The Alliance for a Healthier Indiana to host State of Our Health Summit on April 13 at Ivy Tech
To build on the support and awareness created by National Public Health Week, the Alliance for a Healthier Indiana, a coalition of health care professionals, advocates, community, and business leaders from across the state, will hold the State of Our Health Summit at the Ivy Tech Community College Culinary and Conference Center on Friday, April 13, from 7 – 11 a.m.
National Public Health Week (NPHW), which runs through April 8, supports the American Public Health Association’s goal to make America the healthiest nation in the world in one generation. NPHW celebrates the power of prevention in the fight for health, encourages advocating for fair health policies, inspires communities to share strategies for successful partnerships, and champions the role of a strong public health system.
Indiana ranks 38th in the U.S. for the overall health of its citizens, and rates among the worst in the nation on critical health measures like tobacco use, infant mortality, opioid abuse, and obesity according to America’s Health Rankings’ report. The Alliance for a Healthier Indiana hopes to spur change in the Hoosier state, beginning with the State of Our Health Summit.
“The Alliance for a Healthier Indiana was created to tackle Indiana’s most pressing public health issues,” said Bryan Mills, CEO of Community Health Network and Chair of the Alliance for a Healthier Indiana. “We know that improving Hoosier health will take a concerted and collaborative effort, and our hope is that by providing a forum for the public and community leaders at the State of Our Health Summit, we will build significant grassroots support for the Alliance and its priorities.”
The State of Our Health Summit is the first in a series of town hall meetings around the state where local leaders, public safety workers, health care providers, and elected officials can hear about the Alliance for a Healthier Indiana’s plans for 2018 and beyond, which include raising awareness of Indiana’s poor health rankings, and sharing ideas about ways that communities can work together to improve Hoosier health.
Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions from and share ideas with our expert presenters, who include:
- Bryan Mills, President/CEO, Community Health Network and Alliance Chairman and Founder
- Dr. Kathy Lee, Chancellor, Ivy Tech Community College
- D’Anne Burwell, Mother and Author of Saving Jake: When Addiction Hits Home
- Dr. Jennifer Walthall, Secretary of Family and Social Services Administration
- Kevin Brinegar, president and CEO of the Indiana Chamber of Commerce
- Dr. Kris Box, Indiana State Health Commissioner
- Dr. Paul Halverson, founding dean of the IU Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health at IUPUI
- Q&A Session moderated by Claire Fiddian-Green, President and CEO, Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation
The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required. For more information on the Alliance for a Healthier Indiana and the health care issues facing Indiana, visit HealthierIndiana.org.