Community Food Advocacy Fellowship, Michigan
Steph Thornton, BS, MSW Intern, CHW, is a Community Health Worker with the Maternal Infant Health Program at Priority Health and an MSW Intern with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) in Adult Protective Services Macro. As an MSW Intern, Steph is involved in data collection to understand the effectiveness of programs statewide to address the needs of vulnerable adults. A Certified Community Health Worker, MSW candidate, and trained community and birth doula, Steph also holds a Bachelor of Science in Business and serves as an MDHHS SDOH Community Influencer.
Steph's journey began in Chula Vista, California, and continued in Metro Detroit, where she became a mother at a young age. This transformative experience ignited her passion for supporting families and advocating for equity in health and social systems. Her years as a Medical Assistant provided her with firsthand insight into the barriers individuals face when navigating healthcare, particularly birthing people and marginalized communities. This experience inspired her to explore the connections between health outcomes and social determinants of health, eventually leading her to train as a doula and Certified Community Health Worker.
Steph's passion is not just about the present, but also the future. She is dedicated to addressing social determinants of health, advancing food sovereignty, and advocating for birthing populations, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and BIPOC communities. Her work is grounded in trauma-informed care, youth empowerment, and meaningful community engagement. Looking ahead, she envisions establishing a family resource center that is a beacon of wellness, rooted in the interdependent dimensions of physical, emotional, intellectual, social, spiritual, occupational, environmental, and financial health.
As a presenter at the National Anti-Hunger Policy Conference, she offers a powerful perspective shaped by personal journeys and professional dedication. Her insights and experiences have been instrumental in shaping policies and practices in community health.
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