Author

Estelle Slootmaker

Estelle Slootmaker's Latest Articles

This is how to do mental health: Community outreach builds access

The staff of Michigan’s community mental health agencies aren’t sitting at their desks waiting for the phone to ring. They are out in their communities letting people know that mental health care is within reach. 

Mark Witte chats with OnPoint staff: from left,  Andre Pierre, Jr., chief administrative officer; Kelly Dingman, accounting supervisor, and Sarah Lumbert, general accountant.
OnPoint: The many professional roles within mental health care

Michigan’s community mental health agencies need more psychiatrists, psychologists, and master’s level social workers, but they also need bachelor’s level social workers, administrative staff,  peer support specialists, accountants, and direct care workers — roles that require no college degree or degrees in areas not relating directly to mental health. 

Expert presenters share evidence-based information traversing the lifespan from early intervention and initial diagnosis to quality of life for older autistic adults.
Navigating Autism Today Conference connects autism community to facts, friendships, and resources

The Autism Alliance of Michigan Navigating Autism Today (NAT) Conference connects autistic people of all ages and their loved ones with education, resources, and community.

Autism can be a very isolating. AAoM shares and hosts events that are relevant to the autism community.
Welcome Kit helps Michiganders navigate autism resources and support

AAoM Welcome Kits provide a broad yet concise overview of AAoM’s roster of services. Available in two versions — one for families raising autistic children and autistic adults and another for professionals serving the autistic clients — Welcome Kits extend a warm handshake that welcomes them to AAoM’s services.

Robert Sheehan
Michigan’s community mental health agencies will do even more good work in 2025

Federal dollars, state initiatives, community partnerships, and a normalization of seeking and receiving behavioral health care have positioned Michigan’s community mental health agencies to do even more good work in 2025.

A gathering for Michigan State University's Generations Connect program, which matches MSU undergraduate students with elders in the community, at the East Lansing Public Library.
Michigan universities join global “age-friendly” movement, making campuses more welcoming to elders

As Michigan prepares for rapid growth in its population of older adults, three Michigan universities have joined a global movement to make higher education institutions more "age-friendly."

Elisabeth Berry and James D'Arcy
Legacy Society will sustain Autism Alliance of Michigan’s work for decades to come

AAoM is establishing its Legacy Society to recognize donors today for gifts that will provide dollars in perpetuity.

The students currently taking U-M School of Public Health course, Chatgpt/AI and Public Health.
Public health and AI: Great potential and a need for ethical policies

When applying AI to public health, great potentials exist for swifter, nimbler care and pin-pointed personalization. Its use also could exacerbate biases and the misuse of private information.  

Care Model Training recipients Dinora Quintanilla (far left) and Kim Poplaski (far right) with Care Model Training facilitator Vanessa Jimenez (center).
New training helps Kent County providers better connect residents in need to resources

Health Net of West Michigan's new Care Model Training provides frontline navigators with tools and tactics to better help residents access health care and social services.

K-Connect's data dashboard for Kent County.
Local health statistics are a click away as community health dashboards proliferate in Michigan

Community health dashboards are readily available online resources that compile various health data for different regions.

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