Midland, MI– The THRIVE initiative is honored to include a keynote message from the U.S. Surgeon General, Vice Admiral Jerome M. Adams, M.D., M.P.H as part of their upcoming virtual event “All of Us Together: Driving Health and Economic Success” on May 26, 2020. This powerful webcast will feature insight from the Office of the Surgeon General and a panel with multi-sector regional leaders discussing his national platform, Community Health and Economic Prosperity (CHEP). The event’s agenda includes a report on the progress of Phase One implementation, significant THRIVE news and announcements, and plans for the launch of Phase Two of THRIVE’s portfolio of interventions. This is a time to recognize the many partners and collaborators across our community who together are advancing this nationally recognized work committed to our best shared future. This is a tremendous opportunity for our community to get deeper insight on the extensive work of CHEP, its logic, rationale for business engagement, and its emphasis on collaboration and partnership. A welcomed message in the region, the Surgeon General’s platform seamlessly aligns with THRIVE’s mission to deliver improved health and sustained economic growth in our communities. His remarks will inspire the community to partner in the continuation of the big-thinking work of THRIVE.
“The Surgeon General’s keynote address will build upon the momentum in the region and bring focus as we address both our economy and community well-being for now and the long-term future,” states Dr. Cathy Baase, senior fellow of THRIVE and board chair of MiHIA. “Our region is very fortunate to learn from Vice Admiral Adams, his office and the ongoing work of CHEP,” she continued. It is noteworthy that the Surgeon General’s motto is “better health through partnerships” as he seeks to forge new partnerships with non-traditional partners. This focus dovetails into the ongoing multi-sector work led by THRIVE on its portfolio efforts in the region. On the discussion panel and in the audience, participants will include representatives from business, faith-based leaders, non-profits, school districts, healthcare, and the general public in order to facilitate both open discussion and the momentum for new partnerships.
Later this year, the Surgeon General will publish a Surgeon General’s Report on the CHEP initiative. The report recognizes that our environment shapes the opportunities we have and the behaviors we adopt. The report recommends that communities be strengthened so that the healthy choice is the easy choice in order to significantly improve our outcomes.
Our own community examination of health and economic data and trends have brought to the forefront the relationship between good population health and sustained economic growth. It also elevated attention on matters of equity and social determinants of health (SDOH). SDOH are the fundamental conditions which enable health in the places where people live, learn, work, and play and how they affect a wide range of health risks and socio-economic outcomes. The imperative for advancing the THRIVE portfolio has never been stronger as we seek the full potential of our region’s health and economic prosperity.
THRIVE is honored and privileged to highlight the unique work of the U.S. Surgeon General at the May 26th virtual event and invites the public to register to attend via secure teleconferencing software. For more information, please contact: Dallas Rau at d.rau@thrivegreatlakesbay.org.
More about THRIVE (Transforming Health Regionally in a Vibrant Economy):
Recognizing the powerful and inseparable linkage between economic success and health, a collaborative initiative called THRIVE has been born in the Great Lakes Bay Region (GLBR). Focusing on delivering improved health and sustained economic growth, THRIVE is steered by two established organizations: the Michigan Health Improvement Alliance (MiHIA) and the Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance (GLBRA).
After compiling a significant amount of data, gaining perspectives from community leaders across multiple sectors, completing system mapping, and modeling scenarios, the THRIVE portfolio is complete. Faith-based leaders, regional nonprofits, health systems, universities, chambers, and regional corporations helped to identify five strategic priority areas to guide the THRIVE Portfolio with three macro health and economic success outcome indicators.
Considering the scale of the THRIVE initiative, the five priority areas of focused interventions have been organized into 34 specific interventions. Implemented in a multi-phased approach, the interventions were chosen carefully based on community input and data. Recognizing the need for sustained financial support, the Health & Well-being Fund was developed to interweave funding sources for specific interventions and identify opportunities to increase investments.
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