Washtenaw Health Initiative

In 2021, the WHI Steering Committee agreed to pursue an intentional emphasis on race equity. Strategic priorities include amplifying local initiatives that promote health and racial equity, taking an advocacy role in the community, messaging about vaccine availability to underserved communities, utilizing community networks to inform/expand messaging and outreach, and assisting with community communications. Read […]

At the request of WHI members, the WHI created a two-pager on the American Rescue Plan, which funds dozens of programs that will help people and families navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. Read othe document, designed for WHI members to share with their clients, to learn abou key American Rescue Plan benefits and how to access […]

The Center for Health and Research Transformation (CHRT), backbone to the Washtenaw Health initiative, has hired Erin Horne as community engement program manager. Horne will provide strategic support on racial health care equity and justice for the WHI and will work closely with Vital Seniors and the Healthy Aging Collaborative to create enduring outcomes for […]

Tendai Thomas, MD, FACP, is a board-certified internal medicine physician at IHA and associate division head of internal medicine, leading quality initiatives. She chairs IHA’s recently created Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisory Council.  Dr. Thomas  earned her medical degree from Wayne State University School of Medicine, completed  her internal medicine residency at St. Joseph Mercy […]

You asked. We listened.  After the March stakeholders meeting, members asked for a client-facing document that could be used to describe American Rescue Plan benefits, and how to access them. The American Rescue Plan funds dozens of programs that will help people and families during the COVID-19 pandemic. These include cash benefits, food assistance programs, […]

During the March 15 stakeholder’s meeting, Ruth Kraut, deputy health officer of the Washtenaw County Health Department, shared information about the department’s numerous vaccination outreach programs.  The Washtenaw County Health Department has established mass vaccination sites in Ypsilanti, in partnership with St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor, and in Chelsea, in partnership with St. Joseph Mercy […]

The American Rescue Plan (ARP), signed into law this March, will dramatically increase the accessibility and affordability of health care for millions of Americans. Four out of five enrollees in Affordable Care Act Marketplace plans will now be able to find a plan for less than $10 per month, and 50 percent of enrollees will […]

In March, WHI Communications Committee Co-Chair Maria Alfonso spoke with Aubrey Patino, executive director of Avalon Housing, to discuss Aubrey’s passion for housing, the health challenges that keep her up at night, and her many sources of inspiration. Q. What originally inspired your passion for housing?  Patino. I started out as a homeless outreach worker […]

For the past seven Affordable Care Act Health Insurance Marketplace open enrollment periods–times when individuals across the nation can purchase insurance on the ACA exchange–the WHI has helped coordinate community outreach and enrollment efforts with members of its Medicaid and Marketplace Outreach and Enrollment (MMOE) work group.  We’re pleased to share results from the eighth […]

Q. You’re a retired auto worker. Tell us a bit about your career.  Moore. I worked at the Ford Rawsonville plan for 39 years. I started out as a production worker on the assembly line and ultimately became an elected District Committeeperson and Bargaining Representative. I retired in 2005 as an appointed Employee Resource Coordinator […]