WHI Partnership with U-M Health Policy Student Association Wins MLK Day Award

The Washtenaw Health Initiative has partnered with University of Michigan (U-M) student group, the Health Policy Student Association (HPSA), to conduct outreach, education, and referrals for enrollment in the Washtenaw County area. In October and November 2013, more than 70 volunteers were trained in the basics of the Affordable Care Act and the new health insurance options available for previously uninsured people. The volunteers are mostly U-M graduate students from many schools and colleges: School of Public Health, School of Social Work, Ford School of Public Policy, Medical School, Law School, and College of Pharmacy. There are approximately 25,000 uninsured Washtenaw County residents for the volunteers to reach. The WHI has provided the volunteers with a variety of materials to conduct this program.

HPSA was awarded first place in student projects at the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Health Sciences Symposium, held Monday, January 20. This prize included $500 for the organization to use in its work, which HPSA will be using to provide materials to volunteers.

The following video was shown at the MLK Health Sciences Symposium.