Chair File: Healthy Children Initiative Improves Population Health

To improve community health, Mason General Hospital & Family of Clinics (MGH&FC) in Shelton, Wash., has launched several programs focused on children's health. Nearly 25% of children in rural Mason County live in poverty, compared to the 18% state average. MGH&FC collaborated with the Shelton School District and other community organizations to create a large fruit and vegetable “HOPE” garden. At-risk high school students participate in planting and caring for the HOPE Garden and also learn nutrition, cooking and other life and job skills. MGH&FC also led community collaboration in raising funds for capital improvements to keep the community's pool open. MGH&FC developed a sustainable model, creating access to the pool as a free community resource for athletic, recreational, and health and wellness activities. The hospital and school district recently partnered to establish a Health Science Academy at Shelton High School. The academy will expose students to health care careers; improve instructional programs in health, science and technology; and employ qualified graduates at MGH&FC. As a result of these Healthy Children programs—which affect nearly 12,000 children under age 18 in Mason County—community pool utilization has improved 43% for students and 11% for the community overall. Using County Health Rankings, MGH&FC tracked health improvement, achieving 10% improvement over two years.

For more information, contact Eileen Branscome, COO, ebranscome@masongeneral.com or Lauri Bolton, vice president of human resources, at lbolton@masongeneral.com.