“What is remarkable about you and about the TACHI work is that you are making a bold and public statement to your neighbors that you collectively hold responsibility for making the place where you live healthier,” said Dr. Ann Barnes, EHF’s president and CEO.
Her message kicked off the Fall convening of the Texas Accountable Communities for Health Initiative (TACHI).
TACHI is changing the way Texas thinks about health – from one that is centered on the health care system to one that values health equity and multi-sector partnerships. It’s an ambitious model to address underlying, root causes of poor health and find sustainable solutions for the entire community. These partnerships are formed across sectors such as health care, housing, social services, public health, employment training, economic development, and more.
The participating TACHI sites are:
- Austin Rundberg Coalition
- Bastrop County Accountable Community for Health
- Brazos Healthy Communities
- Greater Longview Optimal Wellness
- Communities y Salud Greater Northside (Houston)
- Williamson County Community Health Connect
During the Fall meeting, groups from the six TACHI sites gathered to learn new ways to listen to communities and build lasting partnerships with organizations and coalitions. The sites also focused on articulating the value proposition of their work, establishing funding sustainability, and harnessing the people power in their community.
From utilizing community health workers to improve maternal health to connecting would-be ER patients to desperately needed nutrition and housing needs, each site is growing unique local solutions to address non-medical drivers of health.
Created by EHF, with support from St. David’s Foundation, TACHI aims to help sites understand the health needs in their communities and think strategically about tactical ways of working together to improve health outcomes.
