The Indiana Department of Health and Purdue University are partnering in an effort that aims to ensure residents have better access to available resources to improve their health.
The Indiana Healthy Opportunities for People Everywhere (I-HOPE) initiative will be a two year project where teams will be deployed across the state to engage in conversations to address factors that prevent people from living their healthiest lives.
The effort is being funded by a $34.8 million grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Indiana State Health Commissioner Dr. Kristina Box said chronic disease, food insecurity, opioids, obesity, and smoking are just some of the challenges Hoosiers face. She said efforts will be made to assist those in need with limited access to healthcare, affordable housing, transportation, childcare, and safe and secure employment.
Teams will work in 30 counties that have been impacted most by the pandemic. The initial focus will be in Cass, Daviess, Elkhart, Lake and Wayne Counties, and then expand to 25 other counties including Kosciusko County, La Porte County and Marshall County.
The I-HOPE initiative will complement Governor Eric Holcomb’s Public Health Commission. Its members are charged with the analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of Indiana’s current public health system.
