Current Projects
In addition to CHRT’s cornerstone programs–the health policy fellowship, the Washtenaw Health Initiative, and the physician and consumer surveys–CHRT regularly manages mission-relevant research, demonstration, and educational projects with funding from public sector partners, as well as paid consulting projects for public and private sector clients.
Featured Projects
Developing a community integrated health network to address the social needs of seniors in southeast Michigan
Client(s): Administration for Community Living, Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation
Need: The Vital Seniors Initiative (VSI), with a goal of spurring systemic improvements to county senior services, was funded in 2019 by the Glacier Hills Legacy Fund at the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation. The original VSI grantees were joined…
CHRT's Role: With the ACL and Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation grants, CHRT will help the collaborative increase capacity through leadership, management, operations, and strategy; will help the network with legal contracting requirements, coordinated payments, a consistent referral process, and data sharing; onboard new partners…
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CHRT Health Policy Fellowship: Training Nonprofit Fellows
Client(s): Michigan Health Endowment Fund
Need: In Michigan and nationally, the nonprofit sector plays a critical and ever-increasing role in research and advocacy around health care delivery and public policy. Including the perspective of nonprofits in our annual Health Policy Fellowship…
CHRT's Role: Thanks to support from the Michigan Health Endowment Fund, the Center for Health and Research Transformation is including nonprofit leaders as part of the 2020 Health Policy Fellowship class. Reflecting the growing importance and increased interest of the non-profit sector in health policy, the inclusion of policy fellows…
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Helping Michigan communities determine how to maximize the impact of opioid settlement dollars
Client(s): Michigan Opioid Partnership
Need: In February 2022, the United States reached a $26 billion opioid settlement agreement with the nation’s three largest pharmaceutical companies. Following the agreement, the State of Michigan received an $800 million share of the national opioid…
CHRT's Role: The Center for Health and Research Transformation (CHRT) will provide settlement recipient communities across Michigan with information about evidence-based, evidence-informed, and promising best practices for programs to address gaps in care experienced by Michigan residents. CHRT will conduct a comprehensive environmental…
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Expanding community paramedicine and mobile integrated health in mid-Michigan
Client(s): Mobile Medical Response (MMR)
Need: Mobile Medical Response (MMR), a nonprofit ambulance company that operates in mid-Michigan, is interested in launching a community paramedicine/mobile integrated health program within their organization. CHRT will work alongside MMR to provide…
CHRT's Role: CHRT will:
Conduct an environmental scan of the regions served by MMR to identify existing ancillary and out of hospital services and where there are gaps in medical and social care.
Conduct a needs analysis in the communities identified through the environmental scan as potential sites…
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Applying complex systems modeling to understand and strengthen Washtenaw County’s local acute mental health crisis care system
Client(s): University of Michigan Department of Psychiatry
Need: Communities across the state and nation are struggling to respond to mental health crises quickly and with positive outcomes for those in crisis. A shortage of mental health providers, staffed inpatient beds, and other systems problems create…
CHRT's Role: The CHRT team will 1) assist in identifying the sources of local data–from community mental health, law enforcement, education, and other organizations–to help UNC researchers build the Washtenaw-specific model, and 2) serve as project manager for the research.
Staff:
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Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) needs and recommendations for older adults
Client(s): Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT)
Need: Both Medicaid recipients and non-Medicaid users rely on NEMT for medical and behavioral health visits, yet access to it can be challenging. A written policy brief will uncover the scope of transportation needs…
CHRT's Role: CHRT staff will be reviewing relevant literature and available data on the purpose and use of NEMT and conducting stakeholder interviews to understand the specific needs in our community and innovative solutions that may be applicable to Washtenaw County residents. The brief will be disseminated…
Staff:
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Equity in health and functioning for adults from marginalized communities with physical, cognitive, sensory and developmental disabilities
Client(s): University of Michigan Center for Disability Health and Wellness
Need: Through a newly funded Equity Center, the University of Michigan Center for Disability Health and Wellness (CDHW) will collaborate with outside organizations and investigators dedicated to enhancing the health and functioning of individuals…
CHRT's Role: The Equity Center will partner with the Center for Health and Research Transformation (CHRT) at the University of Michigan to enhance the capacity of trainees, community organizations, and researchers across the United States to create evidence-based policy changes related to equity and disability health. CHRT will conduct…
Staff:
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Communicating criminal justice initiatives funded by the Public Safety and Mental Health millage
Client(s): Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office
Need: In 2017, Washtenaw County residents voted in favor of an innovative millage designed to raise funds for expanded mental health programming and criminal justice services and reforms in Washtenaw County. Beginning in 2019, the Washtenaw County…
CHRT's Role: CHRT will work with Washtenaw County criminal justice stakeholders to synthesize what the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office has accomplished with millage funds. Then, CHRT will produce several communications materials that will heighten awareness about millage-funded programs:
materials that increase transparency…
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Strategic planning for long-term care and MI Health Link’s transition to an integrated D-SNP
Client(s): Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
Need: In 2019, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) engaged CHRT in preliminary preparation for strategic planning activities around long-term services and supports (LTSS). MDHHS asked CHRT to facilitate a comprehensive process…
CHRT's Role: For this project, CHRT will conduct and analyze interviews with 16 advocacy groups, service providers, and other stakeholders to inform MDHHS’s LTSS strategic plan. CHRT will organize a meeting with MDHHS’ Behavioral and Physical Health and Aging Services Administration (BPHASA) leadership and LTSS program leads to…
Staff:
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Promoting social, behavioral, and economic research on COVID-19
Client(s): Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR)
Need: The Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR), a consortium of more than 750 academic institutions and research organizations, has been selected by the National Institutes of Health to coordinate social, behavioral,…
CHRT's Role: CHRT will support ICPSR and the consortium grantees by developing research briefs, infographics, blogs, and other publications to share research findings, activities, and resources.
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