Purdue University, NCHS Partner to Boost Health Equity Across Several Indiana Counties

Purdue University’s Health Equity Initiatives (HEI) and North Central Health Services (NCHS) are teaming up to take on health disparities and improve health for people living in eight north-central Indiana counties.
NCHS is a nonprofit organization committed to improving the health and wellness of communities in Benton, Carroll, Clinton, Fountain, Montgomery, Tippecanoe, Warren and White counties in Indiana. It is providing $4 million in funding for the collaborative four-year project aimed at improving the services and capacities of the health departments in each of the counties.

Purdue’s HEI addresses health disparities and promotes equitable health outcomes through education, research, collaboration and community engagement. HEI is leveraging the university’s diverse strengths and resources to establish Purdue as a leader in health equity, using innovative, interdisciplinary approaches to improving health.
In each county’s health department, the Purdue-NCHS project will:

• Identify opportunities to increase capacity by assessing strengths and analyzing gaps.
• Provide program evaluations and training in health equity and trauma-informed prevention practices.
• Offer technical support and help implementing programs.
• Help develop and analyze data tools.

“We are thrilled to have this partnership and support from NCHS to help improve health in these Indiana communities,” said Dr. Jerome Adams, executive director of HEI and Purdue Presidential Fellow. “Through this collaboration, we will work closely with community health departments and their partners to put programs in place, informed by and tailored to each county’s unique needs. This program lays a clear path toward improved health outcomes and healthier communities.”

“In our commitment to addressing community health needs, we’ve identified social drivers of health as a key focus area,” said Stephanie Long, NCHS CEO and president. “By leveraging Purdue’s expertise and resources, this partnership aims to make significant strides in improving overall health and wellness in these communities.”

The NCHS collaboration builds on Purdue’s success in previous initiatives, such as the Indiana Healthy Opportunities for People Everywhere (I-HOPE) project, which has addressed health disparities and improved access to health care through training, technical assistance and support in diverse social areas, including cultural understanding and adverse childhood experiences, equity and inclusion.