Jennifer Kerns presented on the services the Northwest Michigan Health Services Inc (NMHSI) provides to families and individuals in the region.
In 1968, to address the disparity in health care access particularly with the migrant and seasonal farmworkers in the region, NMHSI was established as a not-for-profit organization to provide primary health care and preventative care to this underserved community. In 2010, realizing there were tens of thousands of uninsured or under-insured people and families in Michigan, NMHSI committed to expanding their services to all of the area’s underserved population.
NMHSI welcomes anyone seeking health care regardless of their income, occupation, age, ethnicity, or country of origin. In addition to primary medical and dental care, they provide supports to address behavioral health, interpretation for non-English speaking individuals, and community resource connections to assist in addressing barriers including transportation, insurance enrollment, or understanding and applying for assistance from community resources.
NMHSI serves a 7-county area including Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Manistee, Leelanau, Mason, & Oceana. Their services in Benzie County are located in the Community Resource Center. They are planning an expansion at the site and also are working with the Betsie Valley Community Center to secure a mobile medical/dental unit.