Our History

History

In spring 2011, a planning group began meeting to organize the first annual meeting focused on sustainable policy and systems change for community health workers (CHWs) in Michigan. The meeting, Sustainable Funding for Community Health Worker Practice and Utilization in Michigan: Planning the Future, united stakeholders statewide in learning about CHW effectiveness and sustainability from state and national experts. Following that meeting in August 2011, the Michigan Community Health Worker Alliance (MiCHWA) was formed.

Since then, MiCHWA has established itself as the CHW information hub for the state of Michigan. Initially founded as a small stakeholder coalition, MiCHWA’s growth has significantly exceeded initial expectations by Steering Committee and working group members. Interest in MiCHWA’s activities from outside organizations has skyrocketed over the last four years, resulting in an increase in demands for CHW information, presentations on CHW effectiveness, and support for CHW activities. Outside agencies are coming to MiCHWA for information about the CHW role, resources to support CHW employment, and research to make the case for why CHWs are essential health care team members. MiCHWA is excited about these opportunities, and continues to find new ways to engage CHWs and stakeholders in these discussions across the state.

Years in Review

2015 Major Accomplishments: Year 4

• Hosted their first in-person CHW social before the Spectrum Health CHW Conference for more than 35 CHWs across the state
• Launched MiCHWA’s standardized CHW education curriculum including three pilot courses in Grand Rapids, Detroit and Lansing, and one non-pilot class in Macomb, training 75 CHWs
• Created and disseminated a Policy Brief detailing next steps for CHW policy change and sustainability
• Hosted three Stakeholder Forums for health plans, health systems and other stakeholders, in partnership with the Michigan Primary Care Association and the Michigan Association of Health Plans
• Celebrated CHW Appreciation Month in August 2015, as declared by Governor Rick Snyder, including an awareness campaign, a #CHWsMatter photo campaign, CHW Month celebration toolkit, and and social media drive
• Conducted outreach to key stakeholder organizations statewide
• Collaborated with major organizations including the Michigan Primary Care Association, the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services, the Michigan Association of Health Plans, Public Sector Consultants, Spectrum Health, Henry Ford Health System, Grand Rapids Community College, Henry Ford College, the Institute for Population Health, and many more, including several new organizational partners
• Presented in Michigan in Lansing, Grand Rapids, Okemos, St. Clair Shores, Detroit, and Marquette at conferences, board meetings, and invited presentations
• Presented a poster at the Academy Health Annual Research Meeting in Minneapolis and participated in a National Summit on CHW Common Indicators in Portland

2014 Major Accomplishments: Year 3

• Hosted one CHW social and promoted several CHW social events across the state
• Launched development of a standardized CHW education curriculum and began preparing two CHW curriculum pilot classes in 2015
• Created and disseminated seven CHW Roles Fact Sheets, detailing evidence for CHW effectiveness in seven CHW roles
• Launched CHW Appreciation Month in August 2014, as declared by Governor Rick Snyder, including an awareness campaign, a #CHWsMatter photo campaign, CHW Month celebration toolkit, and and social media drive
• Collaborated with major organizations including the Michigan Primary Care Association, the Michigan Department of Community Health, the Michigan Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, the U-M Institute for Health Policy and Innovation, MHP Salud, and the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan
• Conducted outreach to key stakeholder organizations statewide
• Presented in Michigan in Lansing, Grand Rapids, Okemos, Detroit, Ann Arbor, and Flint at conferences, board meetings, and invited presentations
• Hosted a MiCHWA table at Unity Conference in Baltimore, MD and presented at the Midwest Stream Farmworker Health Forum in San Antonio, TX with MHP Salud

2013 Major Accomplishments: Year 2

• Hosted two CHW regional meetings on certification and four CHW potlucks
• Recommended piloting of our core competency standards on the East and West sides of the state
• Created and disseminated our first Policy Brief
• Launched CHW Month: August 2013, including an awareness campaign, CHW bumper sticker slogan contest, and social media drive
• Recorded and launched two CHW awareness videos and YouTube Channel
• Collaborated with major organizations including the Michigan Primary Care Association, the Michigan Department of Community Health, and the Michigan Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers
• Conducted outreach to key stakeholder organizations statewide
• Presented in Lansing, Oscoda, Sault Ste Marie, Grand Rapids, Livonia, Detroit, Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, Muskegon, and at APHA Annual Meeting in Boston

2012 Major Accomplishments: Year 1

• Hired of a full-time project coordinator
• Recommended statewide CHW certification and core competency standards
• Determined governance, goals and objectives
• Launched Launched MiCHWA’s Website and social media
• Held MiCHWA’s first-ever Annual Meeting in Lansing on October 11, 2012
• Established the Program Evaluation Advisory Board
• Developed an evaluation plan and completed our first year evaluation
• Conducted outreach to key stakeholder organizations statewide
• Presented in Lansing, Grand Rapids, Big Rapids, Detroit, Ann Arbor, and at the APHA Annual Meeting in San Francisco

2011 Major Accomplishments: Planning Phase

• Convened stakeholders from across Michigan to host the first-ever statewide meeting on CHW sustainability August 18, 2011
• Founded MiCHWA August 19, 2011
• Began building infrastructure mechanisms to develop the initiative
• Recruited working meeting attendees and others to participate in MiCHWA working groups and on its Steering Committee
• Determined MiCHWA’s mission: to promote and sustain the integration of community health workers into Michigan’s health and human service system through coordinated changes in policy and workforce development