About CHRT

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.

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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Developing Community Paramedicine programs in underserved regions across Michigan

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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A caregiver who puts an elderly person in a Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT)

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…
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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…
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Washtenaw County Public Safety and Mental Health Preservation Millage implementation

Client(s): Washtenaw County Community Mental Health, Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office
Need: Community partners in public safety seek to reduce the number of low-risk, low-level offenders with moderate to severe mental illness or substance use in jail and to redirect them to a supported and well-resourced path to community-based…
CHRT's Role: CHRT is working with Washtenaw County Community Mental Health to implement the recommendations of the Washtenaw County Community Mental Health Advisory Council. These recommendations for mental health millage investments include expanding crisis services, increasing prevention work, enhancing youth services, addressing…
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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…
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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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Smiling young black lady shows her name tag to an elderly person who is standing by her/his door.

Promoting health equity by identifying and addressing the social needs of patients in five Michigan counties

Client(s): Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
Need: The Promotion of Health Equity Initiative aims to develop a statewide infrastructure for SDOH data collection, analytics, and reporting to better identify and understand disparities and leverage data and community partnerships to help enhance…
CHRT's Role: CHRT provides backbone support to the four participating regions in the Promotion of Health Equity project, mobilizing and coordinating efforts and helping establish shared communications and reporting. CHRT has financial fiduciary responsibilities to Michigan Medicine for the funding of the participating regions. CHRT…
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A mental health provider offers therapy via Telehealth

Evaluation of Michigan’s Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics

Client(s):
Need: The 2014 Protecting Access to Medicare Act (PAMA) authorized a new demonstration program intended to improve community mental health services. In 2020, following a request from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Michigan…
CHRT's Role: The Center for Health and Research Transformation (CHRT) at the University of Michigan will partner with MDHHS on this project to provide health research, analyses, surveys, demonstration projects, backbone support, and consulting. CHRT has existing experience evaluating Medicaid programs in the state, as well as advanced…
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Sign says

Providing backbone support to the Washtenaw Health Initiative

Client(s): Washtenaw Health Initiative
Need: The Patient and Protection Affordable Care Act (ACA) was signed into law on March 23rd, 2010. The most sweeping health care reform the U.S. had seen in decades, the ACA was meant to dramatically increase access to health insurance for those…
CHRT's Role: CHRT provides backbone support to the WHI and serves as the initiative’s fiduciary agent. In this role CHRT is responsible for: • Serving as a neutral convener to facilitate the WHI Steering Committee’s activities (including the WHI’s overall strategic agenda). • Housing the WHI’s Project…
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