Before we move forward with a new 2026 Community Health Improvement Plan with our BWell Saginaw partners, it’s important to look back on important victories since 2023’s improvement plan.
Each of our Top 3 health priorities saw successes.
- Total infant deaths 2023-2025 decreased by 43% and sleep-related deaths from 2023-2025 decreased by 17%.
- Fatal overdoses 2023-2026 decreased by 58% (opioid by 38%) and non-fatal overdoses 2023-2026 decreased by 24% (opioid by 46%).
- Moved out of 1st place in the state for adult obesity
Maternal & Child Health
Thanks to initiatives like the ABCs of Safe Sleep campaign, BWell Saginaw partners worked together with one voice and one clear message to educate the community about placing a baby to sleep alone, on their back in a crib. Data suggests that preventing “preventable” infant death is an important and effective first step.
Looking forward, we anticipate initiatives like Rx Kids will increase prenatal care, helping to make both moms and babies healthier while reducing pre-term births and low birthweight deliveries – all important factors in lowering infant mortality.
Mental Health & Substance Use
Success in lowering overdoses is attributed to
- Fighting misconceptions about mental health (video campaign)
- Responding to youth mental health crisis (Mental Healthopedia, pediatric psychiatry fellowship, expanding and collaborating on school-based resources)
- Increasing access to care (real-time, online behavioral health provider directory)
- Funding effective programs (Opioid Action Team/opioid settlement $)
- Reducing overdose fatalities (overdose fatality review team and increased access to Naloxalone)
- Expanding crisis services and harm reduction
Obesity & Related Chronic Illness
A few other Michigan counties have surpassed Saginaw in obesity rates, but we still aren’t far behind. We have our work cut out for us:
- Increasing access to healthy foods for all (Saginaw Community Food Club & Kitchen)
- Free blood pressure, glucose & cholesterol testing, body scans & education
- Provider referrals to obesity specialists
- Men’s Health Initiative
- Partner-wide campaign encouraging patients to talk to their doctor about weight and health risks
- Citizens inspiring citizens (Healthier Me Podcast)
- Engaging children and families at school (StepUp & BWell)
- Organizing events and programs to engage the whole community (Girltrek and BWell Strides Toward Wellness Race Series)
Stay tuned for more information about health improvement plans for the next three years. As always follow the Saginaw County Health Department at saginawpublichealth.org and BWell Saginaw at bwellsaginaw.org.