Andrews University Community Partnership, Michigan
Partnership: Andrews University is working to expand their Center for Excellence in Environmental Health to support community and environmental health.
Goal: To improve community health through safe land reuse and redevelopment.
Community and population:
Largely rural, with 22 townships, 8 cities, and 9 villages
Population (2010): 156,813, with wide-ranging demographics
Percentage below poverty level:
- Berrien Country—17.2%;
- Benton Harbor City—48%;
- Benton Harbor Township—34%
Land reuse site in Niles, Michigan with evidence of tagging. The building is not secured from public access (Lloyd Degrane, 2019)
- Chemical contamination of both land reuse sites and waterways: metals, volatile organic compounds, lead, polychlorinated biphenyls, asbestos, and mercury
- Infant mortality (per 1000 live births): 10.4 among black infants, double the infant mortality among white infants (5.1)
- Rate of all causes of death (per 100,000) higher in Berrien County than in the state and country
- Leading causes of death, from highest to lowest: heart disease, cancer, chronic lower respiratory diseases, unintentional injuries, and stroke
Andrews University Faculty during soilSHOP Event in Septmeber 2019 (ATSDR, 2019)
BROWN assistance and collaboration
- Application for over $800,000 in brownfields assessment funding
- Collaboration with Andrews University public health faculty on a report describing environmental and health risks in Berrien County
- ATSDR soilSHOP and blood lead screening in Benton Harbor
- 5 lectures to Andrews University High School and public health undergraduate and graduate students
- Student practicum on community engagement and land reuse completed by Andrews University student.
References:
Berrien County Health Department. (2019). Health Statistics Brief. Retrieved from: http://www.bchdmi.org/DocumentCenter/View/1520/Health-Statistics-Brief-2018-PDF?bidId=
U.S. Census. (2019). Quick Facts. Retrieved from: https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/US/PST045218/