The MolinaCares Accord (“MolinaCares”), in collaboration with Molina Healthcare of Michigan (“Molina”), announced a $100,000 grant to the University of Michigan School of Public Health (“U-M”) that will fund the Michigan Health Equity Challenge, an effort inspiring students to develop innovative solutions to Michigan’s most pressing health equity concerns.

Through the Michigan Health Equity Challenge, U-M graduate students are invited to create practical, innovative community-based solutions to address health disparities that persist in Michigan. Projects may focus on physical health, behavioral health, long term care, social determinants of health, or any other health-related issue that has been deemed a major area of concern among Michigan’s health equity experts, providers, and community leaders.

“Eliminating systemic barriers to healthy outcomes takes imagination, collaboration, and passion; the MolinaCares Michigan Health Equity Challenge will help provide the resources to foster needed solutions,” said Terrisca Des Jardins, plan president for Molina Healthcare of Michigan. “We are excited to partner with the University of Michigan, local community organizations, and the leaders of tomorrow to address inequities so every Michigander is given the opportunity to thrive.”

With the MolinaCares funding The Griffith Leadership Center of the University of Michigan’s School of Public Health will commit staff to creating the challenge framework, including developing materials, hosting student orientation, performing regular check-ins with participants. Ten student finalists will be selected to further develop their proposals over a 10-week period, identifying a local community-based organization (CBO) to partner with to implement the intervention. Students will receive a stipend and mentor services throughout the project. Final projects will be due in March 2024, followed by an independent committee review. The two CBO partner awardees will receive additional funding from MolinaCares to implement the winning projects.

“Students possess the vision to offer fresh perspectives and solutions to tackle our most urgent issues,” said F. DuBois Bowman, dean of the University of Michigan School of Public Health. “With the support of MolinaCares, U-M mentors, and the state’s public health community, students will have the opportunity to fully cultivate their ideas. Thanks to MolinaCares, students who win the Health Equity Challenge will be able to transform their proposals into actionable initiatives, address historical inequities in health care, and change lives.”

For details about the Michigan Health Equity Challenge, in partnership with The MolinaCares Accord, please visit mihealthequitychallenge.org.

About The MolinaCares Accord

Established by Molina Healthcare, Inc., The MolinaCares Accord oversees a community investment platform created to improve the health and well-being of disadvantaged populations by funding meaningful, measurable, and innovative programs and solutions that improve health, life, and living in local communities. The MolinaCares Accord funds such measures through The Molina Healthcare Charitable Foundation Inc., a 501(c)(3) established in 2020 by Molina Healthcare, Inc.

About Molina Healthcare of Michigan

Molina Healthcare of Michigan has been providing government-funded health care since 1997. The Company serves members through Medicaid, Medicare, Medicare-Medicaid (Duals), and Health Insurance Exchange programs throughout Michigan. Through its locally operated health plans, Molina Healthcare, Inc., a FORTUNE 500 company, provides managed healthcare services under the Medicaid and Medicare programs and through the state insurance marketplaces. Molina Healthcare served approximately 5.2 million members as of September 30, 2023, located across 19 states. For more information about Molina Healthcare of Michigan, visit MolinaHealthCare.com.

About University of Michigan School of Public Health

Since 1941, the University of Michigan School of Public Health has been pursuing a healthier, more equitable world through education, research and action. Ranked among the top schools of public health in the country, Michigan Public Health trains more than 1,300 graduate and undergraduate students each year. With more than 190 faculty and researchers across six academic departments and numerous collaborative centers and institutes, the school produces impactful research aimed at finding lasting solutions to pressing public health challenges. Compassion, innovation and inclusion drive Michigan Public Health faculty, staff, students and more than 18,000 alumni worldwide to pursue positive change and make a lasting impact on the health of the world. Learn more at publichealth.umich.edu or follow us on social media at @umichsph.

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