The Washtenaw Health Initiative (WHI) hosted its Health and Social Service Integration (HSSI) Summit on March 18, 2025, bringing together over 100 participants from across key sectors—health care organizations, social service organizations, local and state government, Medicaid Health Plans, and community residents to take on a shared challenge: how can we better integrate systems to … Read more
In our county, accessing health and social services can often feel like navigating a maze. While resources exist, they are not always well-coordinated, leaving many residents struggling to find the support they need. That’s why the Washtenaw Health Initiative, along with our stakeholder organizations, is exploring the merits of a community care hub model—a shared … Read more
The WHI’s Opioid Project partnered with the Washtenaw Recovery Advocacy Project (WRAP) to bring back the annual Washtenaw County Opioid Summit on August 31 and September 1. With International Overdose Awareness Day falling on August 31st, as well as National Recovery Month kicking off in September, the Opioid Project wanted to remember those lost, without … Read more
After 11 years of service, guiding the WHI from its inception, long-time WHI co-chair Doug Strong recently announced his intention to step back from his leadership role within the organization. Strong served as CEO of the University of Michigan Hospitals and Health Centers from 2006 to 2014. During his tenure with the WHI, Strong brought … Read more
This August, the WHI’s Opioid Project is partnering with the Washtenaw Recovery Advocacy Project (WRAP), a program of Home of New Vision, to bring back the annual Washtenaw Opioid Summit on August 31 and September 1. WHI member advocacy revived the event after funding cuts Historically, the summit was funded by grants from the Community … Read more
Within days of the first documented COVID-19 case in the U.S., public health departments across the nation began the biggest pandemic response effort in a century. The pandemic illuminated the critical role of public health in communities across the world. And in many communities, including ours, these lessons were about unaddressed health disparities that existed … Read more
The Washtenaw Health Initiative partnered with the Washtenaw Chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the Washtenaw Housing Alliance, Avalon Housing, the Ann Arbor Center for Independent Living, Catholic Social Services of Washtenaw County, and the Women’s Center of Southeast Michigan to conduct a survey that was sent to 59 candidates running for election … Read more