Washtenaw County - 2007: It Was a Very Good Year!

2007: It Was a Very Good Year!

Let it be known that HIP partners are not afraid to roll up their sleeves and dive right in!! Evidence of this “get ‘er done!” attitude crystallizes as we take stock of a list of selected 2007 partnership accomplishments:

Finalized and established 52 HIP 2020 Objectives
Identified emerging local issues for future data and surveillance
Launched electronic, searchable HIP Survey database
Reviewed and selected HIP Focus Areas (new: depression; continue with: physical activity, healthy eating, & tobacco prevention (policy emphasis))
Developed special epidemiological reports:
Partners secured grant funding using selected HIP data such as: Washtenaw Steps Up, Pioneering Healthy Communities (see below), and the Coalition for Infant Mortality Reduction (CIMR)
“Spread the word” via media channels:
- Radio interviews – 2005 HIP Survey Data Highlights, Safe Routes to School, Mind Matters, Saline PUPS
- Press releases using or quoting HIP: Mind Matters (mental health data/issues in our county), Saline PUPS (7), 1995-05 HIP Report Card and 2020 Objectives, Saline Community Garden, Tobacco-free Policies in Schools, CIMR, Great American Smokeout, ‘Op Ed’ piece on access to healthy local food
- Developed communications materials: HIP logo, Objectives brochure, Pocket Profile, Report Card, and a menu of “Key Communications Messages’.
- Saw initiatives that emerged from HIP continue to grow and sustain themselves (Coalition for Infant Mortality Reduction, Washtenaw Steps Up)

2008: A Promising Year

Congratulations and thank you to everyone who has contributed time, resources, and brain-power to these successes! As we enter 2008, we will continue to forge ahead. Let’s look at a few plans and goals:

Continue to create awareness of and emphasize evidence-based policy and environmental approaches that improve community health
Start planning for HIP 2010 survey including identifying funding sources and re-assessing HIP survey methodology with goal of increasing racial/ethnic samples
Keep growing HIP partnerships focusing on individuals from sectors/disciplines not traditionally involved in health improvement
Explore the role HIP will play in addressing how social factors influence population health and impact health equity
Identify data sources and specific indicators for emerging trends and health issues and develop a surveillance system for data capture
Provide detailed reports, presentations, and “surveillance briefs” on HIP focus areas and other health areas of concern
Monitor and report on progress towards 2020 HIP Objectives
Encourage organizations and agencies across the county to adopt, adapt, and incorporate HIP data/information into their strategic plans, programming efforts, and grant proposals.