The University of Notre Dame has formed the Michiana Community Health Coalition (MCHC), consisting of community health workers, navigators, and peer recovery coaches, to improve public health in the South Bend-Elkhart area. The group meets monthly to discuss issues and share knowledge and res, focusing on solutions to problems that contribute to disparate health outcomes in the US. As trusted members of the community, coalition members act as liaisons between the community and local health systems, helping to improve access to care and the quality and cultural competency of individual organizations and providers. The MCHC now includes over 20 organizations from northern Indiana.
As reported in a recent report by the University of Notre Dame, a coalition of community health workers, community navigators, and certified addiction peer recovery coaches has been formed to address health disparities in the South Bend-Elkhart community. The Michiana Community Health Coalition (MCHC), which meets once a month, aims to share knowledge and res and find solutions to issues that contribute to disparate health outcomes in the U.S.
The group comprises trusted members of the community who serve as liaisons between the community and local health systems. They help facilitate access to care, improve the quality and cultural competency of individual organizations and providers, and build trust within the community to improve the system of care.
Jessica Brookshire, senior program director in the Office of Clinical Partnerships at Notre Dame, said, “Their work is critical in understanding the needs that exist and in helping develop solutions.” Brookshire, along with Jennifer Lefever, managing director of the William J. Shaw Center for Children and Families, and Jill Pentimonti, director of research advancement and Federal Relations, organized the group in December 2021.
Initially, the coalition started with four organizations that had begun using community health workers and certified addiction peer recovery coaches. These organizations recognized the importance of such work and the opportunity to learn from those on the front lines of community health. Today, the coalition counts more than 20 organizations from across St. Joseph, Elkhart, and Marshall counties in northern Indiana.
As reported in Brookshire, the growth of the coalition speaks to the needs that exist in the community. From lack of access to quality, affordable housing and transportation to poverty, educational inequality, and mental health, the MCHC seeks to address these issues by bringing together community experts and Notre Dame researchers to collaborate and learn from each other.
The coalition members are working on the front line of health, listening to the community’s needs and building trust within the community to improve the system of care. As trusted members of the community, they are well-positioned to facilitate access to care and improve the quality and cultural competency of individual organizations and providers.
The MCHC meetings are invaluable for researchers to truly understand on-the-ground issues and collaborate with community partners. The group discusses issues and learns from each other as well as guests, including community experts and Notre Dame researchers. These conversations help researchers understand the needs that exist and develop solutions in collaboration with community partners.
The University of Notre Dame has played a significant role in convening the coalition and providing opportunities for student education and research. The MCHC is an excellent example of how universities can work with the community to address health disparities and improve public health.
To cease, the Michiana Community Health Coalition is a critical initiative in addressing health disparities in the South Bend-Elkhart community. The coalition brings together trusted members of the community, community experts, and Notre Dame researchers to collaborate and find solutions to issues that contribute to disparate health outcomes in the U.S. The MCHC is an excellent example of how universities can work with the community to address health disparities and improve public health.
