RHI’s Community Benefit program is focused on carrying our mission outside the walls of our hospital to impact the top health needs of our community.

In the 2021 Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA), Indiana ranked in the bottom half of states for a variety of Social Determinant of Health issues. One specific issue was the fact that educational achievement (high school graduation rates) in Marion County is below the U.S. average. A lack of educational achievement complicates efforts to assure community members are aware of health issues and injury prevention strategies.

RHI was proud to partner with Jonathan Jennings Elementary School 109 for the Fall Volunteer Reading Program. Our volunteers committed to assisting teachers and students in the 2nd grade with reading, journaling, and other lesson planning activities.

Research supports the benefits of volunteer reading programs and the impact on reading proficiency. Additionally, students who are involved in such programs with adult reading volunteers demonstrate improved school attendance, a major predictor of graduation rates. 
 
THANK YOU to our amazing volunteer team for their efforts to positively impact the health needs of our community. Together we truly make a difference!