Erin Spanier

For most county resources, the United Way’s 2-1-1 hotline is a great first point of contact. It’s a 24/7 call center, operated by highly trained staff, for community members who need assistance. Washtenaw County residents can access the call center by phone (dial 211) or can text, email, or chat with call center staff during … Read more

Dozens of detailed directories have emerged over the last several weeks as Washtenaw County leaders work tirelessly to respond to the threat of COVID-19 and to help residents navigate the health, social, and economic impacts of the pandemic. Below, we’ve listed just a few of the directories that have come to our attention. Some have … Read more

An interview with Norman Herbert, founding co-chair of the WHI, on the origins and impact of the organization, the health policies and practices that trouble him, and Washtenaw’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Q. What inspired your passion for community health? Herbert. I served on the board of Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation for nine years … Read more

Deana Smith joined the Center for Health and Research Transformation, backbone organization to the Washtenaw Health Initiative, last month. For the Washtenaw Health Initiative, Deana will be supporting the Steering Committee, organizing quarterly stakeholder meetings, and acting as a liaison between WHI work groups and leaders. She will also be supporting the WHI’s Senior Services … Read more

By Amanda Sears, Grant Manager, Area Agency on Aging 1B Reimagine Caregiving is an initiative designed to improve Washtenaw County’s caregiver support system while enhancing outcomes for family caregivers and older adults. In 2019, with support from the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation and the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, the Area Agency on Aging … Read more

Over the course of 2019, the Washtenaw Health Initiative began mapping out a strategy for 2020 and beyond. To accomplish this, the Washtenaw Health Initiative Officers Committee and staff from the WHI’s backbone organization, the Center for Health and Research Transformation (CHRT), engaged stakeholders, member organizations, and funders in a series of conversations about the … Read more

After eight years of service to the Washtenaw Health Initiative–convening community partners to address local health needs and contributing to dozens of research and action plans–Carrie Rheingans will step down on February 14 to work with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services on important substance use related work. Rheingans will serve as project … Read more

To improve the health of Washtenaw County’s most vulnerable populations, we need to provide access to high quality health care, but also to an array of supportive services that go beyond health care to address safe and affordable housing, healthy foods, mental health counseling, substance use recovery support, education, case management, and more.  This is … Read more

The seventh Health Insurance Marketplace Open Enrollment Period (OE7) wrapped up on December 15. Washtenaw Health Initiative outreach activities during this period included training 20 student volunteers from the University of Michigan on the Healthy Michigan Plan, the Health Insurance Marketplace, and the Affordable Care Act so they could distribute flyers and staff enrollment events … Read more