanks to the Oaklawn volunteers who assisted during the day as well as to Marshall's public-safety personnel.

Among those volunteers was Oaklawn President and CEO Gregg Beeg, who handed out bottles of water to race participants at the finish line.

“We’re very grateful for all of the community’s ongoing support, and for all of the help from the volunteers,” Jack said. “They really pitched in to make this one of the most enjoyable events that we can share in Marshall.”

Full race results may be found at www.runsignup.com by clicking on the “Find a race” button. The website also allows visitors to follow many race events, including participants' statistics and times.

In past years, the Hospitality Classic's 5k course record for males was set by Duane Daughtery in 1997, with a time of 14 minutes and 56. The 5k record for females was set by Jenny Goodpaster in 2000, with a time of 17 minutes and 19 seconds.

Oaklawn plans to host the event again in May 2022, the month during which the event normally is scheduled, organizers said. Those plans are expected to begin soon and include the 100 Lap Club program among area schools.

September 2021: Improvements at Gillette Castle

During September 2021, MysteryVisits Communications provided this press release on behalf of the Friends of Gillette Castle State Park ... 

~ Second part of multi-phase improvement project completed at Gillette Castle ~ 

EAST HADDAM, Connecticut – Visitors to Gillette Castle State Park might have a tough time spotting the most recent dramatic change at William Gillette's eccentric, century-old home that serves as the park's centerpiece. 

Everything atop the “Seventh Sister” hill seems as rustic as ever. However, those with eyes as sharp as the eagles that fly nearby might note that a century of deterioration is being halted around the structure's sheltered vehicle entrance – also known by the French term “porte cochere.”

The recent work on the building's north elevation ended the second phase of the state's three-phase capital-improvement effort at the park, funded through a $1.993 million allocation in 2019 by the bonding commission. The funding also will pay for additional work in 2022 on the building's west and south elevations, to restore its verandah and resurface its terrace.

Many years of deteriorated masonry conditions had caused overhead stones to fall from the underside of the building’s main portico entrance, posing a potential hazard to park visitors, said John “Jack” Hine, the park’s supervisor.

“It was necessary for the state to engage with engineers from CME Associates Inc. to find a solution to hopefully last another 100 years,” Hine said.

Baltic, Conn.-based Mattern Construction Inc. was awarded the contract as low bidder and began work in late May, with work wrapping up in late August. Stones that Gillette's own construction crews had set in place in the early 20^th century were removed, labeled and meticulously preserved, Hine said.

The painstaking process called for disassembling the portico stone by stone. Each stone was marked with a number and transferred to a nearby staging area, where they were laid out in the exact same location and orientation.

“By mid-June, during the demolition phase, engineer Mike Culmo determined that the original columns supporting the portico roof were structurally sound enough to support a heavily reinforced concrete roof structure,” Hine said. “That resulted in a reduced scope of work that equated to a significant cost savings to the state,” he added.

“The State Historic Preservation Office wanted to ensure that the finished product was identical to the original structure,” Hine said, crediting Mattern's superintendent Rodney Young and project manager Noah Brenckle for the task's successful completion.

“They ensured that every stone was documented, marked and then replaced in its exact location in the original structure,” Hine said. Modern methods and materials were used under the stone facade to increase the structure’s longevity, he added.

Each stone cast into the roof slab was cleaned and the joints repointed, followed by work on a retaining wall at the portico's front. Final steps included installation of a zinc-coated copper roof and soldering of all seams.

“Mattern Construction is thrilled with the results of the project,” said Brenckle, the project manager. “We feel confident that this structure will be cherished and enjoyed by the coming generations.”

“As the park’s representative for the state, I am very pleased that we have a finished product that holds true to William Gillette’s vision and again will last for generations to come,” Hine said.

The work was part of a multi-phase funding package approved by the State Bonding Commission for improvements at the park, which is nestled between the towns of East Haddam and Lyme along the Connecticut River. The overall project has included reconstruction in 2020 of a large retaining wall and handicap-accessible staircase.

“Any significant improvement to the Castle is, by its nature, a major benefit to the park and a boon for all of its visitors,” said Lynn Wilkinson, president of The Friends of Gillette Castle State Park, a nonprofit, all-volunteer group dedicated to the preservation, conservation and educational activities of the castle and its grounds.

“The state of Connecticut and its Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) have demonstrated their commitment to the park and its historical preservation by directing the necessary funding to this project,” she said. “Such support is deeply appreciated.”

