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MDCH Releases Toolkit for Community Discussions about Factors That Impact Overall Health

FOR IMMEDIATE RELSEASE: February 4, 2013

LANSING - The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) Health Disparities Reduction and Minority Health Section (HDRMHS) has released a toolkit designed to engage communities around common health issues that link individual and overall wellbeing. Health Equity in Michigan: A Toolkit for Action explores how education, food access, stress, discrimination and access to health care are linked to the health and overall wellbeing of communities.

"Everyday neighborhood influences directly impact our health," said James J. Haveman, Director of the MDCH. "This toolkit provides communities the tools needed to generate discussions about how social and environmental influences impact health. We hope this toolkit will serve as a resource to community efforts to improve health outcomes.

" The toolkit consists of videos, factsheets, activities, discussion questions, and additional resources about health. The toolkit also includes a facilitator guide for organizations and individuals who are interested in leading discussions in their communities. The toolkits are available by request at rosss7@michigan.gov, and the videos in the toolkits are available on the MDCH YouTube page at www.youtube.com/michigandch.

The Health Disparities Reduction and Minority Health Section, formerly the Office of Minority Health, was established in 1988. The HDRMHS mission is to provide a persistent and continuing focus on eliminating health disparities in Michigan's populations of color. For more information about HDRMHS, visit www.michigan.gov/minorityhealth.

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