The following policy and community-based organizations are available for collaboration with MCDTR researchers to address common interests including disparities, improving health equity, and helping to advance relevant policies in diabetes and related conditions.
Contact
Dr. Jessie Kimbrough, MD, MPH
MCDTR CSC Program Director
jessiekk@med.umich.edu
Diana Hall, MPH
MCDTR CSC Program Manager
halldz@med.umich.edu
Highlights from May 2024 Policy Advocacy Training
The Corner Health Center
Description
The Corner offers a full range of health care, mental health, and supportive services for young people as they transition to adulthood. Their team of physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, a psychiatrist, social workers, nutritionist, and health educators is well-versed in the unique and specific needs of young people and their children.
Contact
Alex Plum, Executive Director
aplum@cornerhealth.org
Potential Project(s) for Collaboration:
- TBD
Collaborative Policy Focus:
- Youth and adolescent health
Key Words:
- Health care organization and center for youth/adolescent health
Food Gatherers
Description
Food Gatherers is the food bank and food rescue program serving Washtenaw County. Food Gatherers supports a network of 170 community partners with free and low-cost, deliveries, and trainings.
Contact
Eileen Spring, Executive Director
Eileen@foodgatherers.org
Project Collaboration:
- MCDTR 2022 Pilot And Feasibility Grant Awardee: Addressing Food Insecurity and Adult Diabetes Outcomes through an Academic-Community Partnership
Collaborative Policy Focus:
- Food security and nutrition
Key Words:
- Food security
- Nutrition
Gleaners
Description
Gleaners is a food bank that provides food to more than 400 partner soup kitchens, food pantries, shelters, and other agencies across the region, and supplements efforts of those partners by offering direct service drive-up grocery and food box distribution.
Contacts
Gerry Brisson, CEO and President
gbrisson@gcfb.org
Jessica Ramsay, Director of Wellness and Nutrition Education
jramsay@gcfb.org
Potential Project(s) for Collaboration:
- Food program impact on health goals of recipients
- Partnership impact on food pantries
- Food distribution program effectiveness
Collaborative Policy Focus:
- Food policy advocacy on local, state, and national levels
Key Words:
- Food security
- Partner network support
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Diabetes and Kidney Unit
Description
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS): Diabetes and Kidney Unit supports evidence-based strategies, programs, and policies to prevent and manage diabetes and its complications, with a focus on centering equity and reducing health disparities.
Contacts
Lauren Neely, Diabetes and Kidney Unit Manager
neelyL1@Michigan.gov
Linda Scarapetta, Director Division of Chronic Disease and Injury Control
scarpettal@Michigan.gov
Richard Wimberley, Diabetes and Other Chronic Diseases Section Manager
wimberleyr@michigan.gov
Potential Project(s) for Collaboration:
- Effectiveness of programs addressing social need
- Building program sustainability
Collaborative Policy Focus:
- CHW support and sustainability
Key Words:
- CHW
- Partner Network Support
My Brother's Keeper
Description
Washtenaw County My Brother’s Keeper (WMBK) is a county-wide transformation and collective empowerment collaborative. MBK communities at large seek to establish cradle to career pathways of success for young men of color in cities, counties, and tribal communities nationwide. WMBK uses tools such as cross-sector partnerships, holding space for intergenerational connection, community-based planning and advocacy to transform the lives of boys and men of color in the county.
Contact
Jamall Bufford, Director
Jbufford@washtenawisd.org
Potential Project(s) for Collaboration:
- Effectiveness of youth sports program
- Assessment of health impact
Collaborative Policy Focus:
- Youth sports promotion of well-being and health for prevention of obesity and diabetes
Key Words:
- Youth engagement
- Youth sports
- Promotion of healthy lifestyle behaviors
- Preventative health
UM Benefits and Wellness Programs
Description
A collection of health and wellness programs administered by the University of Michigan, as well as health plans administered by Blue Care Network, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, and Physicians Health Plan, exclusively for the University of Michigan community. Prescription drug coverage (internal and self-funded) is included in these plans.
Contacts
Dina Griauzde
dhafez@med.umich.edu
Stephen Lott
stlott@med.umich.edu
Potential Project Collaboration
- Comparative cost analysis of prescription drugs
Policy Focus
- Lowering prescription drug costs
- Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (insulin and drug affordability)
Key Words
- Pharmacy
- Pharmacological management of diabetes
- Payment structures
- Comparative cost analysis
- Pharmacoeconomics
- Outcomes research
Washtenaw Community Action Network (CAN)
Description
Washtenaw Community Action Network (CAN) partners with children, youth, and families from under-resourced Washtenaw county neighborhoods to create better futures from themselves and improve the communities in which they live. CAN uses its network to provide resources to address social needs and uses its platform to promote health equity.
