Our Story
The Clarkston Coalition began in June 2021 as a collaborative effort by community organizations to increase Covid-19 vaccine uptake in their service communities. However, most organizations have a community-based approach with a vested interest in reducing health disparities of this population beyond vaccination and thus the Coalition continues to expand their scope of work to align with current community needs.
Since its inception, The Clarkston Coalition has played a major role in several health fairs, community engagement events, research projects and school vaccination events. As one measure of our success, we have seen over 3,000 community members vaccinated in this time.
MISSION
The Clarkston Health Equity Coalition (CHEC) is a collaboration of multi-sector organizations, community members and leaders that have a common mission to decrease barriers to health equity as defined by Clarkston residents.
HOW WE WILL ACHIEVE OUR MISSION:
The CHEC aims to increase access and utilization of health and social services through: Resource mobilization, collective action, and collaborative initiatives. We aim to increase community knowledge by equipping individuals with health literacy and tools to make informed decisions for themselves and their families. We aim for this work to catalyze change among programs, policies, and practices resulting in increased quality of life for Clarkston residents.
VISION
Clarkston residents will access and utilize a holistic, culturally and linguistically responsive system of healthcare and social services resulting in improved health outcomes and community wellness that is affordable.
CHEC Tenants/Values
Community
We believe that the most effective solutions are found within the community, and we will hold ourselves accountable to the community for sustained progress in health outcomes.
Agency
We ensure provision of resources that are culturally and linguistically responsive and leverage the skills of community members to have agency in their own lives.
Integrity
We will use data to focus our work, measure impact, and strive for continuous improvement, all of which will be shared publicly.
Collaboration
We believe that collaborative partnerships are the most effective way to bring systemic change and eliminate structural inequalities in our communities
Cultural Humility
We center cultural humility and life-long learning in our approach to serving communities.
Inclusion
We welcome all cultures and ethnicities, acknowledge their fluidity and intersectionality, and celebrate their diversity.
Transparency
The Coalition aims to be transparent with all stakeholders.
CHEC Strategic Goals (3-5 Years)
1
Improve Equitable Access to Healthcare
Access to culturally responsive physical and psycho-social health and social services will address social determinants of health and improve the wellness of communities. .
2
Strengthen and Prioritize Community Voices
Actively engage community members in the development and planning of services and outreach to ensure alignment with their needs and priorities.
3
Develop and Formalize a Sustainable Model for the Coalition
Advance CHEC impact through securing multi-year funding, strategic and committed partnerships, and diverse and representative membership.