What is Henry County Health First?
Health First Indiana, initiated by Senate Enrolled Act 4, marks the state's pioneering effort to revolutionize public health services. These services encompass critical areas such as lead screening, food safety, trauma and injury prevention, among others. Henry County, as the inaugural county to embrace this initiative, will actively participate in Health First starting in January 2024.
Our ability to prosper can be attributed to our health, impacting everything from educational institutions to economic vitality. Every Indiana resident should have equitable access to fundamental public health services, irrespective of their geographic location. It is widely acknowledged that such services are most effectively administered at the local level by those intimately familiar with their communities. Henry County Health First aims to guarantee that each Indiana resident has the opportunity to access essential public health services to further empower their attainment of utmost health and well-being.
The commission’s report provides a concise overview of its mission in six key subject areas linked to public health:
1. Governance, Infrastructure, and Services
2. Public Health Funding
3. Workforce
4. Data and Information Integration
5. Emergency Preparedness
6. Child and Adolescent Health
Henry County KPIs
Health First Indiana: Objectives & Strategies
The Henry County Health Department’s 2025 Health First Indiana Plan outlines a focused, data-driven approach to improving the health and well-being of our community. This plan addresses key public health areas including communicable disease prevention, chronic disease, emergency preparedness, environmental health, maternal and child health, and access to care.
Our objectives center on expanding access to screenings and preventive services, strengthening referral systems, improving health education, and supporting individuals and families across the lifespan. This includes increasing vaccination rates, enhancing follow-up care and referrals, promoting tobacco prevention, and improving access to prenatal, primary, and specialty care.
To achieve these goals, we are implementing strategies that focus on strong community partnerships, evidence-based programming, and increased outreach. Efforts include collaborating with healthcare providers and schools, expanding prevention programs like vaping education, improving emergency preparedness training, and using data to guide decision-making and improve outcomes.
Together, these objectives and strategies create a coordinated approach to prevention, early intervention, and long-term health improvement for Henry County residents.