Author

Estelle Slootmaker

Estelle Slootmaker's Latest Articles

Robert Sheehan, executive director of the Community Mental Health Association of Michigan
Here’s good news for Michiganders’ mental health: Community mental health delivers cutting-edge care

Michigan's community mental health agencies lead the nation in innovation, serve all 83 counties, and help Michiganders of all ages access the mental health supports they need.

Art teacher Steven Pryce teaches at Lincoln High School in Augusta Township.
State program helps Michigan schools handle students with extra care if they’ve experienced trauma

Since it was piloted in 2017, the state's Handle With Care program has helped schools provide compassionate care to thousands of children identified by law enforcement as having experienced a traumatic event.

Lynn Hendges, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services manager of housing and homeless services.
New data management tool aims to help medically vulnerable Michiganders escape homelessness

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is developing a standardized, statewide indicator to track not only an individual's homelessness risk but also their medical fragility. 

Nicole Shannon, systemic litigation and advocacy attorney for the Michigan Elder Justice Initiative, and Alison Hirschel, director and managing attorney of the Michigan Elder Justice Initiative.
Here’s how Michigan is working to ensure court-appointed guardians don’t take advantage of elders

Michigan providers and activists are working hard to ensure the guardianship system effectively serves Michigan's older adults.

Jamie Winkler, executive director of the Salvation Army Great Lakes Harbor Light System, in a short term residential care room at the Salvation Army's Harbor Light facility in Detroit.
Medical respite care helps Michigan’s most vulnerable recuperate after hospitalization

A handful of Michigan facilities offer daily wound care, help filling and taking prescriptions, or support with substance use disorder treatment for those in need.

Participants enjoy BMCC's 13 Moons of Anishinaabe programming.
Bay Mills Community College SNAP-Ed programs inspire healthy living

Bay Mills Community College is working with the Bay Mills Indian Community to leverage Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education programming to create environments that inspire healthy living.

Pill organizers at the Region VII Area Agency on Aging.
Inflation Reduction Act will cut crucial health costs for older Michiganders

Starting in 2023, the act will lower prescription drug costs for people with Medicare, cap out-of-pocket costs at $35 a month for insulin, and allow over-the-counter sales of hearing aids for the first time.

Dr. Sara Santarossa is the lead on a Henry Ford Health project that asked COVID long haulers to draw body maps representing their condition. She sits next to several of their works here.
Researchers seek solutions for Michigan’s 700,000 COVID long haulers

Michigan health care organizations are racing to determine what support those with "long COVID" need and how best to provide it.

Laurie Arora, PACE Southeast Michigan vice president of public affairs, philanthropy, and organizational development; and Sadie Shattuck, PACE Southeast Michigan's grant and communications specialist, look over health literacy handouts.
New project aims to increase health literacy among Southeast Michigan’s older adults

A new project called "The Power of Understanding" uses proven health literacy tools to empower participants to become engaged as advocates for their own health.

Children enjoy a StoryWalk®.
Dearborn nonprofit forges relationships to inspire healthy living

Dearborn-based Leaders Advancing and Helping Communities has honed the art of bringing community residents and organizations together while ensuring that the unique perspectives of Arab Americans, refugees, and immigrants have a seat at the table during the decision-making processes.

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