Saginaw Health and Wellbeing

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Employment

Work is about more than a paycheck. A steady job can bring health insurance, a stable home, and less stress. Here is how jobs and health connect in Saginaw County.

Data highlights

  • #7

    Lack of job opportunities ranked 7th on the list of the community's most important issues.

    (BWell Saginaw Partner Coalition, 2023)
  • 24%

    of people who took the survey said fixing the lack of job opportunities is very important.

    (BWell Saginaw Partner Coalition, 2023)
  • 47%

    of people concerned about job opportunities said their health was fair or poor. Worry about work and worry about health often show up together.

    (BWell Saginaw Partner Coalition, 2023)

  • Working, and still struggling

    21%

    of adults live in poverty

    43%

    of households are ALICE: working, but still struggling to afford basics like housing, food, childcare, and health care

    (BWell Saginaw Partner Coalition, 2023)

Looking for work? Michigan Works! offers free job search help in downtown Saginaw. Call (833) 531-1945.

How employment affects health

Job problems and health problems can feed each other in a cycle. Each step makes the next one more likely (BWell Saginaw Partner Coalition, 2023).

  1. Job loss or low pay. Someone loses a job, or can't find work that pays enough.
  2. Lost insurance and money stress. Health insurance may end. Bills pile up and stress grows.
  3. Mental health suffers. Stress can lead to worse mental health and, for some people, unhealthy coping like substance use.
  4. Harder to work. These challenges make it harder to find or keep a job, and the cycle starts again.

The cycle can be broken at any step. Steady jobs with fair pay, health insurance, job training, and help with basic needs all make a difference.

Risk factors and protective factors

Risk factors make problems more likely. Protective factors help people stay well and bounce back.

Risk factors

  • Being out of work
  • Low income, or income that changes a lot
  • Losing health insurance from a job
  • Money stress
  • Unhealthy ways of coping, like substance use

Protective factors

  • Steady jobs that pay a livable wage
  • Health insurance
  • Job training and help with the job search
  • Financial assistance programs
[Placeholder: add more from your continued research, with citations.]
(BWell Saginaw Partner Coalition, 2023)

Local help

  • Michigan Works! Service Center, Saginaw

    Free help finding a job, writing a resume, and getting training. 312 E. Genesee, Saginaw. Call (833) 531-1945.

  • Michigan 2-1-1

    Dial 211 for local help with food, housing, utilities, bills, and transportation, 24/7.

  • MI Bridges

    Apply online for food assistance, cash assistance, health coverage, and other state help at the MI Bridges website.

  • 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

    Money stress can weigh heavy. Call or text 988 to talk with someone, any time.

See all community resources

Infographic, blog, and podcast

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Infographic

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A one-page visual guide to jobs, income, and health in Saginaw County.

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