About the Guest:

Meagan Meisenzahl is a dedicated health professional currently serving as the Director of the Strong Starts Program at Ballad Health's Niswonger Children's Network. With a master's degree in public health, Meisenzahl has built a robust career grounded in trauma injury prevention and population health. She previously managed the Strong Starts Program and served as the Trauma Injury Prevention Coordinator at Niswonger Children's Hospital. Meisenzahl is committed to improving health outcomes by identifying and addressing social determinants of health and is passionate about driving access to essential resources for families during the critical years from prenatal stages through early childhood.

Episode Summary:

In this episode of the "Growing Stronger Together" podcast, host Dr. Karen Schetzina engages in a lively discussion with Meagan Meisenzahl, the Director of the Strong Starts Program at Ballad Health's Niswonger Children's Network. They delve into the program's mission, which is centered around addressing the health-related social needs of families in the Appalachian Highlands, including Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. Meisenzahl shares insights into her department's efforts to support expecting families and caregivers of children up to age five through dedicated social care navigation.

Meagan discusses the critical role of the Strong Starts navigators, who collaborate closely with families to connect them to essential local resources like food, financial stability, and social support groups. Meisenzahl emphasizes the inclusivity of the program, welcoming all caregivers, not just biological parents, recognizing the diverse forms family support can take. Throughout the episode, the conversation highlights the program's significant, collaborative impact, encompassing partnerships with organizations like the Strong ACC and leveraging community resources to foster a comprehensive support network.

Key Takeaways:

• The Strong Starts Program addresses health-related social needs to support expecting and current caregivers of young children in the Appalachian Highlands.
• Strong Starts navigators are embedded in multiple healthcare settings to build relationships and connect families to local resources and support services tailored to their needs.
• The program is inclusive of various caregiver roles, emphasizing support for reunification processes and extending outreach to foster, adoptive, and biological parents, grandparents, and more.
• Meagan Meisenzahl underscores the importance of partnerships to enhance service delivery, notably through collaborations within the Strong Accountable Care Community.
• Training in trauma-informed care and mental health first aid, among others, equips navigators to provide thorough and multifaceted support to client families.

Notable Quotes:

• "We're a support program that's focused on health-related social needs or social determinants of health." - Meagan Meisenzahl
• "We want to help whoever, no matter what, and make sure that their story is heard." - Meagan Meisenzahl
• "It's hard to ask for help, but just know that we wouldn't be offering it if we didn't want to help." - Meagan Meisenzahl
• "I think we're better when we have other people to lean on." - Meagan Meisenzahl

Resources:

• Contact Strong Starts Program: Phone - 423-431-4844. Email - strongstarts@balladhealth.org
• Website: Ballad Health - Strong Starts Program
• Read and Play Books: ETSU Department of Pediatrics
• Partnerships and Collaborations: Strong ACC, Appalachian Promise Alliance, YWCA

To explore more about the Strong Starts Program's impact and how it supports regional families, listen to the full episode and stay tuned for more insightful content from the "Growing Stronger Together" podcast.