Policy and Community Partners

The Cross-sectoral Collaborations program (CSC) engages and pairs local and state partners with researchers to develop and evaluate programs and policies to improve access and health outcomes for people with and at risk for diabetes.

The following policy and community-based organizations are available for collaboration with MCDTR researchers to address common interests to help advance relevant policies in diabetes and related conditions.

The Corner offers a full range of health care, mental health, and supportive services for young people as they transition to adulthood.  Their team of physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, a psychiatrist, social workers, nutritionist, and health educators is well-versed in the unique and specific needs of young people and their children.

Contact
Alex Plum, Executive Director
[email protected]

Potential Project(s) for Collaboration:
- TBD

Collaborative Policy Focus:
- Youth and adolescent health

Food Gatherers is the food bank and food rescue program serving Washtenaw County.  Food Gatherers supports a network of 170 community partners with free and low-cost, deliveries, and trainings.

Contact
Eileen Spring, Executive Director
[email protected]

Project Collaboration:
MCDTR 2022 Pilot And Feasibility Grant Awardee: Addressing Food Insecurity and Adult Diabetes Outcomes through an Academic-Community Partnership

Collaborative Policy Focus:
Food security and nutrition

Gleaners is a food bank that provides food to more than 400 partner soup kitchens, food pantries, shelters, and other agencies across the region, and supplements efforts of those partners by offering direct service drive-up grocery and food box distribution.

Contacts
Gerry Brisson, CEO and President
[email protected]
Jessica Ramsay, Director of Wellness and Nutrition Education
[email protected]

Potential Project(s) for Collaboration:
Food program impact on health goals of recipients
Partnership impact on food pantries
Food distribution program effectiveness

Collaborative Policy Focus:
Food policy advocacy on local, state, and national levels

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS): Diabetes and Kidney Unit supports evidence-based strategies, programs, and policies to prevent and manage diabetes and its complications, with a focus on centering equity and reducing health disparities.

Contacts
Lauren Neely, Diabetes and Kidney Unit Manager
[email protected]

Linda Scarapetta, Director Division of Chronic Disease and Injury Control
[email protected]

Richard Wimberley, Diabetes and Other Chronic Diseases Section Manager
[email protected]

Potential Project(s) for Collaboration:
Effectiveness of programs addressing social need
Building program sustainability

Collaborative Policy Focus:
CHW support and sustainability

A collection of health and wellness programs administered by the University of Michigan, as well as health plans administered by Blue Care Network, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, and Physicians Health Plan, exclusively for the University of Michigan community. Prescription drug coverage (internal and self-funded) is included in these plans.

Contacts 
Dina Griauzde 
[email protected] 
Stephen Lott 
[email protected]

Potential Project Collaboration 
Comparative cost analysis of prescription drugs 

Policy Focus 
Lowering prescription drug costs 
Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (insulin and drug affordability)

Washtenaw Community Action Network (CAN) partners with children, youth, and families from under-resourced Washtenaw county neighborhoods to create better futures from themselves and improve the communities in which they live.  CAN uses its network to provide resources to address social needs and uses its platform to promote health equity.

Contacts
Derrick Miller, Executive Director
[email protected]
Colette DeRaud, Director of Wellness and Community Engagement
[email protected]

Potential Project(s) for Collaboration: Measuring impact on community, Creating a social risk/needs and wellbeing assessment, Explore how to help meet the needs of community members living with diabetes

Policy Focus: Organizational policies, Child development/educational advocacy, Food security/Nutrition

The Washtenaw County Health Department is a local/county public and environmental health agency.

Contacts
Jimena Loveluck, Health Officer
[email protected]
Juan Marquez, Medical Director
[email protected]

Potential Project(s) for Collaboration: Effectiveness of Community Health Worker (CHW) program, Advocacy/Building CHW program sustainability

Collaborative Policy Focus: CHW support and sustainability

Washtenaw Health Plan (WHP) is a health coverage program for low-income Washtenaw County residents who don't have access to affordable health insurance.

Contact
Jeremy Lapadis, Executive Director
[email protected]

Potential Project(s) for Collaboration: Effectiveness of Community Health Worker (CHW) program, Policy advocacy

Collaborative Policy Focus: Advocacy and support for uninsured people previously enrolled in Medicaid under Covid-19 Public Health Emergency

Wayne County Healthy Communities (WCHC) is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) that offers primary care and multi-disciplinary health care services to the residents of Wayne County with the support of the Wayne County Health Department(WCHD). WCHC provides high quality health care to all patients in a patient-centered medical home regardless of their ability to pay.

Contacts: 
Amaal Hamout:  [email protected]
Dr. Avani Sheth:  [email protected]

Potential Project Collaboration: Addressing diabetes disparities via CHW support, Improving retinopathy screenings via Retina Vue Device

Policy Focus: CHW support and sustainability, Enhanced access to screenings for diabetes complications and preventative services

The Ingham County Health Department’s mission is to protect, improve, and advocate for the health and well-being of its community by identifying and advancing the conditions under which all people can achieve optimum health.

Contacts: 
Adenike Shoyinka, MD, MPH, 
Brenda Gray, PhD, MPH: [email protected]
Carmina Merz: [email protected]

Potential Project Collaboration: Neighborhood Wellness Center, Mitigating Chronic Conditions Data Project

Policy Focus: Expand neighborhood access to healthcare services, Expand capacity to address social determinants of health

Meridian is a managed care provider embedded in the local community for over 27 years, serving eligible individuals and families with government-sponsored Medicare, Medicaid, and Health Insurance Marketplace healthcare plans throughout Michigan's lower peninsula, and have a very strong focus in Southeast Michigan.

Contacts:
Sasha-Nicole Rogers: [email protected]
Kelly McDonald: [email protected]
Laura E. Schuyler: [email protected]

Potential Project Collaboration: Maternal and infant health disparities through multifaceted interventions, Doula and community health worker (CHW) perinatal support

Policy Focus: Mitigating the impact of the social determinants of health by addressing social needs, Increase awareness and utilization of Doulas during the perinatal period