HEALTH NAVIGATOR AVAILABLE TUESDAYS

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has awarded $900,000 in funds to Affiliated Service Providers of Indiana, Inc. (ASPIN) to be used over the next three years to improve the health of persons with mental illness and/or addiction diagnoses served by five community mental health centers including Four County Counseling Center.

The ASPIN Health Improvement Project (AHIP) seeks to improve rates of insurance coverage, increase connection to sources of primary and preventive care, and educate and mobilize current case managers to support the whole health of persons served. Over 14,000 people are served by behavioral health providers in the thirteen targeted counties.

According to America’s Health Rankings (www.americashealthrankings.org/IN), Indiana ranks in the bottom 10 of all the states in health issues. Cass County has significant statistics that contribute to Indiana’s consistent low ranking, as reported in the 2015 County Health Rankings released by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation www.countyhealthrankings.org ). Cass County ranks 54th out of 92 counties for Health Outcomes and 64th out of 92 Counties for Health Factors. Some factors that affect these rankings are: 23% of adults in Cass County smoke, 35% are obese (28% in Indiana), and 38% are physically inactive (28% in Indiana).

The Health Navigator/Community Health Worker assigned to Cass County is Angel Daulton. She’ll be set up to accept applications Tuesdays in September from 4-8 p.m. at Emmaus Mission Center, 805 Spencer Street. You can also schedule an appointment by calling 877-313-7215.