The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted racial and ethnic minorities throughout Ingham County. There is significant work to be done to reduce disease transmission and infection in these populations. To address these disparities, the Capital Area Health Alliance and the Ingham County Health Department created the Ingham Health Equity Council (HEC) in 2022, funded by a $400,000 grant from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Office of Equity and Minority Health in partnership with the Michigan Public Health Institute.
This funding has been renewed for a second year, 2023 – 2024.
The Health Equity Council is made up of Ingham County residents and community organizations that are experienced in working with minority populations disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. Council members meet once or twice a month to identify strategies to reduce disparities and risk factors and to equitably distribute resources to support affected communities via mini-grants to local organizations and initiatives. HEC members are listed below.
In Year 1 (2022 – 2023), the Council funded 15 mini-grants totaling $125,000 to support projects reducing COVID-19 disparities in impacted communities. Projects included expansion of mental health programs for adolescents, increasing access to COVID-19 immunizations and boosters, housing homeless persons who test positive for COVID-19, creating educational vodcasts, and funding BIPOC lactation and parental support services. Year 1 Mini-Grant Awardees and projects can be found below.
The Council is currently funding 13 mini-grants for Year 2 (2023 – 2024), ranging from $5,000 to $16,000 per project and totaling just over $163,000. Grants are being used to address COVID-19-related inequities and risk factors among Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC). Awardees will implement their proposal objectives from December 1, 2023, through May 31, 2024. Year 2 mini-grant awardees and their projects are listed below.
“We are excited to support the HEC in building and strengthening the capacity of local communities to develop, adopt, and implement strategies to decrease the disparities associated with COVID-19 and other health outcomes for racial and ethnic minority populations,” said Linda Vail, Ingham County Health Officer.
The HEC will focus on areas to reduce COVID-19 disparities such as identifying and overcoming barriers in prevention, providing resources, and addressing social determinants of health (e.g., low income, food insecurity, access to primary care), and trust-building efforts aimed at minority population groups at higher risk of contracting – and dying from – COVID-19.
“This one-of-a-kind project will allow our community to address the adverse effects of social determinants of health through a measured and collaborative effort, ensuring 'resident voice' is heard throughout the entire process,” said Jason Blanks, CAHA Executive Director.
