SPH 2012 Practice Plunge - August 29, 2012

Genesee County

On the County Health Ranking, Genesee County's overall health ranking is 77 out of 82 counties in Michigan.    

Genesee County People Quick Facts (2011 Estimates)

Genesee County Health Department

Health Officer: Mark Valacak, M.P.H.

Vision: Better Life Through Better Health

Mission: To improve the quality of life in Genesee County by preventing disease, promoting health and protecting the public from environmental hazards to health

Our Goal: To improve the health status of Genesee County residents, with particular attention to eliminating racial, social, and economic inequities and using prevention and intervention strategies that target underlying causes.

Community Project: After visiting the health department to learn about their roles and functions, students will work at the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan. FBEM is the Food Source for people in need. Partnering with organizations to feed the hungry, we build a community solution to a community problem. Students will work in the warehouse processing area. You will check, clean, label, sort, and box food and non-food packaged items, which will then be made available to our partner agencies for distribution in eastern Michigan. You will also help keep the warehouse and agencies shopping areas organized and clean.

Lenawee County

On the County Health Ranking, Lenawee County's overall health ranking is 13 out of 82 counties in Michigan.

Lenawee County People Quick Facts (2011 Estimates)

Lenawee County Health Department

Health Officer: Patsy Bourgeois, RN, MS

Mission: To enable the citizens of Lenawee County to enjoy the best possible state of health, free from avoidable disease, disability and the threat of premature death.

Community Projects: After visiting the health department to learn about their roles and functions, students will rotate between several community service projects organized by the health department. Students will work with the Greater Lenawee Tobacco Reduction Coalition to prepare kits for schools for the Great American Smokeout and writing letters to the editor. Students can also rotate to the Hope Community Center, a recreation center for adults with disabilities, to work in their community garden. Another potential project is stuffing backpacks for Associated Charities for their back to school event.

Oakland County

On the County Health Ranking, Oakland County's overall health ranking is 16 out of 82 counties in Michigan.

Oakland County People Quick Facts (2011 Estimates)

Oakland County Health Division

Health Officer: Kathleen Forzley, RS, MPA

Vision: Your recognized leader in public health

Mission: To protect the community through health promotion, disease prevention and protection of the environment.

Community Project: After visiting the health department to learn about their roles and functions, students will work at the Baldwin Center. The Baldwin Center's mission is to feed, clothe, educate and empower the men, women and children of the Pontiac community. The Center has been serving since 1981 and currently offers more than 25 support programs that meet basic needs, offer assistance in a crisis, provide education and enrichment opportunities for adults and children, and serve as a safety net. Students will receive a tour and overview of the Center and then assist with setting up for the Backpack event (sorting and packing supplies, setting up tents, clearing the area) scheduled for August 30. They will distribute more than 600 backpacks to kids in need of school supplies.

Wayne County

On the County Health Ranking, Wayne County's overall health ranking is 81 out of 82 counties in Michigan.

Wayne County People Quick Facts (2011 Estimates)

Wayne County Public Health Department

Acting Health Officer: Mouhanad Hammami, MD

Deputy Health Officer: Veerinder (Vinny) Taneja, MPH

The purpose of the Public Health Department is to provide environmental health, nutritional health, community health, emergency preparedness, women and children's health and communicable disease prevention and control services to all Wayne County residents, businesses and visitors so that they can enjoy good health and be safe during emergencies. The Public Health Department is subdivided into two groups: Public Health and Environmental Health.

Washtenaw County

On the County Health Ranking, Washtenaw County's overall health ranking is 5 out of 82 counties in Michigan

Washtenaw County People Quick Facts (2011 Estimates)

Washtenaw County Public Health Department

Health Officer: Richard Fleece

Vision: A healthy community in which every resident enjoys the best possible state of health and well-being.

Mission: To assure, in partnership with the community, the conditions necessary for people to live healthy lives through prevention and protection programs.

Community Project: After visiting the health department to learn about their roles and functions, students will either work at Food Gatherers, SOS Community Services, or Growing Hope.

Food Gatherers exists to alleviate hunger and eliminate its causes in our community by: reducing food waste through the rescue and distribution of perishable and non-perishable food, coordinating with other hunger relief providers, educating the public about hunger, and developing new food resources. Students will sort, pack and process food for distribution.

Avalon Housing is a 20-year-old supportive housing program in Ann Arbor that houses over 400 residents who were homeless or at risk of homelessness. Edible Avalon is a community gardening program that provides fresh produce to Avalon tenants and regularly hosts SPH interns. Students will help out at an Edible Avalon organic garden and with general landscaping projects at one supportive housing project.