The cost of electric bills and transportation is leaving families throughout Michigan struggling to make ends meet. But there is a program offered through local health departments that links resources to people in need in central and northern lower Michigan.
The Community Connectionsprogram helps connect people in need to resources like insurance and food. It's part of a 31-county health department collaborative.
The Community Connections program was created in 2016 to improve health, increase health equity, and reduce unnecessary medical costs through local partnerships.
Coordinator for the health department of Northwest Michigan Jen Vollmer said staff can often offer simple solutions to problems.
“Such as the single mom who is struggling to keep food in the kitchen, and really is struggling to apply for food benefits. Our community health workers could help her apply for food benefits. Same goes true if they need insurance,” Vollmer said.
Vollmer said they have even connected a family to a donated van to transport two disabled family members to doctor appointments.
When Bryan Williams of Charlevoix County became ill and lost his legs, his wife, Adell, felt defeated. The couple already cares for Adell's brother who has cerebral palsy and is in a wheelchair. Transporting both disabled family members seemed daunting. That is, until a special van with a lift was gifted to the Community Connections program. A referral was made through a local church to Community Connections about the Williams family and a match was made! The van is equipped with a special lift and is fully equipped so Adell can drive the whole family.
“She's now able to get her husband and her brother who she cares for, to and from a doctor's appointments way easier, you know, then kind of having to put them in and out herself physically,” Vollmer explained.
Vollmer said they were also able to work with a family in Emmet County to get a hot tub donated for their son who has a rare neuromuscular disorder. She said although they have had some unique donations, the norm for the Community Connections program is helping mainly with utilities, food assistance and Medicaid.
She said the program is offered in their area: Antrim, Emmet, Charlevoix, and Otsego counties.
