Michigan’s announcement of $173 million in federal funding to strengthen rural health care is more than a budget headline – it’s a powerful affirmation of what the state has long understood: strong health systems are built by investing in people, partnerships and trust.
At MHP Salud, we applaud our state for focusing on proven solutions that bring results. Michigan has been a national leader in mobilizing Community Health Workers (CHWs) to improve access to health care and support rural communities. In fact, this led to MHP Salud’s founding more than 40 years ago in Southeast Michigan – to use CHW-led initiatives that address barriers so individuals in rural communities could receive health care. In 1983, we saw the impact of CHWs, and we’ve continued to drive this movement nationally through training, consultation and certification.
Our state’s plan to use rural transformation funding to invest in workforce development, technology and regional partnerships reflects what CHWs have demonstrated for decades: care is more effective when it’s coordinated, responsive and rooted in community.
Michigan’s focus on workforce development, specifically recruiting CHWs and formalizing state certification policies, is particularly important. In our rural communities, access is tough. Provider deserts, limited transportation, social barriers and trust, impact families’ ability to receive timely health care. It impacts their ability to navigate complex systems and medications, to adhere to treatment plans, and to manage chronic conditions.
CHWs address all of this (and more!) — when they’re used correctly.
CHWs are not nurses, social workers or clinicians. They are trusted community members trained to help individuals and families overcome hurdles so they can receive appropriate care. The benefits extend beyond rural communities: every Michigander gains when preventive care reduces avoidable emergencies and hospital overcrowding.
When CHWs are unavailable, people often delay care until conditions worsen. That’s when costs rise, hospitals strain and outcomes suffer – for everyone.
But it doesn’t have to get that far. With the rural transformation funding and Michigan’s strategic workforce investment, we can build healthy communities now.
Studies demonstrate that CHW interventions can lead to improvements across the “triple aim” of health care: improved population health, improved patient experience, and reduced costs.
Community Health Workers’ lived experience, local connections and hearts for service cannot be overstated. Investing in training, leadership development and clear career pathways increases the likelihood these assets stay in the community, strengthen partnerships, and improve continuity of care and health outcomes.
The Rural Health Transformation grant presents a meaningful opportunity to build on Michigan’s leadership. CHWs are uniquely positioned to support care coordination, telehealth adoption, behavioral health integration and chronic disease management – all priorities outlined in the state’s rural health plan.
Realizing the plan’s full potential will require collaboration across sectors.
With deep Michigan roots, MHP Salud invites local health systems, community-based organizations and regional partners to collaborate to expand our certified CHW workforce. Effective health solutions must come from within the community, and we are ready to help Michigan’s CHW workforce reach their full potential.
By: Dr. Magaly “Maggie” Dante