Michigan Health Endowment Fund

🍏 For over a decade, the Copper Country has shown a growing interest in Farm to School initiatives! With the help of the Michigan Health Endowment Fund, Copper Shores is matching funding to ensure long-term ... coppershores.cc/4ebpqVa. #SupportLocal #CopperCountry #Education

$5M in new federal grants are supporting efforts by 5 Michigan orgs to improve maternal and infant health and advance health equity in communities with high rates of infant mortality. Multiple recipients are Health Fund grantees. More in State of Health: secondwavemedia.com/features/mater…

We engaged Healthy Places by Design to offer a training called Collaboration Lab to a cohort of Health Fund Collaborative Capacity Building grantees. In this guest blog, Phil Bors & Jamie Elliott share how this training impacts cross-sector partnerships: mihealthfund.org/supporting-col…

Many orgs across the state—including Health Fund grantees—have worked to develop healthy school food programs. In 2023, Michigan made free school meals available and eliminated lunch debt. State of Health highlights the impact of cost-free school meals: secondwavemedia.com/features/schoo…

With support from a Health Fund grant, @HenryFordHealth and @michiganstateu are training health care providers to connect more with older adult patients during telehealth visits. This project is part of a larger effort to make telehealth more accessible: ama-assn.org/practice-manag…

Icon of kindness Fred Rogers continues to inspire. Read how Kristine Ajrouch @kajrouch @RCGD_ISR @MCCFAD frames her work on addressing the stigma of dementia in a new Healthy Aging grant @mihealthfund below. ⬇️ Ajrouch joins RCGD with a new $400K Healthy Aging grant from the Michigan Health Endowment Fund to address the stigma associated with having dementia in the Arab/Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) American community. The project, “If it’s Mentionable, it’s Manageable,” will involve community partners in Wayne County to develop culturally appropriate programming and efforts to increase awareness of dementia services and reduce stigma related to the disease. Through continuing education modules, dementia awareness events, a Community Health Worker ambassador program, and a messaging campaign, these efforts—in English and Arabic—will facilitate resource seeking and sharing by community members and health professionals. While the project focuses on a particular minority community that faces high levels of dementia stigma, the tools and processes developed will be widely applicable. The title of the grant draws on a quote from the PBS icon Fred Rogers that Ajrouch remembered from the biographical drama, It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood. “Anything that’s human is mentionable,” Rogers famously said. “And anything that is mentionable can be more manageable. When we can talk about our feelings, they become less overwhelming, less upsetting, and less scary. The people we trust with that important talk can help us know that we are not alone.” In the movie, Mister Rogers delivers the line to help a family break through the discomfort of talking about death. “It was such a profound observation, and it just stuck with me,” said Ajrouch. “I thought it was a perfect way to think about overcoming stigma.” More on Kristine Ajrouch: rcgd.isr.umich.edu/2024/06/10/mee…

A Health Fund grant is supporting the Michigan Local Food Council Network to advance equitable food access and help communities achieve sovereignty over their own food systems. This work brings together food councils from across the state. Learn more: canr.msu.edu/news/modeling-…

Many older adults and caregivers could benefit from long-term services and supports. The Michigan Poll on Healthy Aging shows our state is doing better in awareness of resources than the nation as a whole, but also points out where we can improve: tinyurl.com/ydjy9536

Whitmore Lake Elementary School has been using a research-based exercise program developed by U-M to get their school community moving. The InPACT program was created by Dr. Rebecca Hasson and supported by the Health Fund to enhance movement, health, and learning at the school.

32% of Michiganders with a mental illness in 2019 were not receiving treatment, and 9 counties lack both a psychiatrist and psychologist. That's why our Behavioral Health team and grant partners focus on access to care. More on mental health access in MI: mihealthfund.org/news/publicati…

Supported by a Health Fund grant, @CorewellHealth's School Blue Envelope program has trained more than 15,500 Michigan educators and school staff to support students facing a behavioral health crisis. Read our blog to learn how it's making a difference: mihealthfund.org/addressing-ado…

It's Mental Health Awareness Month, and many of our partners are working to combat stigma and expand access to behavioral health. One example: Michigan State University is delivering a clinically moderated, online peer-to-peer mental health platform: wilx.com/2024/04/23/msu…

A new Memory Café is offering monthly socialization activities for individuals with dementia and their caregivers to build community and have fun. The cafe is organized by the Alpena Senior Citizens Center, with support from the Health Fund. Learn more: thealpenanews.com/life/2024/04/m…

Guardianships are a legal tool to make decisions on behalf of an adult, but they can be applied too quickly or broadly. The Michigan Guardianship Diversion Project, supported by the Health Fund, works to provide community-based alternatives. Read more: secondwavemedia.com/features/sohsp…

Excited to celebrate the new Trinity Health/Network 180 Behavioral Health Crisis Center. A place where anyone experiencing a mental health emergency can access immediate help. The Health Fund supported early planning activities, and we’re thrilled to see the doors open!

Friends and family often provide unpaid care for loved ones — a demanding role that requires support. Henry Ford Health is using a Health Fund grant to identify family caregivers and provide them with attention and support. More in State of Health: secondwavemedia.com/features/patie…

U-M's National Poll on Healthy Aging has been an important tool for engaging older adults. The Health Fund supported a version focused on Michigan — the first result published today. Our latest blog shares our hopes for the Michigan Poll on Healthy Aging: mihealthfund.org/new-poll-to-of…

The Health Fund is investing in pathways for future nurses, supporting a partnership between MPCA and Michigan universities that will offer nursing students internship and clinical experiences in rural and underserved areas. More in State of Heath: secondwavemedia.com/features/fqhcr…

Intergenerational relationships impact health, well-being, and social cohesion for all ages. Our latest blog shares aging programs using Health Fund support to build cross-generational connections in diverse settings and communities: mihealthfund.org/intergeneratio…

Our Healthy Aging Initiative is open and seeking proposals for projects that improve the health and wellbeing of Michigan’s older adults and their caregivers. Join our informational RFP webinar on April 29 at 10 a.m. View our website for details: mihealthfund.org/grantmaking/he…