The organization's mission includes the preservation, restoration and conservation of the historic and unique structure and its scenic grounds. Memberships help to finance park and structural improvements while preserving the estate and Gillette's legacy. More information about the park and Gillette may be found on the Friends website at www.gillettecastlefriends.org.

August 2021: Sara Smith joins Oaklawn

During August 2021, MysteryVisits Communications provided this press release on behalf of Oaklawn ... 

~ Sara Smith, D.O., joins staff of Oaklawn Obstetrics & Gynecology ~ 

MARSHALL, Michigan – When Sara Lang Smith was about 7 years old, she stepped in bravely to help her mother when others couldn't quite handle the challenge.

“My mom had surgery to have a benign tumor removed,” she said. “She needed changes in the dressing to keep it clean and care for it. My father was getting queasy, but I thought it was the coolest thing in the world, so I helped take care of the dressings.

“I was the only one in the house who could help my mom without falling over and passing out,” she said. “From the fourth grade on, any time that anyone got injured, I was curious about how they healed.”

Now, as a professional physician, the Traverse City native still is helping people, most recently by joining Oaklawn's medical staff as a specialist in obstetrics and gynecology.

Smith now is seeing patients at the Oaklawn Medical Group's new Obstetrics & Gynecology office in Suite 3D of the Wright Medical Building at 215 E. Mansion St. Appointments may be made by calling (269) 558-0702.

Smith said she always has been fascinated with the biological mechanisms connected with the human body and the healing process.

Smith came to represent the third generation in her family to work in the medical field. Her mother is a former physical therapist and her maternal grandmother had served as a nurse in Grand Rapids.

“My grandmother was very brave and tough and I respect her a lot for what she did in her profession,” Smith said.

After graduation from Traverse City Central High School, Smith attended Grand Rapids-based Walker Medical Instructional Services, graduating from its certified nursing assistant program in 2013. She received a bachelor of arts degree in chemistry that same year from Hope College.

Smith pointed to a formative experience that occurred in 2011, under a program though Hope College's nursing department. She went on a medical missions trip to Querétaro, Mexico, touring several hospitals and witnessing live births at a women's hospital.

“Learning about the discrepancies in health care between our two countries was very eye-opening,” she said. “It helped me to understand why it's important to help people.

“After that experience, I was determined to go into health care, help provide care to all and do my best to help patients regardless of their insurance situation or other circumstances.”

Smith also undertook work in health-care education and research in Peru.

“Those medical missions solidified my passion for women’s health as I encountered many preventative diseases resulting from a limited access to health care,” she said. “From those experiences, I have a passion for providing the best care for my patients.”

Smith went on to earn her degree in 2017 as a doctor of osteopathic medicine from Michigan State University's College of Osteopathic Medicine, recently completing a residency program in obstetrics and gynecology at Henry Ford Macomb Hospital. She also served as a clinic instructor in the university's department of osteopathic surgical specialties.

Smith is certified and trained in DaVinci robotic surgery and said she looks forward to working with Oaklawn's own DaVinci equipment. She also is certified in basic as well as advanced cardiovascular life support.

She is a member of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American College of Osteopathic Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American Medical Association, the American Osteopathic Association and the Michigan Osteopathic Association. She also is a member of DOCARE International, a nonprofit medical outreach program that brings health care to underserved communities in remote areas of the Western Hemisphere.

Smith' husband of four years, Joseph Smith, works in the hardware field in Warren. The couple are in the process of moving their residence from Chesterfield to the Marshall area.

Smith said she and her husband enjoy “pretty much any activity on the water,” including boating, kayaking and fishing. These activities include deep-sea fishing in Florida and fishing trips with her family in Alaska. She also enjoys hiking, exercising and playing recreational sports.

Smith said she had driven through Marshall over the years but only recently has come to know the community better while planning to move there with her husband.

“I love the downtown area,” she said. “It's very charming. Its reminds me of Traverse City when I was growing up there. I also love the festivals and the different things the community does. It seems like a great place to raise a family.

“I also love the feel of Oaklawn,” she said. “That was a huge draw to me. It's also closer to the majority of our family. I feel you could really make a difference, get to know your patients and be a part of the community, so I'm very excited to start contributing.”

August 2021: Christine Nault joins Oaklawn

During August 2021, MysteryVisits Communications provided this press release on behalf of Oaklawn ... 