Contacts
Derrick Miller, Executive Director
dmiller@canwashtenaw.org
Colette DeRaud, Director of Wellness and Community Engagement
cderaud@canwashtenaw.org
Potential Project(s) for Collaboration:
- Measuring impact on community
- Creating a social risk/needs and wellbeing assessment
- Explore how to help meet the needs of community members living with diabetes
Policy Focus:
- Organizational policies
- Child development/educational advocacy
- Food security/Nutrition
Key Words:
- Youth engagement
- Youth sports
- Promotion of healthy lifestyle behaviors
Washtenaw County Health Department
Description
The Washtenaw County Health Department is a local / county public and environmental health agency.
Contacts
Jimena Loveluck, Health Officer
loveluckj@washtenaw.org
Juan Marquez, Medical Director
marquezj@washtenaw.org
Potential Project(s) for Collaboration:
- Effectiveness of Community Health Worker (CHW) program
- Advocacy/Building CHW program sustainability
Collaborative Policy Focus:
- CHW support and sustainability
Key Words:
- CHW
- Food security
- American Rescue Plan Act
Washtenaw Health Plan
Description
Washtenaw Health Plan (WHP) is a health coverage program for low-income Washtenaw County residents who don't have access to affordable health insurance.
Contact
Jeremy Lapadis, Executive Director
lapedisj@washtenaw.org
Potential Project(s) for Collaboration:
- Effectiveness of Community Health Worker (CHW) program
- Policy advocacy
Collaborative Policy Focus:
- Advocacy and support for uninsured people previously enrolled in Medicaid under Covid-19 Public Health Emergency
Key Words:
- CHW
- Uninsured
- Medicaid
Wayne County Health Communities
Description
Wayne County Healthy Communities (WCHC) is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) that offers primary care and multi-disciplinary health care services to the residents of Wayne County with the support of the Wayne County Health Department(WCHD). WCHC provides high quality health care to all patients in a patient-centered medical home regardless of their ability to pay.
Contacts:
Amaal Hamout: ahaimout@waynecountymi.gov
Dr. Avani Sheth asheth@waynecountymi.gov
Potential Project Collaboration:
- Addressing diabetes disparities via CHW support
- Improving retinopathy screenings via Retina Vue Device
Policy Focus:
- CHW support and sustainability
- Enhanced access to screenings for diabetes complications and preventative services
Key Words:
- CHW
- Diabetes eye screening
- Access to specialty care
Public Health Ideas
Description
University of Michigan School of Public Health: Public Health Ideas is a multi-disciplinary initiative to build health equity in urban communities with focus on addressing the social determinants of health (SDoH)
Contacts:
Roshanak Mehdipanah, PhD: rmehdipah@umich.edu
Lu Wang, PhD: luwang@umich.edu
Melika Belhaj: mvbelhaj@umich.edu
Potential Project Collaboration:
- Use of MI-HealthyCity tool
- A data set that helps local communities promote health equity
- Identifies health equity gaps at the census tract level
Policy Focus:
- Advancing housing and health equity
Key Words:
- Urban communities
- Housing affordability
- Poverty
- Racism
- Physical, environmental, and nutritional factors
Ingham County Health Department
Description
The Ingham County Health Department’s mission is to protect, improve, and advocate for the health and well-being of its community by identifying and advancing the conditions under which all people can achieve optimum health.
Contacts:
Adenike Shoyinka, MD, MPH,
Brenda Gray, PhD, MPH: BGray2@ingham.org
Carmina Merz: cmerz@ingham.org
Potential Project Collaboration:
- Neighborhood Wellness Center
- Mitigating Chronic Conditions Data Project
Policy Focus:
- Expand neighborhood access to healthcare services
- Expand capacity to address social determinants of health
Key Words:
- Health Equity
- Community Health
Michigan Meridian
Description:
Meridian is a managed care provider embedded in the local community for over 27 years, serving eligible individuals and families with government-sponsored Medicare, Medicaid, and Health Insurance Marketplace healthcare plans throughout Michigan's lower peninsula, and have a very strong focus in Southeast Michigan.
Contacts:
Sasha-Nicole Rogers: SashaNicole.Rogers@mimeridian.com
Kelly McDonald: Kelly.McDonald@mimeridian.com
Laura E. Schuyler: Laura.scuyler@mimeridian.com
Potential Project Collaboration:
- Maternal and infant health disparities through multifaceted interventions
- Doula and community health worker (CHW) perinatal support
Policy Focus:
- Mitigating the impact of the social determinants of health by addressing social needs.
- Increase awareness and utilization of Doulas during the perinatal period.
Key Words:
- Maternal Health
- Doulas, CHWs
- Gestational diabetes