Five U.S. Communities Selected to Lead New Business-Public Health Partnerships
IMPACT in Public Health catalyzes targeted, sustainable community health improvements in areas of common interest
BETHESDA, Md., Feb. 02, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The de Beaumont Foundation announced today that it has selected communities in Colorado, Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan and Minnesota to participate in its new program to support partnerships between Businesses and Public Health Agencies, Innovative Multisectoral Partnerships for Community Transformation (IMPACT) in Public Health. Through public-private partnerships focused on areas of common interest, the selected communities will work to strengthen economic prosperity by promoting public health and equity.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us that community health and economic well-being are inextricably linked,” said Brian C. Castrucci, DrPH, President and CEO of the de Beaumont Foundation. “Businesses need healthy employees, consumers and partners, and communities need job opportunities, stability and equitable economic prosperity to ensure all people can achieve their best possible health.”
IMPACT in Public Health will support this shared vision of health, equity and prosperity by providing funding and technical assistance over a 15-month period to the five partnership teams to establish, develop and engage in programs to strengthen community health to start implementation. The five communities are:
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Arenac County, Michigan: The Michigan Health Improvement Alliance — in partnership with the Central Michigan District Health Department, local manufacturer Vantage Plastics and its nonprofit outreach arm The WELL Outreach — will make primary health care easier for new Vantage employees to improve prevention and reducing poverty and increasing employee retention.
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Belchertown, Ware and Pelham, Massachusetts: The Quabbin Health District and local manufacturer Quabbin Wire & Cable Co., Inc. will build on a network of local partnerships to better engage employers in advocacy to increase access to transportation, education, health clinics, immunization programs and other community drivers to expand health.
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Minneapolis, Minnesota: The Minneapolis Department of Health, utility company Xcel Energy and local government officials will support a growing network of community resilience centers to address the impact of racial inequality and differential climate impacts in low-income neighborhoods, with a focus on climate adaptation and mitigation services.
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North Central Iowa: The Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health, along with the North Iowa Area Community College, local child care organizations and centers, and the Mason City Chamber of Commerce, will develop and pilot a business model to support access to child care and thereby improve schooling opportunities , employment and improved health outcomes.
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San Juan Basin, Colorado: San Juan Basin Public Health will work with Cottonwood Rehabilitation and Healthcare and local business coalitions to address the region’s high risk of exposure to unhealthy air quality and extreme heat events at a population level, with an initial focus on residential nursing facilities and other privately owned facilities is public spaces where the need is greatest.
About the de Beaumont Foundation
The de Beaumont Foundation develops and invests in bold solutions that improve the health of communities across the country. Its mission is to advance policy, build partnerships and strengthen public health to create communities where everyone can achieve their best possible health. For more information, visit www.debeaumont.org.
CONTACT: Nalini Padmanabhan de Beaumont Foundation [email protected]
