enFocus

10/13/2026

October is Health Literacy Month. Understanding health information and knowing where to find care should not be a challenge for anyone in our community.

Our enFocus fellows are supporting the region’s first joint Community Health Needs Assessment, a collaboration among local health systems and social service providers. The goal is to hear directly from residents about what they need and to make sure services are easy to understand and reach.

So far, 2,948 community members have shared their experiences through a survey. That includes 432 people in Marshall County, the first time we have reached a statistically significant sample there. Ten focus groups have brought together 70 people across Elkhart, Marshall, and St. Joseph counties, and we have called 27 locations to check how easy it is to get help by phone. We have also surveyed 34 local organizations to understand the strengths and capacity of the network that supports community health.

Thank you to all of our partners for working together on this effort.

10/08/2026

Have you ever been told to “find your why”? While it's good advice, it doesn't always carry you through a hard workday. 👨‍💼

In our latest blog post, enFocus Project Manager Matthew Barker shares a different question that helped him find more purpose after a major career change: What problems do you enjoy solving? Learn how curiosity, mastery, and a willingness to explore can make your work more meaningful and career changes feel less daunting.

Read it here:

Struggling to find your “why” at work? Learn how identifying the problems you enjoy solving can build mastery, meaning, and career flexibility.

10/02/2026

Another great First Friday in the books! 🎉

09/24/2026

Yesterday, the enFocus team and our volunteers trained 1,138 eighth-grade students from South Bend and Mishawaka in hands-only CPR at Four Winds Field. This milestone brings our total to more than 10,000 students trained since the Mass CPR Training program began in 2017. 💓

Each student went home with a CPR training manikin, giving them the tools to teach the skill to friends and family. Research shows that every person trained in CPR may go on to train at least two more people, meaning yesterday's event has the potential to reach thousands of additional community members.

Sudden Cardiac Arrest is a leading cause of death for adults over 40, and most cases happen at home. Immediate bystander CPR can double or triple a victim's chance of survival. By equipping the next generation with these skills, we are building a safer, more prepared community.

Thank you to our sponsors, volunteers, and partners who made this event possible: Saint Joseph Health System, Beacon Health, NIPSCO, the University of Notre Dame, and the South Bend Cubs, who generously hosted us at Four Winds Field.

09/21/2026

Ready to jump-start your career? The South Bend - Elkhart Regional Partnership's Student Immersion Experience is coming November 12-13, and we want YOU there!

This is your chance to:
- Connect with top employers in manufacturing, healthcare, IT & higher education
- Experience exclusive site visits and behind-the-scenes looks at innovative workplaces
- Learn from industry leaders and get insider perspectives on career paths in the South Bend-Elkhart region
- Network with professionals who are shaping the region's future

Whether you're looking for a summer internship or your next full-time opportunity, this two-day experience puts you face-to-face with employers ready to hire. Here's the best part: Hotel, meals, and activities are covered!

For students aged 17-26, from undergrads to recent grads.
Applications are open now!
Apply here: https://form.jotform.com/261025790961156

09/15/2026

We’re excited to share that enFocus has been selected to receive a $268,854.43 Growing Rural Opportunities for Well-being (GROW) Regional Grant through the Indiana Rural Health Transformation Program!

As part of Region 1, enFocus will join a network of community and healthcare partners working to strengthen rural health and improve access to care across our region. This investment will help bring innovation, collaboration, and community-focused solutions to the challenges facing rural communities.

We’re grateful to the Indiana Department of Health and the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration for this opportunity, and we look forward to putting this funding to work alongside our regional partners. We’re proud to be part of this effort and excited for what’s ahead as we work together to build healthier, more connected communities.

Learn more about the regional grant program here: https://bit.ly/4h9qImk

This Rural Health Transformation Program is supported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $206,927,896.80 with 100 percent funded by CMS/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CMS/HHS, or the U.S. Government.

$207 Million Grant Awarded On Dec. 29, 2025, Indiana was awarded a grant of nearly $207 million for the first year of a five-year program to address health outcomes in the state's rural communities. The funding from the federal Rural Health Transformation Program will be used to support Indiana Rura...

09/09/2026

A good mentor can make a big difference in your professional journey. 💚

In our latest Shaping Yourself as a Professional blog, Alicia Einfalt, enFocus Regional Internship Manager, shares how mentorship has shaped her own career and helped her grow, navigate decisions, and see new possibilities along the way.

Read Alicia's reflection:

Learn how mentors can support professional growth, provide guidance through career decisions, and help you build the skills and confidence to shape your career.

09/02/2026

Sometimes, the path to your next opportunity starts with a single conversation.

For enFocus Fellow Frema, that conversation eventually led her to South Bend and to work focused on innovation, connectivity, economic impact, and community growth.

In out latest blog, Frema reflects on her journey to enFocus, the experiences that shaped her as a professional, and why she believes meaningful opportunities can help talented people do more than build successful careers. They can help them strengthen the communities around them.

Read Frema’s story:

enFocus Fellow Frema shares her journey to enFocus, from Ghana and graduate school to using innovation, research, and technology to create meaningful community impact in Northern Indiana.

08/31/2026

Our team hit the streets for a walking tour of downtown South Bend to better acquaint ourselves with the community surrounding our new South Bend location in the Tower Building.

We heard from the owners of Mixxture Company and The Pigeon and the Hen Pottery about their businesses, what makes our downtown special, and the work that goes into building something local.

Then we wrapped things up at Sidebar because every good walking tour deserves a good ending. 👟🌆

08/26/2026

If you’ve driven around Elkhart lately, you may have noticed some new messages popping up around the community. Lead hazards can harm children. Safe homes matter. And a lead-free future starts with awareness.

Those billboards are part of the City of South Bend - Municipal Government's Lead Free initiative, a community effort focused on making homes safer and protecting children from the harmful effects of lead exposure. And there’s an enFocus connection to those billboards - the creative was developed by our CLIMB high school interns!

We’re proud that enFocus has been part of the behind-the-scenes work to help move this initiative forward. From supporting grant development, including the earlier HUD Lead Hazard Capacity Building Grant that helped lay the groundwork for this work, to helping build the local contractor capacity needed to actually carry out lead-safe renovations, our team has been working alongside community partners to turn an important idea into action.

Innovation Fellow, Ryan Eilts, has played a particularly important role, from supporting grant work to helping drive contractor training and workforce development.

The commitment to this work is a great example of what community-focused innovation looks like in practice. The City of Elkhart, local contractors, community partners, students, and many others are helping build a healthier future for Elkhart families. We’re grateful to play a small part in that work and especially proud to see the momentum continuing.

Read the recent WSBT 22 story about Elkhart’s next step toward expanding the program.

Elkhart is hoping to take another major step toward making some of its oldest homes safer.The city is applying for federal funding to expand its Elkhart Lead Fr