Madison County Community Services Council
50-Year Anniversary | Community Partner Spotlight
This month's 50th anniversary partner feature is the Madison County Community Services Council. The CSC, as it’s often called, began in the early 1980s as a way for social service providers in Anderson and Madison County to exchange information and address community issues together. The council currently meets monthly, and their collaborative work has resulted in strong ties among individuals and organizations who serve the community.
Courtney Bishop, Open Door’s community engagement manager, began attending the CSC in early 2022 as a way to make connections and build partnerships in Madison County. At the monthly meetings, Courtney learns about community initiatives and identifies ways Open Door can contribute, such as holding vaccine clinics and offering education and insurance enrollment assistance at local events. She also shares about services available at Open Door’s Anderson health center, located on the campus of Ascension St. Vincent Hospital, so that CSC members can help spread the word to people seeking affordable, high-quality healthcare. This Open Door site offers primary care, pediatrics, and WIC.
Over the past few years, Courtney has developed a strong relationship with Cherilyn Horning, CSC president and community development director at South Meridian Church of God. Cherilyn lives and works in the neighborhood where Open Door’s Anderson health center is located. She views Open Door as an important asset in the area and is quick to refer residents for care. She also has invited Open Door to participate in several community outreach events held at the church. Her word-of-mouth recommendations and support have gone a long way to establishing Open Door as a trusted neighbor and valuable resource in Anderson.
“I am so grateful for Open Door’s presence in our neighborhood and its services to the broader community,” said Cherilyn. “I appreciate Open Door’s relationship-focused engagement. It is a great complement to the people-centered efforts many of us are committed to. It is a great encouragement to me to know the folks at Open Door and to be able to recommend them as a health resource. On behalf of Madison County Community Services and the Avondale Neighborhood in Anderson, I want to congratulate Open Door Health Services on their 50th anniversary. We look forward to many more years of collaborating for the benefit of our community!”
2024 marks the 50th anniversary of Open Door Health Services operating in East Central Indiana! While caring for community members under different names during that time, the organization has seen a rich history of patient-focused care and intentional relationship-building with community partners.
To help celebrate this history of partnership, each month we'll be featuring the story of Open Door's partnership with an area organization. Thank you to our partners for helping us celebrate the impact we make TOGETHER on quality of life.