Behavioral health support is a critical ingredient for living a healthy life. But research shows that many in Michigan who would benefit from behavioral health care struggle to access the support they need, for a variety of reasons.  To overcome these barriers, it’s vital that providers and policymakers across our state find creative ways to scale services, expand reach, and promote collaboration to make it possible for every Michigander who needs appropriate, high-quality behavioral health support to get it.   Technology is one way the Health Fund’s Behavioral Health grant pro ..read more

PLANE activity session Over time, consistent physical activity can support improved cardiovascular and muscle fitness, enhanced mental health, and increased capacity to perform daily tasks for people with disabilities, while shaping a positive self-perception and challenging societal stigmas surrounding disabilities. To reach these benefits, people with disabilities must often work through environmental barriers, pain, physical limitations, and negative perceptions toward exercise to pursue recreation, enjoy movement, and improve their overall health. At the Health Fund, we believe all membe ..read more

Community-based organizations and other nonprofits face the same technology concerns as large companies and institutions. They need secure data, reliable networks, up-to-date equipment, and access to the latest software to work with their partners and communities. But putting these resources together and keeping them current can be difficult and costly, particularly for those without dedicated staff and resources for IT. That’s why the Health Fund partners with the Michigan Nonprofit Association (MNA) to offer IT consulting and financial support to help health-focused organizations address th ..read more

It’s clear 2023 was one of the Health Fund’s most dynamic years yet. Through our grantmaking, we sought to support organizations across Michigan working to address urgent health needs in their communities and develop better models for long-term health. To help frame the impact of our grantees and partners in 2023 and share some of our favorite stories from the year, we’ve put together a “2023 Year in Review” — we hope you find it a compelling portrait of the results and lessons from this past year. On behalf of the Health Fund squad, wishing you a wonderful holiday season and a happy New ..read more

  It’s clear 2023 was one of the Health Fund’s most dynamic years yet. Through our grantmaking, we sought to support organizations across Michigan working to address urgent health needs in their communities and develop better models for long-term health. To help frame the impact of our grantees and partners in 2023 and share some of our favorite stories from the year, we’ve put together a “2023 Year in Review” — we hope you find it a compelling portrait of the results and lessons from this past year. On behalf of the Health Fund squad, wishing you a wonderful holiday season and a ha ..read more

At the Health Fund, we continually ask ourselves how we can listen better to improve our service to applicants, grantees, and communities. Last December, we shared results from our second independent survey of both grantees plus applicants whose proposals were not funded. One of the key themes from their feedback was a desire for more information about Health Fund projects. Today, we’re proud to share two tools that make it easier than ever to learn more about the Health Fund’s grantmaking:   First, with the help of Data Driven Detroit, we created an interactive map that geographic ..read more

In 2023, the Health Fund’s Community Health Impact (CHI) and Capacity Building programs underwent some significant changes, all with the goal of making support more accessible for organizations doing important, community-driven work to improve health across our state. Among the changes: We accepted applications throughout the year with grants awarded in three separate funding cycles. Applicants had the option to present projects through concept calls — video conferences with members of our team – instead of in written form. We strengthened criteria emphasizing community engagement, input, an ..read more

Michigan is home to a rich variety of agricultural resources — wherever you go in our state, there’s a good chance you’re not far from sources for fresh, nutritious, locally grown food. Yet, despite these resources, many Michigan kids live in food-insecure households, and providing all children with equitable access to healthy food continues to be unacceptably difficult. Forging partnerships between food growers and schools is a promising solution to this challenge, one that benefits kids, families, and farmers alike. The Health Fund has been proud to support this approach, and we’re fortunat ..read more

November is National Family Caregivers Month, a valuable opportunity to take stock of efforts to better support the 1.7 million Michiganders who care for a family member or loved one. This unpaid workforce provides an invaluable benefit to our state. As Michigan’s population continues to get older on average, finding effective approaches to give caregivers the help, knowledge, and tools they need has never been more important. Here are two new collaborative solutions — one a recently created resource and the other a developing multi-partner model — that we find exciting: STATEWIDE CAREGIVER R ..read more

The Health Fund has approved 48 new grants supporting innovative projects aimed at improving health in communities throughout Michigan. Our latest awards seek to produce an impact across many dimensions of health, address gaps and barriers to health equity, and develop solutions that get at the heart of pressing challenges. A full list of grant recipients can be found at the bottom of this post. HEALTHY AGING GRANTS TARGET ELDER JUSTICE, CAREGIVER SOLUTIONS, RURAL HEALTH Our 2023 Healthy Aging grant cohort will receive $7,984,800 across 24 projects to improve services and supports for older a ..read more