- : Sara Coulter with Rice County Public Health and Daisey Sanchez with HealthFinders Collaborative
- Sara and Daisey had a very informative presentation about Building Healthy Communities, specifically here in Rice County
- Some of the highlights included: asking How are we all helping build healthier communities, Community definition of equity, building a healthier community by all working together.
- They had several slides showing how Rice County demographics have changed immensely in the past 50 years. The slides showed stats on race/ethnicity changes for adults and kids in Rice County for the past 50 years.
- They then discussed Why do folks choose Rice County to live? Some reasons include the community has shared values, social support, safer environment, kinship and community, job opportunities, and the health system.
- They then discuss What creates health? Many factors such as genes and biology, environment, clinical health, health behaviors, social & economic factors.
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- Talked about all of the different factors and discussed the process of meetings that occur every 5 years to help determine the top 5 health priorities voted by community members here in Rice County.
- Some additional stats they shared with the Rotarians was that 20% of county residents identify as Black/African American, Asian or Hispanic. Only 2% own homes. Housing continues to be a large issue in our community.
- Graduation rates are much higher for non-economically challenged students than economically challenged students in Rice County communities.
- Their presentation shared stories from Rice County residents who went through difficulties with the healthcare system and challenges with feeling belonged in our community, and how they had to deal with those challenges.
- Trying to establish a community definition of equity – moving from Equality approach (or sameness) to an Equity approach concentrating on fairness and eliminating barriers.
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- Sara and Daisey also talked about the social cost of inequity. The social cost of inequity causes MN health disparities too.
- Sara and Daisey expanded in many of the above areas throughout their presentation.
- The presentation concluded with defining our roles which are to:
- Educate ourselves and know our community
- Understand that addressing social determinants of health is the work of all of us.
- Conduct Self-assessment
- Thank you to our guests Sara and Daisey for presenting to the Faribault Rotary today.
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