For the entirety of Fiscal Year 2021, the community benefits focus was on conducting the triennial Community Health Needs Assessment. The timing of this assessment during the midst of a pandemic was fortuitous as it gave us insight into emergent community health needs and allowed Milford Regional to create a three-year strategic implementation plan that was immediately responsive to these issues.
The year-long process kicked off in October, when Milford Regional once again partnered with Holleran Consulting, LLC, to conduct key informant interviews, a community survey and focus groups to identify environmental, economic, social and biological factors impacting the overall health of residents in our service area.
The entire process was conducted in with our community partners, who represent a broad spectrum of agencies that work directly within the 20 towns served by Milford Regional and included educators, public safety workers, health and human service agencies, recovery coaches, and food pantries…all sharing their perspectives that created a strong foundation upon which Milford Regional could build a solid community benefits plan.
Our community benefits programs for the next three years will focus on four priority areas identified in the Community Health Needs Assessment:
- Mental Health and Substance Use
- Health Care/Health Insurance Access
- Improving Health Outcomes in Worcester County
- Food Insecurity and Homelessness
Our Community Benefits Leadership Team is comprised of hospital administration and staff, and the Community Benefits Advisory Committee is a group of dedicated community representatives. The two work together to not only develop but deploy the programming that impacts residents of all ages in our region.
For an in-depth look the most recent Community Health Needs Assessment, as well as the Strategic Implementation plan, CLICK HERE.