LANSING – The Michigan Health Endowment Fund (Health Fund) announced it will support 60 health projects and collaboratives across the state with a total of $15.2 million in new investments. Nonprofits, schools, health centers, and government agencies statewide will receive grants ranging from $15,000 to $500,000, supporting aging and caregiving initiatives, systemic improvements, maternal and infant health, nonprofit capacity building, and reducing disparities.
Many of the grants fortify Michigan’s age-friendly services through responses to dementia, elder abuse, and social determinants of health, as well as models to strengthen the workforce and provide respite for caregivers.
“Whenever possible, the Health Fund supports aging projects that are driven by and for Michigan communities—no one understands the needs of older adults and their caregivers as well as older adults and caregivers themselves,” said Kari Sederburg, director of the Health Fund’s Healthy Aging Initiative. “These initiatives will help promote independence, decrease loneliness, and challenge what it means to grow old.”
SAGE Metro Detroit is one organization with an ear to community voices—they are building on two Health Fund planning grants to offer Michigan’s only standardized training model for transgender older adults. The program’s workshops will be complemented by an intergenerational timebanking program to expand a volunteer-driven system of support. In total, the program estimates 250 health professionals and caregivers will receive training, and over 500 LGBTQ older adults will receive support.
Progressive Lifestyles, Inc.—through its partner the National Coalition of Dementia Minds—will also follow a community-led approach as they work to increase services for those recently diagnosed with dementia. People living with dementia will provide feedback through a needs analysis and create post-diagnosis resources alongside a consulting team. The resulting resources will be shared with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), nonprofits, and healthcare providers, promoting quality of life of those with dementia and reducing their health care costs.
Alongside localized, community-driven models, the Health Fund seeks initiatives that offer transformative, systemic support through its Special Projects & Emerging Ideas Initiative. This year, those awards included Medicaid refinements, school food system enhancement, and electronic medical record referral support.
“Health services supporting Michigan residents are only as strong as the systems that drive them,” said Becky Cienki, program director. “The Health Fund’s Special Projects & Emerging Ideas Initiative is one of our strongest tools to improve the efficacy and efficiency of those systems, creating the opportunity for more impact in our strategic priorities.”
One such opportunity is through evaluating the impact of Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs), which offer a new model of care with potential to increase access to behavioral health services statewide. MDHHS will work with the Center for Health and Research Transformation to conduct a thorough evaluation of Michigan’s CCBHCs to determine their impact and guide future expansion in Michigan.
Another initiative aims to improve the quality and health of school food across the state—and identify the barriers to doing so. The project will be led by the Michigan Public Health Institute in collaboration with the Michigan Department of Education and Michigan State University’s Center for Regional Food Systems, who will provide recommendations to school food service directors across the state.
Lastly, the Health Fund’s 2022 Maternal & Infant Health Initiative built on its previous efforts in the area.
“The goal of this initial grant round specific to maternal infant health was to support projects that address barriers to care for infants and their mothers, including evidence-based interventions, collaborative care efforts, and community-driven solutions that put mothers and babies first,” said Laurie Solotorow, who leads the program alongside Becky Cienki. “We’re thrilled to be supporting these nine initiatives that improve care access for mothers and babies.”
Hillsdale Hospital, for example, will be implementing the Centering Pregnancy group prenatal care model for pregnant women in the surrounding rural communities. The model enables certified nurses, doctors, and midwives to provide women with pregnancy and birth-related information in a group setting—increasing time with the provider, building community connection, and involving moms in their own care. Studies indicate that the model leads to healthier babies and a reduction in racial disparities in preterm birth.
Area Agency on Aging 1-B Caregiver Respite Voucher Program | $41,175 To address the lack of affordable and accessible respite care options for family and informal caregivers of older adults through respite voucher funds.
Baldwin Family Health Care Using Telehealth to Improve Access to Care, Quality Outcomes | $145,000 To support older adults with chronic conditions through outreach workers, who will help provide primary care, behavioral health, and pharmacy services through virtual consults.
Detroit Area Agency on Aging Inclusive Health Care Partners-in-Action | $300,000 To address health disparities, coordinate and integrate services, and expand access to technology for older residents and caregivers through community engagement.
Family Service and Children’s Aid Jackson County Guardian Wraparound Program | $410,395 To work with local courts, Adult Protective Services, Lifeways Community Mental Health, and other service providers to proactively serve vulnerable older adults in the community that are at risk for guardianship.
Greater Flint Health Coalition Age Friendly Wellness Councils to Improve Senior Health | $337,425 To build an innovative, community- and person-centered program that will establish 10 age-friendly councils across Genesee County to improve the health and well-being of older adults.
Henry Ford Health System Telehealth Curriculum Pilot | $374,463 To create, implement and evaluate a telehealth curriculum with three Southeast Michigan residency programs.
