Washtenaw Health Initiative

The Medicaid and Marketplace Outreach and Enrollment (MMOE) workgroup has developed a new client handout, debunking common health insurance myths and connecting county residents to free health insurance enrollment assistance through local organizations. Read the August newsletter online for this story, and more, including: Integrated Health Associates meets community needs through personalized, high-quality health and medical […]

By the end of the decade, one in four residents in Washtenaw County will be age 60 or over. The Washtenaw County Healthy Aging Collaborative, sponsored by the Washtenaw Health Initiative (WHI) and Area Agency on Aging 1-B (AAA 1-B), is developing strategies to meet their needs. Read the September newsletter online for this story, and […]

In June, the UNITE (Unified Needs Assessment and Implementation Plan Team Engagement) group published an updated Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) for Washtenaw County. This fall, the group will also publish an implementation plan using findings from the assessment. The plan will guide how the hospitals work to address community needs. Read the July newsletter […]

The American Rescue Plan, passed in March, dramatically decreased consumer costs for health insurance offered through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Health Insurance Marketplace. However, many of the uninsured still don’t know if they are eligible, if they can afford it, or how to navigate the enrollment process. The MMOE workgroup will offer community presentations […]

In April, WHI Communications Committee co-chair Liz Conlin spoke with Jack Billi, University of Michigan physician and faculty member, to discuss his proudest moments after 40 years of clinical practice and teaching and his ongoing passion for getting at the root causes of complex health issues. Read the May newsletter online for this story, and more, […]

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 […]

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 […]

The Washtenaw Health Initiative will celebrate its tenth anniversary in 2021. The WHI’s 2019 impact report focuses on the activities undertaken by active workgroups, comprised of representatives from dozens of Washtenaw County organizations that have much to be proud of.   Read the November/December newsletter online for this story, and more, including: New millage proposal aims […]

WHI member organizations and community partners have assembled a series of directories for community members dealing with the health, economic, and social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Each with a different focus, these directories list essential resources for those who have been impacted by coronavirus and those who are working to support them. Learn about […]

The September 2019 WHI Stakeholders Meeting focused on Michigan health policy and the unified community health needs assessment conducted by Washtenaw County’s non-profit hospitals. Speakers included Marianne Udow-Phillips, founding executive director of CHRT, Nicole Adelman, clinical and SUD services director at the Community Mental Health Partnership of Southeast Michigan, and Elisabeth Vanderpool, director of community […]