Essentia Health partners with local groups to identify community health needs and drive improvements in Fosston

Essentia Health's mission is to make a healthy difference in people's lives, and that work extends beyond the walls of our hospitals and clinics.

Just like patients, each community has unique needs. To determine priorities, Essentia conducts a Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) every three years in each community that is home to one of its 14 hospitals. Town hall meetings, focus groups and surveys are among the ways Essentia collects information on what is important to people and what gaps we can help to address.

Fosston is one of the 14 communities surveyed by Essentia.

Our most recent CHNA identified the following needs for Essentia Health-Fosston’s service area:

• Social drivers of health: Essentia plans to operate a Community Health Worker Program, administer a community resource directory called “Resourceful” and support organizations through a Community Grants program.
• Nutrition and physical activity: Essentia plans to collaborate with local food vendors, restaurants and community organizations to promote healthier food options and increase access to nutritious meals. Furthermore, Essentia plans to develop self-guided walking routes that showcase local parks and trails, while working with community partners to expand opportunities for accessible physical activity.
• Mental Wellbeing: Essentia plans to address mental wellbeing by supporting Fosston Public School’s implementation of the Second STEPS curriculum, an evidence-based curriculum that focuses on social-emotional learning (SEL) and skill-building for students.

"Continuing the Second Step Curriculum at Magelssen Elementary will further enhance our school environment and support our students," said Dan Boushee, principal at Magelssen Elementary School. "This initiative will particularly benefit social-emotional learning, promote youth mental well-being and underscore the significance of early intervention in equipping students with essential coping mechanisms and interpersonal skills. Your support in this endeavor would be immensely valued."

The key to gathering accurate data is to get input from a wide range of community members, particularly those who are medically underserved and those in minority groups. The information helps health systems decide how to make the greatest impact and which areas to focus on.

For example, after our last CHNA in 2022, we focused on the following priority areas for this service area:

• Mental well-being: Essentia supported the Ignite Youth Center, engaging local youth through open house events and strengthening connections between youth and adult leaders. It also sponsored the Grace & Grit program, helping youth improve emotional regulation, stress management and social skills through horse-human partnerships. Additionally, Essentia contributed to the expansion of the Firefly Center for Art & Wellbeing, creating more space for mental health services in the community.
• Physical activity: Essentia promoted physical activity through sponsorship of the Fosston Summer Recreation Program, engaging local youth in sports and relationship-building activities. It also supported two outdoor community projects — the installation of pickleball courts, which became active in summer 2023 and the resurfacing of an outdoor track, used annually by youth in the summer track program. These initiatives enhance access to recreational opportunities for the community.
• Resourceful: Resourceful is a publicly available community resource directory, designed to connect individuals with free and reduced-cost services. Since its launch in 2021 more than 4,500 programs have been added to the resource directory and over 32,000 individuals have used the directory. Resourceful has facilitated more than 25,000 referrals to community-based organizations.

"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."