Trinity Health collaborative initiative to address community health needs

MUSKEGON — Trinity Health is collaborating with the community to address health needs in Muskegon, Shelby and Grand Haven.

Following the completion of comprehensive Community Health Needs Assessments, Trinity Health aims to create implementation strategies with plans of action to address the top 3 priority needs identified in each CHNA report by residents.

The priorities to be addressed include:

• Trinity Health Muskegon - Housing, childcare, homelessness, access to food
• Trinity Health Shelby - Housing, childcare, access to health
• Trinity Health Grand Haven - Access to health, behavioral health and substance use

“This recent assessment represents the voices of the communities we serve,” said Gary Allore, president of Trinity Health Muskegon, Shelby and Grand Haven. “Each report tells us what their priorities are and confirms what our focus should be going forward. Our teams are eager to get to work addressing these needs, making the Lakeshore communities healthier and more equitable places to live, work, learn, and play.”

Trinity Health prioritizes the health needs of underserved and vulnerable populations. Its commitment to community benefit extends well beyond the walls of hospitals and clinics.

Through dedicating resources each year to community programs and initiatives, Trinity Health strives to fulfill its ethical and moral responsibility as a faith-based health care provider.

This focus on community health and well-being directly addresses health disparities and further strengthens the bond between the health system and the communities it serves.

“Trinity Health has been hosting local CHNA Community Advisory committees who are charged with helping us develop the implementation plans for each hospital,” said Laura Fitzpatrick, manager at Community Health Improvement and Health Project, Trinity Health Muskegon. “Our implementation plans will include aligning and supporting existing community initiatives through our Community Impact Grants, refocusing some of our community initiatives, and supporting new and emerging efforts. They will be completed and go before the hospital Boards of Trustees for approval by October.”

As a statewide health system serving communities throughout southeast and West Michigan, Trinity Health Michigan invested $200.1 million in community benefit programs, charity care and financial assistance last year. These Trinity Health Michigan commitments are summarized in the FY23 Community Health and Well-Being Annual Report .

Community benefit programs created in West Michigan lakeshore communities since the last CHNA include:

• McLaughlin Grows Urban Farm: Trinity Health Muskegon continued its support of Community Encompass’s McLaughlin Grows Urban Farm with in-kind donations of land, water, electrical and maintenance in fiscal years 2022 and 2023. In September 2023, Community Encompass notified community members that they were ceasing operations in December. Trinity Health Muskegon offered immediate assistance to take on farm operations and provide ongoing support during the transition period. In April 2024, TrinityHealth Muskegon officially assumed operations of the farm.
• College Access Network (OCAN): Trinity Health Muskegon/Shelby provided $25,000 per year in fiscal years 2022, 2023 and 2024 for a total of $75,000 in direct funding to the Oceana Community Foundation who is the fiduciary of OCAN. OCAN’s purpose is to build a culture within Oceana County focused on post-secondary education awareness, access, and attainment to build and sustain a vibrant local economy and help alleviate poverty.
• • This funding supported increased post-secondary education attainment of Oceana County residents to sustain the local economy, meet workforce needs, alleviate poverty, and create a more vibrant community.
  • Funding also helped launch the Complete Your Degree (CYD) Program which helps adult learners achieve degrees and credentials toward meeting skill gaps, thereby increasing household prosperity.
• New Vision at Trinity Health Grand Haven: provides safe, hospital-based, medically supervised inpatient detoxification to help people overcome withdrawal symptoms from drug and alcohol addictions. When patients leave the hospital, they are referred to appropriate community-based programs to help prevent relapse and continue their treatment and recovery.

For more information on Trinity Health and its initiatives click here .