What We Do

Health happens where (and how) we live, work, and play.

Sometimes we are patients, when we need health care. Sometimes, we are clients, when we need services from community organizations. At home, we are neighbors taking care of ourselves, our families, and our neighborhood. ECH has three long-range, upstream initiatives that help bring together our roles as patients, clients, and neighbors, so we can thrive as people in our own way.

Health and well-being start in our neighborhoods. And people who live in the neighborhood know best where the opportunities and the barriers are. The StreetHeart programs start with listening… gathering input and helping to coordinate and often fund solutions based on residents’ priorities and residents’ leadership.

www.mystreetheart.org

HumanServ is the name of ECH’s collective impact initiative in Eaton County. The Human Services Collaborative Council (HSCC) brings together dozens of health and human services organizations, including government agencies and nonprofits, plus citizens and resident groups.  ECH is providing funding and leadership support for cross-agency collaborative systems change work.

A partnership of ECH and Transform Change, LLC has guided the HSCC through the development of a shared vision framework.  This included a months-long process of surveying hundreds of residents, front line staff, and leaders, to develop priorities that align with the local Community Health Needs Assessment as well.

The HSCC established Action Teams to work on the first three of a series of priorities to address the Social Determinants of Health in Eaton County.  Its current focus aims to make it easier to meet basic needs and easier to access services. The voice of residents will be key to this work and connects HSCC to the StreetHeart Neighborhood programs.

The HealthComm programs and projects help hospitals and other health care organizations connect in new and extended ways with neighborhoods and with social service organizations in Eaton County. This includes things like bringing health services and events right to neighborhoods, as well as creating more flows of ideas between human service organizations and health care organizations.