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Essentia Health is working with local organizations to identify and address community health needs, part of an ongoing effort to improve well-being beyond its hospitals and clinics.
Every three years, Essentia conducts a Community Health Needs Assessment in each of the 14 communities served by its hospitals. The process includes town hall meetings, focus groups and surveys aimed at highlighting local priorities and gaps in care.
In Superior, the most recent assessment identified two primary needs: social drivers of health and improved access to nutrition and movement. To address those, Essentia plans to operate a Community Health Worker Program, expand use of a community resource directory called Resourceful, and continue awarding grants to local organizations.
Other plans include partnerships to support school gardens, youth nutrition education, and increased access to local produce. The health system is also working with community partners to expand physical activity opportunities, such as enhancing Superior’s Millennium Trail and supporting programs at the YMCA and the University of Wisconsin-Superior.
“LiveWell provides free activities to community members with the idea of improving well-being while building connections between people and the outdoors,” said Lynn Goerdt, a social worker and coordinator of LiveWell at UW-Superior. “We started in 2022 with support from the Miller-Dwan Foundation and from Essentia Health St. Mary’s-Superior. We have grown significantly over the past year. Last year, we had more than 1,300 people join us. We’re grateful for the support from Essentia and look forward to all the ways we’ll be able to contribute to connection and improved well-being in the upcoming year.”
Past assessments have also shaped Essentia’s work. Following its 2022 review, the system expanded efforts around mental and social well-being. Initiatives included partnerships with crisis shelters, mentorship programs for youth, resiliency training for first responders and awareness campaigns around mental health and substance use. Essentia also supported local recreation projects, bike trails and programs for survivors of abuse.
Resourceful, the publicly available online directory Essentia manages, has grown to include more than 4,500 programs since launching in 2021. The directory has been used by more than 32,000 people and facilitated over 25,000 referrals to community-based services.
“At Essentia, our commitment to the communities we serve is at the heart of everything we do,” said Emily Kuenstler, Essentia’s community health director. “We believe that true health care extends far beyond the walls of our hospitals and clinics — it’s about partnering with local organizations, listening to diverse voices and addressing the unique needs that impact well-being every day. By conducting regular Community Health Needs Assessments and investing in programs that promote nutrition, physical activity and access to resources, we’re dedicated to making a lasting, positive difference in people’s lives.”
City of Duluth
The Duluth Fire Department will hold a pinning ceremony Thursday at the DECC’s Horizon Room. The 4 p.m. event will recognize staff who earned promotions, completed probation or finished specialized training.
