Dear Health Partners,
If doing the right thing was easy, everyone would be doing it all the time.
I’ve always believed that most people genuinely want to do the right thing. Most of us do not wake up every day wanting to create harm. Sometimes it’s hard to do the right thing, especially when we’re already short on time or otherwise overwhelmed.
I must insert an acknowledgment here that unfortunately, there are those among us who really do intend to do harm, but that’s another conversation for another note.
Most of us here in the Dan River Region want the same thing – to live, work, and play in a healthy, thriving community. We even define that in many of the same ways – access to high quality, affordable healthcare, education, housing, and nutrition along with opportunities for physical activity, social connections, and to earn a living wage.
We don’t always agree on the best route to get us there. At times we may also disagree on who should drive or which vehicle we should take.
Luckily, there are lots of different ways to get where we want to go. Each potential strategy has its own set of risks and benefits. Local governments and community partners have varying levels of capacity. Some resources are easier to access than others.
Sometimes it’s not a question of right or wrong but more a question of, what is the best fit, when is the best time, and who is best positioned to make it happen?
But who makes those decisions? Is it always the same people?
Questions can often feel like accusations, but they are used to provide clarity. Just as we repeatedly ask “why?” as part of any root cause analysis, we must also ask some key questions on the front end of any decision-making process.
- What decision needs to be made?
- Who has the legal authority or is otherwise obligated for making this decision?
- Who cares about this decision?
- Who understands the mechanics of this decision?
- Who might benefit from this decision?
- Who might be harmed by this decision?
- Who else might be impacted by this decision?
- Who will be required to implement or enforce this decision?
All of them should be included in the decision-making process but that will take a lot longer. What if we don’t know who some of them are? What if some of them don’t get along? It can be awfully hard to do the right thing, but when you’re trying to make the right decision, you need the right people in the room.
If we want people to make the right decision, we must also provide them with the right information.
- Do they have access to relevant historical, political, or social context?
- Do they have access to any applicable regulatory or statutory requirements or restrictions?
- Do they have access to relevant data that might inform or otherwise be helpful in the evaluation of need, strategy, delivery, outcome, or impact?
- Have they had the opportunity to explore related research and evidence-based best practices?
This can also be time consuming and require significant effort. Once again, it can be hard to do the right thing but if we want people to make the right decision, we must make sure they have access to the information needed to adequately inform that decision.
Even once we have all the right people in the room with the right information, we still sometimes find conversations stalling or derailing when we begin to focus too much on the wrong details. It’s easy to do. We get distracted. Agenda items get lost as we follow the various rabbit trails and we get stuck, or lost, unable to find our way back to the topic at hand.
Many facilitators recommend using a “parking lot” for such distracting conversations – a place to park them until an agreed upon time when they will be revisited. But it can be hard to move on when things feel unresolved, questions remain unanswered, or feelings remain tender. It can be hard to do the right thing if we’re on the defense, or the offense, or if we’re all tripped up in the weeds.
I grew up on Sesame Street, so I especially appreciate a colleague’s recent use of “ELMO” to help us do the right thing and move the conversation forward.
ELMO – Enough! Let’s Move On!
Growing up I was a huge fan of Oscar the Grouch, but I suspect ELMO will be a lot more helpful in meetings.
We hope you’ll join us and our partners in moving the conversation forward. We also invite you to visit TheHealthCollab.news for more partners announcements, resources, and community events.
-Shannon
Thursday, June 12th at Noon
As spring transitions into summer, we thought it would be a great time to invite the following presenters. Jessica Smith, Certified Arborist and Horticulturist, Danville City Public Works Department. she will be talking about the new pollinator garden program and other things you don’t want to miss. Terrance Draper,4-H Extension Agent, he will be speaking about the programs that upcoming. You can also find out how you can become a volunteer. Jessica Sims, Virginia Field Coordinator, Appalachian Voices. Her presentation will center around the Transco pipeline expansion. Find out exactly where this pipeline is going, if you will be affected, why this is not just a county issue.
Lunch will be served so please be sure to RSVP by Monday, June 9.
To learn more about other work happening across the chapter and chime in on priorities, please email Danville Chapter Coordinator, Kitt Mayo at Danville@TheHealthCollab.com
Join us for the monthly gathering of the Caswell Chapter of The Health Collaborative on Tuesday, June 17th at 12:30pm at the Yanceyville Municipal Building!
This month we will work in collaboration with our neighbors to continue the planning process for how we want to cultivate and grow our community.
Lunch will be served so please be sure to RSVP by Friday, June 13th.
To learn more about other work happening across the chapter, please email Kyle Warren-Love at Caswell@TheHealthCollab.com
Pittsylvania County Chapter Meeting
Tuesday, June 24th at 11:30am
Join us for an informative session on the proposed MVP Southgate pipeline and its potential impacts. Led by Jessica Sims, the Virginia Field Coordinator for Appalachian Voices, this session will provide a comprehensive overview of the MVP Southgate’s history, key changes, and essential facts about the project.
Additionally, we’ll focus on promoting health equity for all. Together, let’s explore the possibilities beyond our current challenges in various sectors, including Mental Health, Childcare, Transportation, Environmental Justice, Food Systems, and Civic Health.
Enjoy a delicious lunch while participating in our workgroup sessions.
Please remember to RSVP so we can make the necessary arrangements. We look forward to seeing you there!
To learn more about other work happening across the chapter, please email Jolandria Graves at Pittsylvania@TheHealthCollab.com
Check Out These Partner Announcements, Events, and Resources
- 211 as a Resource
- ALICE – Providing a fuller picture of who is experiencing financial insecurity
- City of Danville – Paid Internships and Summer Jobs
- Rising Stars Youth Talent Showcase – Caswell
- UPDATED – National Council of Nonprofits Tracks Key Federal Developments and Impacts on Nonprofits
- Federal Budget – What to Expect and Who to Call
- Dismantling Racism Workshop – Virginia Organizing Dismantling Racism Workshop – Southside Region
Please be sure to check out our online newsletter, News & Notes at TheHealthCollab.news for more partner announcements, tools, resources, and a robust meeting and events calendar. Have something to share? Send it to info@TheHealthCollab.com or submit your events directly to the calendar.
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