Hospice of the Eastern Upper Peninsula Test Run: Tripling Volunteer Caregivers for Michigan Seniors | $150,000 To develop a network of volunteer caregivers to combat isolation and help homebound individuals maintain their independence to age in place.
Livingston County Catholic Charities Rural Outreach Specialist and Case Manager | $139,916 To conduct outreach in underserved areas and connect older adults to a broad array of available federal, state, and community-based services.
Marlette Regional Hospital Senior Living Community Outreach Project | $51,506 To improve social connection and improve access to health care for older adults who are receiving long-term care in both residential care settings and in the community.
Metro Solutions Inc. Expanding the MiEC Framework | $423,607 To connect families with trained eldercare coordinators who help reframe conflicts, putting the needs and wishes of the person receiving care at the center of decision-making.
Michigan Advocacy Program Michigan Guardianship Diversion Program | $134,300 To bring together key stakeholders that serve older adults and people with disabilities to plan a guardianship diversion pilot project that will be implemented in select Michigan probate courts.
Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness Integrated Housing Solution | $451,628 To use data integration and enhanced communication to strengthen collaborations between housing and health care partners for homeless older adults in Oakland County and beyond.
Michigan Public Health Institute Connecting Workers, Adults, and Caregivers for Care at Home | $431,570 To partner with CareLinx, an online platform that allows care workers to control their working conditions and provides families peace of mind through rigorous vetting and training.
Michigan State University Expanding Dementia Care Support in Underserved Communities | $333,096 To address the disparities in dementia support and services in rural communities and ethnic minority populations through a technology-assisted model built on university and community partnerships.
Michigan State University Supporting Older Adult Digital Literacy and Health Equity | $96,994 To expand older adult use of technology to access online health resources such as telehealth, enhance social connections, and reduce the negative health outcomes associated with isolation and loneliness.
Presbyterian Villages of Michigan Foundation Improve Social Connection to Reduce Loneliness in Elderly | $466,047 To bring together current and future healthcare professionals to connect with older adults, recognize social isolation, and share community resources.
Progressive Lifestyles, Inc. A Confident Journey When Newly Diagnosed with Dementia | $500,000 To address the lack of post-diagnosis resources and support for those living with dementia and their families, championed by people living with dementia.
Region II Commission on Services to the Aging Combatting Elder Abuse for Healthy Aging Statewide | $275,190 To facilitate the replication of the successful Safe Haven program to other areas of Michigan, securing safe housing for abuse victims and engaging in a team-based approach to service delivery.
Region IV Area Agency on Aging Integrated Care at Home | $500,000 To develop and launch a medical provider program offering physical and behavioral health care and care management services in coordination with home and community-based services.
Reliance Community Care Partners 3-Tier MICare Model Expansion across Michigan MI Choice | $249,700 To implement a three-tiered evidence-based model of care that supports older adults and their caregivers to improve health and maximize independence.
Senior Care Partners P.A.C.E. Advanced Care Planning Integration | $124,000 To give older adults and caregivers tools to have honest conversations about the older adults’ ongoing care, ensuring their wishes are known and honored.
Services and Advocacy for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Elders Inc. Transgender Aging and Intergenerational Engagement Resources | $349,900 To improve health equity, access, and quality of life for older LGBTQ+ adults across Michigan by educating caregivers and expanding successful training and timebanking programs.
UPCAP Services, Inc. Regional Caregiver Resource Center – A Rural Model | $300,000 To develop and implement a new caregiver resource center that will improve family caregivers’ wellbeing through expanded awareness, outreach and education, and connection to evidence-based caregiving programs and services.
Wayne State University Hope for Aging Caregivers | $400,000 To improve the lives of aging family caregivers of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities by implementing a peer-to-peer approach that coordinates care, yields cost savings, and fosters system change.
Wayne State University Integrating Financial Exploitation Prevention | $319,954 To scale a successful financial exploitation risk identification and prevention program across various settings that serve older adults and caregivers, and to develop best practices in financial exploitation detection and reporting.
Western Michigan University Support Program for College Students as Dementia Caregivers | $148,440 To provide psychoeducational and health literacy skills to support college students who are caregivers for family members with dementia.
2022 SPECIAL PROJECTS & EMERGING IDEAS GRANTS
Michigan Center for Rural Health Enhancing RPM in Independent Rural Hospitals | $499,000 To pilot a remote patient monitoring and chronic care management platform to improve access to care for older rural residents.
Michigan Chapter – American Academy of Pediatrics (Fiduciary: The Regents of the University of Michigan) EMR Early On Referral Project | $274,422 To integrate an eFax referral template into the existing electronic medical record, allowing pediatricians and family practice providers to seamlessly refer patients to Early On.
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services CCBHC Demonstration Evaluation | $495,610 To evaluate Michigan’s CCBHC demonstration to determine their impact on improving access to care.
