Community-Driven Solutions: A Reflection on the Health Equity Challenge

Hello, I'm Olivia Morris, and I'm excited to share my journey with you as a finalist in the Michigan Health Equity Challenge. Currently, I'm in my second and final year of my Master's program at the Ford School of Public Policy. My passion for addressing health disparities and advocating for vulnerable communities has been a driving force throughout my academic and professional journey.

Growing up in Los Angeles, I was deeply impacted by the stark health inequalities experienced by vulnerable populations, especially among the unhoused community. My firsthand experiences as a mental health counselor for unhoused clients shed light on the significant barriers they faced in accessing essential healthcare services. These encounters ignited a passion within me to work towards a more equitable healthcare system that serves our most vulnerable populations.

When I think back to my work as a mental health counselor and the clients I worked with–all from different backgrounds–I realize just how much I began to see the link between homelessness and healthcare challenges. My time with these clients represented a history of poverty in Los Angeles, and highlighted failed health policies that only exacerbated this poverty. From this, I felt motivated to go back to graduate school to create system-level change to some of the problems I saw in this client-facing role.

My commitment to advocating for equitable healthcare access led me to pursue a Master's degree in Public Policy at the Ford School. Here, I've had the opportunity to focus on policy initiatives aimed at addressing the complex health challenges faced by vulnerable populations. From researching the impact of medical debt on chronic illness to exploring the connections between food insecurity and disability, my interdisciplinary studies have equipped me with a holistic understanding of the multifaceted nature of health inequities.

Discovering the Michigan Health Equity Challenge felt like a golden opportunity to turn my academic insights into real-world solutions for communities in need. The chance to create interventions directly addressing the urgent healthcare needs of underserved populations struck a chord with me, pushing me to dive headfirst into the challenge.

Identifying the Need: Bridging Gaps in Healthcare Access

My journey with the Michigan Health Equity Challenge began with a desire to focus on local organizations and public healthcare in Washtenaw County. I reached out to the Center for Health & Research Transformation (CHRT) to connect with a community-based organization (CBO) that might want to collaborate with me on the challenge. Through CHRT, I met Jeremy Lapedis, the Executive Director of the Washtenaw Health Project (WHP).

From our first conversations, Dr. Lapedis shared valuable insights into the healthcare landscape of the region. He highlighted specific community members in Washtenaw County who require additional support, particularly African Americans aged 65 and above, as well as those eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare, known as dual-eligible individuals.

Washtenaw County data reveals the significant healthcare barriers confronting these communities, with over 80 percent of neighborhoods with low to very low health scores exhibiting above-average populations of African Americans or Older Adults. These individuals often contend with fewer resources like stable housing and adequate income, while simultaneously facing increased medical care needs.

Additionally, with the pandemic easing off, those eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare are finding themselves navigating the complexities of these programs, unsure about their coverage and benefits. What's even more concerning is that many haven't switched over to Medicare yet, increasing the risk of disruptions in coverage. This prompted us to start brainstorming ideas for a targeted intervention to increase Medicare and Medicaid enrollments in this community.

Behind the Scenes: Crafting Solutions with Local Partners

Collaborating closely with the WHP, we are committed to addressing disparities in healthcare access head-on. Our intervention is grounded in the principles of trust-building and community engagement. By hiring an outreach worker with deep roots in the community and collaborating with local CBOs, we ensure that our intervention is tailored to the unique needs of older African Americans in Washtenaw County. Our targeted outreach aims to directly tackle gaps in health insurance coverage experienced by older African Americans in Washtenaw County.

From Theory to Practice: Bridging Academia and Community Engagement

As this experience comes to a close, I am grateful for the opportunity to extend my academic pursuits outside of a university setting. I was able to use my health policy knowledge and research skills to develop impact-oriented solutions to a health crisis that I care deeply about.

In partnering with WHP, and specifically collaborating with Dr. Lapedis, I had to shape my project proposal in a feasible and direct manner, one that creatively addressed the chosen need and also considered the available resources of a small, local organization. Dr. Lapedis navigated this process with me, going above and beyond with active engagement. He not only provided me with a working knowledge of the feasibility of project implementation on a local level, but also consistently reminded me of the importance and urgency of this work.

I am also thankful for Dr. Thuy Nguyen’s mentorship and guidance along this journey. Dr. Nguyen pushed me to think creatively about outreach strategies, and always ensured to ground our work in trustworthy research. I would not have been able to complete every step of this project proposal without Dr. Lapedis and Dr. Nguyen on my team.

Navigating the Path Ahead: Reflections on Impact and Advocacy

In wrapping up this journey with the Michigan Health Equity Challenge, I find myself reflecting on the iterative process that defined our approach. Drafting and redrafting, we navigated the delicate balance between innovation and feasibility, ensuring that our intervention could effectively address the pressing need identified.

This journey has been a testament to the power of translating academic insights into tangible impact, a theme that resonates deeply with my passion for advocating for health equity. Collaborating closely with Dr. Nguyen and Dr. Lapedis has only reinforced the importance of community-driven initiatives in addressing health disparities.

As I look ahead, I am grateful for the opportunity to have contributed to a cause that aligns with my values and aspirations. I am energized to continue leveraging my skills and expertise to drive positive change in healthcare access and outcomes for underserved communities, inspired by the transformative potential of collective action.