The new strategic plan for the Berrien County Health Department is about finished.
The department adopts a new strategic plan every three years to identify top priorities and address possible shortcomings. Berrien County Deputy Health Officer Candi Gabrielse tells us the plan looks at operations from the standpoint of environmental health, clinical and community health, and family programs.
What are some of the big issues in the new plan?
“Recruitment and retention, technology, our outreach, efficiency,” Gabrielse said. “I think transportation came up in just about every group session that we had. It was one of the bigger issues.”
Gabrielse says the department will study how to help the community get to needed appointments, whether through mass transit or other resources. Another big focus is reestablishing trust with the community after COVID caused some department services to fall by the wayside.
“We offered the services, but in a limited capacity. So, we are just trying to get back out into the community to let them know that we have those services available, connecting those who don’t know those services exist with those individuals, and getting them to recognize that we’re here to help them.”
The strategic plan was developed internally with the input of all health department staff. It was presented to the Berrien County Board of Health this week and should be finalized within the next month.
