Washtenaw County’s Community Health Assessment Reveals Priorities: Improving Mental Health, Access to Healthcare, and Food Access

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, Washtenaw County recently completed its first Community Health Assessment. The aim of this assessment was to collect data on community health needs and guide the county and its health partners in addressing these needs. Dayna Brimley, a Community Health Analyst at the Washtenaw County Health Department, revealed that the assessment identified three main health priorities for the community: mental health, access to healthcare, and access to healthy food.

Moving forward, the department plans to collaborate with community members to develop actionable steps to address these top priorities. Brimley emphasized the importance of involving the community in this process, stating that they do not want to make decisions in isolation. By working closely with community input, they hope to create solutions that are truly reflective of the needs of Washtenaw County.

The next steps for the department involve working on identifying specific action items and goals through partnerships with county groups and community members until the end of 2027. By engaging with a variety of stakeholders, they hope to create a comprehensive plan that addresses the pressing health issues identified in the assessment. Contributions to WEMU, a non-commercial, fact-based news source, help support reporting on important community matters. If you would like to support this work, you can make a donation to WEMU today. Stay connected with 89.1 WEMU by following them on Facebook and Twitter. If you have news tips or feedback, you can contact WEMU News at 734.487.3363 or email them at studio@wemu