~ Family nurse practitioner Christine Nault joins Oaklawn in Marshall, Tekonsha ~ 

MARSHALL, Michigan – One might imagine that Christine Nault has medical knowledge built into her genetic code. The circumstances of her life even created an environment that inspired her toward a medical career.

“I have two aunts and a mother in medicine, and I like to help people,” she said. “ I knew even when I was in high school that medicine probably would be in my future.”

Now a family nurse practitioner with a years-long history of service in Calhoun County, Nault will divide her professional duties between two Oaklawn Medical Group offices – Marshall Primary Care in Suite 1E of the Wright Medical Building, 215 E. Mansion St , and Tekonsha Family Medicine at 2218 Old US-27 North, Tekonsha.

Appointments at the Marshall office may be made by calling (269) 781-3938. Appointments at the Tekonsha office may be made by calling (517) 767-4038.

While the former Christine Hoffsten was a child in Grosse Pointe, her younger sister was born with a condition that demanded a series of surgeries.

“Seeing what my sister went though – and seeing the difference that nurses made in her care – spurred me to go into nursing,” Nault said. “She had some standout nurses that made her experience in the hospital so much better, even fun.”

Watching such professionals work with her sister had a profound impact on the young woman.

“They showed that they cared about her, our parents and about me as her sibling,” she said. “It was good to see how well she was cared for, while putting her significantly more at ease during all that she had to go through.”

While attending Grosse Pointe South High School, young Nault already was excelling in math and science, setting the stage for a career in health care.

Nault subsequently enrolled in Valparaiso University's nursing curriculum, from which she graduated in 2006 with a bachelor of science degree.

From 2006 to 2012, she worked as a registered nurse in the University of Michigan Health System's cardiovascular intensive care unit, which she also served as an interim supervisor.

After earning a master of science degree in nursing as a family nurse practitioner from Oakland University in early 2012, Nault first came to work at Marshall-based Oaklawn and was based at its Tekonsha office for eight years.

Now she is returning to Oaklawn with fond memories of her former service there.

“I had a great experience at Oaklawn,” she said. “I really grew as a nurse practitioner because I had great colleagues. Now I'm coming back because of have a passion for family medicine and want to work with that team, which works so well together.”

Nault is certified as a family nurse practitioner by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, and is additionally certified in basic life support as well as advanced cardiovascular life support.

Nault is a member of the Michigan Council of Nurse Practitioners and the Oaklawn Medical Group's Provider Leadership Committee.

Nault lives in Grass Lake with her husband of 14 years, Michael – an information technology manager with Chicago-based Envista Forensics – and their three children, Andrew, 6, and twins Eleanor and William, both 2.

In her spare time, Nault enjoys baking, exercising, relaxing with “beach reads” and traveling, particularly to Michigan's northern peninsula. 

July 2021: Jeanette Sullivan joins Michigan practice

During July 2021, MysteryVisits Communications provided this press release on behalf of Oaklawn ... 

~ Nurse practitioner Jeannette Sullivan joins Marshall Internal & Family Medicine ~ 

MARSHALL, Michigan – When asked what inspired Jeannette Sullivan to pursue a medical career, she points to a story she liked when she was a young teen-ager in Manistee.

“I read a book about a 'candy striper'” – one of the many young female hospital volunteers in the United States who, starting in the 1940s, stood out because of their pinafores sporting red and white stripes resembling candy canes.

The story fascinated the former Jeannette Daniels, especially because it told a tale of people who care for others when they're ill. The account stuck with her as she pursued her studies at Manistee Catholic Central High School, setting the stage for a 30-year medical career.

Sullivan now is rejoining the Oaklawn Medical Group, which she served as a nurse practitioner for two years beginning in 2015.

Sullivan will be based at Marshall Internal & Family Medicine, 720 Old US-27 North, focusing on endocrinology services while working with Dr. Cynthia Abacan, M.D. Appointments may be made by calling (269) 781-6600.

“I came from a very nurturing family, and my love for people and animals was huge when I was young,” she said. “I was either going to be a veterinarian or go into medicine.”

Before launching her college studies, Sullivan worked in local health-care and dental offices, finding special support from her parents as the first member of the family to pursue medicine as a career.

“The interaction with people and the ability to help them get through their medical situations enticed me and made me want to be part of the medical community,” she said.

