For the next entry in RMHF’s ongoing Voices from the Region series, we are excited to spotlight our first participant representing Chesterfield County: Dr. Joseph P. Casey.
Dr. Casey is the County Administrator for Chesterfield, having served in this role since 2016. Previously, Dr. Casey served in Deputy County Administrator roles with both Henrico and Hanover Counties, giving him a unique and expansive view of the important role health and racial/ethnic equity plays at the local government level. You can read more about Dr. Casey here.
When asked what improving health and racial/ethnic equity looks like in practice, it was no surprise that a results-oriented professional like Dr. Casey would begin by clearly identifying a need and then proposing a solution.
“It means using data and advocating to ensure accessibility issues don’t arise or worsen,” he said. “An example of these kinds of accessibility issues would be in ‘food deserts,’ where residents cannot easily access fresh food. Once those areas and the impacted residents have been identified, it is essential to find both private and nonprofit partners to mitigate severe health issues that could be avoided by increasing access to proactive, responsive medical care.”
For the past 36 years, Dr. Casey has been working at the local government level in several jurisdictions. As such, he was clear when asked how he has worked to identify opportunities to pursue or support health and racial/ethnic equity efforts.
According to him, so much of it comes down to community partnerships and practicality.
“Once we identify a need, it’s essential to begin soliciting non-profit organizations whose missions and services align with that need,” Dr. Casey said. “We also begin advocating for local funding to accomplish our stated goal. It is also critical to actively work with local hospitals, the State Health Commissioner, and others.”
Although Dr. Casey is aware of the different ways the community can work together to address health and racial/ethnic equity concerns, he also shared that more resources remain the largest impediment to doing more for those in need.
“We need a State Health Department that can provide additional services and more resources,” he said. “Services and resources that are responsible to the stated needs of the communities they serve.”
Dr. Casey shared the need for increased funding at both the state and federal levels, as well as the need for more primary care physicians who are willing to establish practices in more rural communities; areas where equity and access can be in short supply.
Despite these many foundational needs, Dr. Casey has witnessed and played a role in making progress within the Chesterfield community, particularly when it comes to increasing access to vital healthcare services.
“We’ve seen hospitals establish free-standing emergency rooms in high-need areas,” he shared. “That has helped offset high-cost ER visits. We’ve also seen an increase in local funding for nonprofit organizations who are then able to provide health-related services to residents.”
Finally, he mentioned the great working relationship Chesterfield County has with the Chesterfield Health District, which also includes Colonial Heights and Powhatan County.
In addition to these areas of progress, Dr. Casey shared several changes he would love to see come to fruition if the resources were readily available.
“I’d like to see us provide even more educational health programs for our residents,” he said. “With more investment, we could provide people with ways to better monitor their household’s health, teach them how to access services that can be complex to navigate, and make it easier for them to determine their eligibility for financial assistance.”
After his many decades working at the intersection of community health and local government and his nearly 40 years of bringing individuals and organizations together to improve health and racial equity, Dr. Casey’s underlying view is surprisingly simple.
“We must engage intentionally, be welcoming and accepting of all people, and never tolerate injustice,” he said. “And when we see people impacted, we get involved to get them the services they need.”