The Health Equity Council (HEC) is designed to build and strengthen the capacity of the local Saginaw community to develop and deliver programs and services specifically to reach those who, despite our best efforts, are impacted disproportionately when it comes to healthcare – particularly the pandemic. Our priorities center around the impact of obesity & chronic disease, mental health & substance use, and pregnancy & infant mortality – our top three community health risks.
The council exists thanks in part to a $250,000 grant from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Office of Equity and Minority Health (OEMH) in partnership with the Michigan Public Health Institute (MPHI). It is one of 11 across the state to address health disparities in underserved and rural populations. The HEC will work with a network of trusted community partners to improve gaps in healthcare.
To learn more about the lived experiences of the community, the HEC has coordinated public “discussion sessions” with African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, rural and senior citizens, and women who have sought maternal infant care in the past three years. Leading that effort is Joyce Seals, former mayor of the City of Saginaw, who has been named project lead coordinator for the HEC.
For more information about the HEC, reach out directly to Seals at (989) 758-3801 or contact the health department by email at bwellsaginaw@saginawcounty.org.