TC Residents Named Hometown Health Heroes

Three Traverse City residents have received 2018 Hometown Health Hero and Jean Chabut Health Policy Champion awards for their contributions to "protecting and improving the health of Michigan residents," the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services (MDHHS) announced Wednesday.

Ty and Johanna Schmidt, founders of the bike-centric nonprofit Norte!, and Jennifer Strange of the Traverse Health Clinic were presented with the award as part of National Public Health Week. The MDHHS cited Norte's work in promoting walk/bike advocacy, mountain biking, youth leadership, summer camps, healthy winter activities, and thirteen bike trains that lead students from eight neighborhoods to five different elementary schools.

As the leader of Traverse Health Clinic's behavioral health program, Strange has "implementated initiatives that have reduced barriers to accessing behavioral health and counseling services for the underserved in the community and expanded behavioral health services at the clinic," according to MDHHS. "This has included opening up behavioral health services to patients who receive their primary care elsewhere; expanding services to patients as young as age 12; providing additional behavioral health outreach at area homeless shelters; and applying for Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities accreditation."

“These individuals and organizations have gone above and beyond to improve Michigander’s health and safety,” says Nick Lyon, MDHHS director. “Much of a person’s overall health is determined outside of a doctor’s office, and these award winners have provided opportunities for our state’s citizens to have healthier lives and communities."

Pictured: Jennifer Strange, Ty Schmidt