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Doula Medicaid Liaison | $500,000 To prepare existing and potential doulas across the state with knowledge, skills, and support to navigate the Medicaid healthcare landscape.
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Grief & Bereavement: Maternal Infant Health Response |$490,000 To support regional collaborative teams to create local bereavement support networks for bereaved families as well as staff experiencing secondary trauma.
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Medicaid Beneficiary Engagement | $78,650 To support an environmental scan to identify barriers or gaps across Medicaid programs through the establishment of a Medicaid Beneficiary Engagement Planning Team.
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Preventing Child Abuse through Housing Stability | $500,000 To address housing and homelessness as risk factors for child abuse and neglect through data-driven identification practices, prioritizing more intensive services, housing, and care coordination.
Michigan Health Council Solution Collaborative: Building Health Workforce Capacity | $361,106 To organize private and public-sector decision-makers to build health workforce capacity together.
Michigan Primary Care Association Dental Therapy Education Scholarship Program | $250,000 To address oral health disparities through the development of a dental therapist scholarship fund to support the training of the first dental therapists in Michigan.
Michigan Public Health Institute Exploring School Food Systems to Improve Meal Quality | $499,786 To provide Michigan school food service directors and managers with actionable strategies to improve school food quality through fresh and local produce.
Battle Creek Community Foundation PHA Frontline Provider PMAD Training | $280,970 To provide underserved pregnant and postpartum persons in Calhoun County with increased and accessible access to specialized mental healthcare screening.
Central Michigan University Project Expand: Expanding Access to Group Prenatal Care | $318,767 To increase access to group prenatal care in socioeconomically disadvantaged communities of mid/central Michigan.
Henry Ford Health System WIN Network: An Evidence-Based Expansion | $300,000 To reduce disparities in infant mortality by addressing preterm birth and low birth weights through the increased accessibility to group prenatal care in Kent, Oakland, and Wayne Counties.
Hillsdale Hospital Centering Pregnancy | $80,000 To establish a centering pregnancy-group prenatal care model in rural communities to provide an underserved population with care that engages patients in their prenatal and postpartum healthcare.
Michigan Breast Feeding Network “No Mom Left Behind” YOLO Clinic Model | $150,000 To plan and implement a prenatal and postpartum clinic in Flint that will address Black maternal health concerns such as preeclampsia, postpartum mood disorders, and barriers to breastfeeding.
Michigan Public Health Institute Expanding ACEs-Informed Care in MI’s Home Visiting System | $352,623 To expand statewide use of Adverse Childhood Experiences prevention resources in maternal, infant, and early childhood home visiting.
Michigan State University Addressing Disparities: Hypertension Disorders of Pregnancy | $367,190 To reduce barriers and improve timely access to quality care for Medicaid-insured women of color by integrating a hypertension disorders of pregnancy intervention into community home visiting and clinical sites.
Oakland University Clinician and Community Interventions to Address Syphilis | $146,064 To reduce syphilis rates through community-informed prevention that increases awareness about risks, testing, and treatment of syphilis among women of childbearing age.
Wayne State University MI AIM | $500,000 To reduce disparities in maternal morbidity and mortality by assuring access to consistent healthcare for all birthing families through initiatives in the 10 lowest performing birthing sites across the state.
906 Adventure Team 906 Adventure Team Capacity Building Grant | $50,000
Catherine’s Health Center Advancing Team-Based Care to Improve Outcomes and Equity | $50,000
Extended Grace dba Momentum Center Business Development and Marketing | $50,000
Feeding America West Michigan Feeding America West Michigan Brand Health Study 2022 | $28,000
Health Department of Northwest Michigan Assessing External Perceptions to Rebuild Internal Capacity | $50,000
Main Street Calumet dba From the Ground Farmers Market Collective (Fiduciary: Western U.P. Planning & Development Region) Growing Farmers Markets in the Western Upper Peninsula | $50,000
Mel Trotter Ministries Collective Impact on Homelessness and Medical Services | $50,000
Migrant Legal Aid, Inc. Safe Housing Outreach Management System | $15,000
Muskegon CHIR (Fiduciary: Access Health, Inc) Asset Mapping to Inform Community-Led Food Access Action | $50,000
Revive and Thrive Project IT & CRM Support for Capacity Building | $20,000
SAGE Metro Detroit (Services and Advocacy for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Elders Inc.) SAGE Metro Detroit’s Rebranding and Expansion | $50,000
2022 RACIAL DISPARITIES IN FOLLOW-UP CARE GRANTS
Self-Help Addiction Rehabilitation (SHAR) Project Propel Collaborative | $329,796
GFM The Synergy Center Racial Disparities in Behavioral Health | $423,900
Women of Colors Community Resilience Project Planning | $50,000
Notify me of follow-up comments by email.
Notify me of new posts by email.