In 1994, Sullivan graduated from Scottsville-based West Shore Community College with an associate's degree in nursing. She went on to obtain a bachelor of science degree in nursing from Ferris State University in 1999 and a master of science degree in nursing from Grand Valley State University's family nurse practitioner program in 2002.

Sullivan initially worked as a trauma nurse practitioner for Traverse City-based Munson Medical Center and as a nursing instructor in pharmacology for Cadillac-based Baker College. She went on to work as a family nurse practitioner for Ludington-based Millennium Medical Group, focusing on geriatrics, and as a nurse practitioner caring for long-term and acute-care nursing-home residents in Baldwin, Ludington and Manistee.

After additional experience as a nurse practitioner for Cadillac Occupational Medicine & Obstetrics and the Detroit-based Hospitalist Group, Sullivan worked as a nurse practitioner for Oaklawn Medical Group and later as a family nurse practitioner for Kalamazoo-based Ascension Borgess Hospital, focusing on endocrinology.

Sullivan is licensed as a registered nurse and a family nurse practitioner by the Michigan Board of Nursing, and is certified in basic life support. She is a member of the Michigan Council of Nurse Practitioners, the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and the American Diabetic Association.

Sullivan's husband of six years, Roger, has a dental practice in Schoolcraft. Between them, they have six adult children living in various U.S. states, as well as four grandchildren and a fifth due later this year.

In her spare time, Sullivan enjoys do-it-yourself crafting projects and sewing, as well as bicycling and skiing excursions with her husband.

“We also like to travel,” she said, adding that they've particularly enjoyed trips to various U.S. states to see their children, as well as visits to France, Italy and Switzerland. 

The couple live in Portage. Sullivan intends to commute from there to her new job at Oaklawn.

“I couldn't be more thrilled to come back,” Sullivan said of her return to Oaklawn. “When I was here before, the staff was so kind and it was such a wonderful community. They made me feel as part of a family. I knew everyone, and that was a good feeling.” 

August 2021: Survey seeks health-care input

                                  

The following press release was prepared and distributed in early August 2021 on behalf of Oaklawn Hospital of Marshall, Michigan. ...

~ Survey seeks area residents' views about Calhoun County health-care needs ~ 

Adult residents of Calhoun County, Michigan, are being asked to participate in a survey to determine regional health needs.

The online survey – part of the ongoing Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) – stems from a partnership among Bronson Healthcare, Oaklawn, CareWell Services Southwest (Area Agency on Aging) and the Calhoun County Public Health Department, with support from the Coordinating Council and Population Health Alliance.

Those who wish to complete the survey may find it at www.research.net/r/CalhounCoHealth.

Survey responses are being gathered through Aug. 29 and are made voluntarily and anonymously. Participants must be 18 years old or older to complete the survey, which takes approximately 15 minutes to complete.

Under guidelines established by the Affordable Care Act, nonprofit hospitals and other community organizations have conducted similar assessments every two to three years, allowing health-care leaders to develop a snapshot of major local needs.

“Our goal is to collaborate on an inclusive assessment of community health,” said Nicole DuPont, who is director of strategic development for Summit Pointe, Calhoun County Community Mental Health Authority, and operations lead for The Coordinating Council.

“This survey collects community data to illuminate the most pressing health needs of the community and identify any gaps in services and health inequities,” DuPont said. Data collected can be used to maximize resources and develop a comprehensive action plan for improving health countywide, she said.

Survey results are expected to be made available and shared broadly in the community within the coming year.

DuPont said the assessment's methodology provides insights for health-care leaders to develop measurable strategies designed to address the social determinants of health and attain more equitable outcomes.

“Critical to this process is the community voice, which uplifts concerns shared by residents about their own health and the places where they work and live,” she said.

“After the survey is concluded, the work doesn't end,” said Irene Johnston, MSN-RN, who serves as Oaklawn's director of quality, safety and risk. “Oaklawn and other Calhoun County health-care organizations go to work to try to meet the needs that are identified.”

For example, she said, a similar past survey helped to determine that an urgent-care clinic was a significant need in the Albion community. Subsequently, Oaklawn Express Care was established in early 2019.

Such a result illustrates an important aspect of the assessment process, which is intended to prioritize and magnify the needs of vulnerable populations, DuPont said.

“This unique collaboration allows us to approach the work in a more cohesive fashion, leveraging collective resources with community partners, in order to reimagine how to achieve better health outcomes,” she said.