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The Portage Health Foundation is dedicated to engaging all community stakeholders in discussion and strategic planning related to the unmet health needs throughout Baraga, Houghton, Keweenaw, and Ontonagon counties. In partnership with the James A. Ruppe Foundation, the Portage Health Foundation is embarking on a series of interactive forums that aim at bringing together local service providers, from all disciplines, to offer inclusive perspectives on the health risk factors and health needs that exist within our community. The goal of these forums is to develop collaborative input, prioritize health care needs, and build consensus on innovative interventions and solutions.
This initial forum will focus on solutions for meeting the mental and behavioral health needs of our community – including substance abuse. The present challenges related to mental and behavioral health care are longstanding and well defined. The focus of this forum is multi-service provider interaction, the creation of innovative solutions, and a commitment to future discussion, development, and growth of a community health care collaborative.
Keynoting the evening will be Michigan native, Tim Cusack, who has over twenty-five years of experience with speaking to and entertaining audiences ranging from the classroom to the boardroom. Tim’s performances fuse thought-provoking, meaningful stories with candid audience connections, which inspire people to appreciate life, work, and relationships. Also speaking is Dr. Claudia Weber, a licensed psychologist and pharmacist from the Center for Rural Mental Health Studies at the University of Minnesota’s Medical School, Duluth. Dr. Weber offers special insight into the delivery of mental and behavioral health services that take into consideration a rural community’s financial, cultural, and geographical concerns.
Doors will open at 4:30 p.m. with dinner served from 5-5:30 p.m. The evening will include a formal speaker program starting at 5:30 p.m.
Pre-registration is required. To register for the event, please call the Portage Health Foundation at 906-523-5920.
