Community Collaboration | Working Together for Families in Northwest Ohio [Video]

Nationwide Children’s – Toledo, Mercy Health and ProMedica are partnering to address the social, economic and environmental factors that impact the health of children and families in the Toledo community. Each system has invested in social determinants of health individually but during recent months agreed to work together to have a stronger impact on addressing these critical issues that affect childhood and overall community health. Working collaboratively with community organizations, these local hospital systems will improve housing affordability and quality, support lead remediation and reduce lead exposure for families in northwest Ohio.

As part of this collaboration, Nationwide Children’s – Toledo will work with Maumee Valley Habitat for Humanity (MVHFH) to substantially rehabilitate 53 owner-occupied residential housing units in Lucas County as part of MVHFH’s Home Preservation programs.

“We are proud to collaborate with our neighboring hospital systems and work with Maumee Valley Habitat for Humanity to support home repair and lead remediation in our community,” said Angela Mingo, vice president, Development and Corporate Affairs, Nationwide Children’s Hospital. “Nationwide Children’s – Toledo is committed to improving the lives of children in northwest Ohio — inside our hospital’s walls and beyond. This means focusing on the total health of children to ensure their health and well-being — including the homes where they live and the environment that surrounds their entire family.”

MVHFH is helping to preserve Toledo’s current owner-occupied housing stock and revitalizing neighborhoods by replacing roofs, bringing homes to current code standards and abating lead in the core-central city neighborhoods surrounding downtown.

“At Maumee Valley Habitat for Humanity, the quality of life for families and neighborhoods improves when we address and invest in our aging housing stock,” said Erin McPartland, executive director, MVHFH. “We spend a significant amount of our life in our homes. This partnership builds on the important connection between housing and our health. Its impact will make our community stronger and healthier.”

Nationwide Children’s – Toledo’s new partnership with MVHFH builds on relationships already established with local health organizations, Mercy Health and ProMedica, to build capacity and make positive impact in northwest Ohio and Toledo neighborhoods.

In 2017, ProMedica partnered with KeyBank to support the Year 16 Initiative, a public-private partnership to preserve the affordability of city housing that is funded through low-income housing tax credits and encourage homeownership for low- and moderate-income renters.

“ProMedica is pleased to be working with Maumee Valley Habitat for Humanity and other health systems to help address local housing challenges,” said Gary Cates, chief philanthropy and government relations officer at ProMedica. “We understand that access to safe, affordable housing helps reduce exposure to hazards that contribute to preventable injuries and chronic health conditions. For more than a decade, ProMedica has led advocacy programs and efforts to address community issues affecting health outcomes. Working together on the housing issue, we look forward to making an exponential impact that better supports overall health and well-being in our community.”

In 2021, Mercy Health, through the Grey Nun Fund, began supporting critical home repair and new build work with MVHFH. Mercy Health associates have also contributed more than 400 volunteer hours with the organization to support housing needs in Toledo’s Central City and East Toledo neighborhoods.

“Mercy Health has a long history of providing high-quality and compassionate care to those most in need,” said Kendra Smith, vice president of community health, Mercy Health. “This commitment includes investing in our community and the needs that exist beyond the walls of our health care facilities. Addressing the connection between safe, high quality, affordable housing and improved health outcomes remains a priority for our organization. To make these investments in collaboration with other local health organizations, means we can help more people in more areas at a quicker pace — making the Toledo region a healthier place, one home at a time.”

This work to address social determinants of health and to improve the health and well-being of families and children in the Toledo area is aligned with the 2021-2024 Lucas County Community Health Improvement Plan’s (CHIP) key priorities, all of which aim to achieve health equity, reduce adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and more.