About Us

Middletown Connect is all about connection. 

Our efforts focus on connecting people, resources, and community.

Middletown Connect is dedicated to building relationships between individuals and agencies, fostering connections grounded in trust and a shared vision. This community-driven initiative seeks to enhance health equity and promote healthy behaviors through genuine engagement and collaboration.

In support of our city’s vision—Destination Middletown—Middletown Connect works to strengthen families, create safe neighborhoods, and cultivate healthy individuals.

We are proud to be part of the Ohio Health Improvement Zone Pilot Project, which was awarded to the Safety Council of Southwestern Ohio and the Middletown Health Department. With additional funding, through Interact for Health, we continue to focus on health equity in vulnerable populations.

Our partners, also referred to, Health Improvement Partners (HIP Team)play an essential role in advancing community health by offering resources and driving policy changes. Together, we can synchronize our efforts to effectively tackle health challenges.

Residents from high-risk areas became Community Ambassadors, initiating discussions on healthy living and addressing barriers to wellness.

Community Ambassadors collaborated with Health Improvement Partners to build trust and improve safety in their neighborhoods.

Together, they organized planning sessions, community bus tours with local leaders, and Walk & Talks to foster meaningful change.

Click here to meet our Ambassadors

Our Story

Your neighbors are making the connection, and you can do it too!

Middletown Ambassadors

are Restoring Pride

in their Neighborhoods 

Residents from three neighborhoods in Middletown stepped up as Ambassadors to rekindle pride in their communities, initiating over 100 discussions about what a thriving Middletown should look like.

Ambassadors organized bus tours for city leaders to explore their neighborhoods, followed by walk-and-talk events. They expressed their motivation to join the OHIZ project, highlighting its positive effects on local students and noting that city officials and health partners were genuinely interested in the community's feedback.

Partners have expressed that they have appreciated the opportunity to engage with the community on issues to further strengthen relationships between the city and the residents.

This initiative addressed critical health disparities, including a 12.5-year life expectancy gap compared to other neighborhoods. The OHIZ (Ohio Health Improvement Zone) project empowered residents to influence changes in programs and policies aimed at reducing health disparities.

By promoting open communication and accountability, the project established a collaborative environment for residents and leaders to work together.