The Kendrick Foundation envisions a Morgan County where all residents are healthy and thriving and, as such, invests in conditions that support the physical and mental health of all Morgan County residents.

According to the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, the health of a place results from past and present policies and practices. Population health and wellbeing is something we create as a society, not something an individual can attain in a clinic or be responsible for alone. Health is more than being free from disease and pain; health is the ability to thrive. Wellbeing covers both quality of life and the ability of people and communities to contribute to the world. Population health involves optimal physical, mental, spiritual, and social wellbeing.

Morgan County is faring about the same as the average county in Indiana for population health and wellbeing – 19% of adults report poor or fair health, 19% of adults experience frequent mental distress and 13% experience frequent physical distress, and 37% of adults have obesity (2023). Additionally, 34% of adults always, usually, or sometimes feel lonely (2023). There were 17 deaths by suicide per 100,000 people in Morgan County during 2019-23.

According to County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, community conditions include the social and economic factors, physical environment, and health infrastructure in which people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age. Community conditions are also referred to as the social determinants of health (SDOH).

Morgan County is faring slightly better than the average county in Indiana for community conditions – 13% of people do not have a reliable source of food, 18% of adults drink excessively, 16% of adults smoke, 23% of adults are physically inactive, and 23% of adults sometimes, rarely, or never get the social and emotional support they need (2023). There were 36 drug overdose deaths per 100,000 people in Morgan County during 2021-23. Many Morgan County residents lack adequate access to mental health providers and primary care physicians.

Using these and other data, the Kendrick Foundation seeks to partner with strong, innovative community organizations to implement scientifically supported, evidence-based, and/or evidence-informed strategies to address one or more of the following focus areas: