The document summarizes a community health needs assessment conducted by the Washtenaw Health Initiative in Washtenaw County, Michigan. The Washtenaw Health Initiative was established in 2011 with a mission to improve healthcare access for low-income, uninsured, and underinsured residents. Through interviews and focus groups, the assessment identified major health issues facing the county as obesity, mental health, substance abuse, and lack of access to healthcare. Recurring themes included needs for increased access to care, improved communication between medical professionals and patients, and more community involvement in health issues.

1. Washtenaw County Community
Health Needs Assessment
Chase August, Mislael A. Valentín Cortés, Xuan Lam, Elizabeth
Serrano, Brandon Smith, Sheridan Sway, Jayson Toweh, Hanh
Van Tran, Tanya Ulloa and Morgan Williams

2. Washtenaw Health Initiative
• Established in 2011
• Mission: “To improve health and healthcare in Washtenaw County with an emphasis
on the low income, uninsured and underinsured populations”
• Major issues facing low income Washtenaw County residents:
• Access to healthcare
• Mental health care
• Substance abuse help
• Dental care
• Primary care

3. Washtenaw Health Initiative (Continued)
• Five Goals
• Increase insurance coverage
• Increase understanding of Medicaid coverage
• Improve coordination and integration of healthcare services
• Improve effective utilization of resources
• Strengthen community efforts to improve healthcare services

4. Washtenaw Health Initiative (Continued)
• The Role of Center for Healthcare Research & Transformation (CHRT)
• Support and Facilitate Groups
• Technical Support
• Communication
• WHI- Collaborative
• The Steering Committee- Oversight and Review of projects
• The Stakeholders Committee- Locals, Community Organizations & Government Agencies
• The Works group –Implementing the Mission of WHI

6. Washtenaw Health Initiative (Continued)
• Community Coordination & Dental Work Group
• Single Community Health Assessment
• University of Michigan- Future Public Health Leaders Program
• Focus Groups
• Key Informative Interviews
• Identify prevalent health issues

7. Scope of the Public Health Problems
• Leading Causes of Death and Disability Nationwide:
• Heart Disease
• Stroke
• Cancer
• Diabetes
• Arthritis
• Michigan
• Life Expectancy
• Heart Disease & Cancer

8. Scope of the Public Health Problems (Continued)
• Michigan
• ⅓ of the Michigan Population is considered obese
• Obesity leads to other complications
• Decreased life expectancy
• Decreased quality of life
• 2014 Washtenaw County Community Health Improvement Plan
• Major Public Health Concerns: limited healthcare access, mental health cases,
substance abuse, and obesity.

9. Scope of the Public Health Problems (Continued)
• Socio-Ecological demographics greatly impact health
• Michigan - Washtenaw County Demographics (2013)
• 75% White
• 12.9% African American
• 0.4% American Indian
• 8.4% Asian
• 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
• 44% Hispanic or Latino
• 49.7% Males & 50.3% Females
• Total Residents: 356,874

10. Scope of the Public Health Problems (Continued)
• Income
• Median Household Income: $59,055
• 15.4% of Washtenaw County residents live below the poverty line
(Poverty line: $22,050 for a family of four)
• Rural and Urban Communities
• 94% of Washtenaw County Residents are High school graduate
• 51.3% of Washtenaw County population have a BA or higher

11. Scope of the Public Health Problems (Continued)
• Partnerships with the Washtenaw County
• University of Michigan Health Systems
• Chelsea Community Hospital
• St Joseph Mercy Health System
• Transportation in Washtenaw County's
• Washtenaw County Road Commision, Ann Arbor airports, Detroit Metropolitan
Airport, Amtrak, Greyhound & Ann Arbor transportation authority

12. Methods
• Two key informant interviews and one focus group
• Analyzing qualitative data
• Audio recordings
• Matrices- compare key informant interviews and focus
group notes
• Compare to existing data

13. Results
• Major Health Issues Identified in Washtenaw County- Key Informant
Interviews
• Health Education
• Sexual Health
• Mental Health
• Obesity
• Substance Abuse- Alcohol and Tobacco

14. Results (Continued)
• Major Health Issues identified in Washtenaw County- Focus Group
• Substance Abuse among Youth & Seniors- Alcohol and Drugs (Meth & Heroin)
• Sexual Assault
• Sexually Transmitted Infections
• Mental Health Issues
• Lack of Communication between Physician and medical Staff
• Lack of experience from Medical Staff

15. Results (Continued)
• Key Informant Interviews & Focus Group Data VS. Health Improvement Data
• Similar Findings
• Obesity, substance abuse, mental health & lack of access to healthcare
• New Findings
• Sexual Health and Health Education
• Possible Epidemic of Chlamydia
• Lack of Communication between School districts and Health Centers
• Medical staff experience

16. Results (Continued)
• How are the health issues the sample identified being addressed
• Limiting factors: Funding
• HIV and STI testing
• Community outreach
• Vaccinations
• Encourage safe health practices

17. Results (Continued)
• Lack of Youth Involvement
• Lack of Adult Population Assessment
• Community Program- Chelsea
• Community Reads
• Anti Drugs Substance Coalition
• Chelsea Wellness Foundation
• No Programs were found that addressed improving communication between
Medical staff and patients

18. Results (Continued)
• How are the health issues identified through the HIP being addressed?
• Issues addressed: substance abuse, mental health & Obesity
• Issues not fully addressed: affordable health care

19. Discussion
• Recurring Concerns
• Substance Abuse
• Mental Health
• Obesity
• Lack of Sexual Education
• Medical Professionals
• Lack of Community Involvement

20. Importance of Community Input

21. Discussion (Continued)
• Physician-Patient Relationship Dynamics
• Health Literacy
• Cultural Understanding
• Addressing Concerns
• Addressing the Issues:
• standardized training
• proper communication
• cultural awareness

22. Discussion (Continued)
• Addressing Mental Health and Substance Abuse Issues Within Washtenaw
• Improve Primary Prevention
• Differing Opinions among Healthcare Professionals and Community Members
• Use of Education to Address Health Issues at a Population Level
• Addressing Obesity
• Lack of Access to Nutritious Food
• Food Deserts
• Guidelines for Food Stamps
• Education Regarding Nutrition and Health

23. Discussion (Continued)
• Addressing Sexually Transmitted Infections
• Prevention
• Education in School Systems
• Lack of Knowledge of Services Among Community Members
• Volunteer Health Advocacy Programs Throughout the Community
• Health Committee

24. THANK YOU