Publications

Publications

Sherriff's Officer reading pamphlet on diversion and deflection

Pathways to reform in Michigan: Diversion, deflection, and reentry programs

A recent report from the U.S. Department of Justice revealed alarming rates of mental health disorders among jail inmates–on average, 44 percent of inmates had a mental health diagnosis. Despite this prevalence, jails lack adequate resources to meet inmates’ mental health needs, potentially worsened by discriminatory practices, implicit bias, overcrowding, and hostile environments. And these challenges disproportionately affect racial and …

Read more >
A doctor stands behind several white icons of integrated health care systems.

CHRT staff in Health Affairs on strengthening public health through collaboration with primary care

In a recent Health Affairs Forefront piece, Strengthening public health through collaboration with primary care: lessons from the states, CHRT’s Nancy Baum and Samantha Iovan share key findings from research across four states: North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington. These four states were selected based on the authors’ previous research, which identified these states as innovators in their work …

Read more >
Hands holding health and public health building blocks

Strengthening public health through integration with primary care

State and local leaders across the country are taking innovative steps to strengthen public health through integration with primary care.  Public health agencies at the state and local levels have long faced challenges such as chronic underfunding, rigid funding streams, outdated and disconnected data systems, fragmented care delivery structures, and workforce shortages. Partnerships between medical care systems, community-based organizations, and …

Read more >
Caregiver and woman in wheelchair in a field

Organizations’ perspectives on successful aging with long-term physical disability

CHRT staff Marissa Rurka and Melissa Riba of the Center for Health and Research Transformation (CHRT), recently published a study in the peer-reviewed journal, Disabilities, on Organizations’ perspectives on successful aging with long-term physical disability.  To best serve those aging with physical disabilities, organizations must understand what successful aging means for this population.  From October 2021 to May 2022, 128 …

Read more >
Woman speaking to laptop

Supporting behavioral health providers in public health emergencies

Support for behavioral health care providers is crucial, especially considering the significant stress and burnout they have experienced prior to and during the pandemic. To understand how to better support behavioral health care providers during public health emergencies, this study explores three topics.  Burnout  While the literature is limited, studies suggests that burnout can affect physical and mental health for many …

Read more >
A behavioral health worker offers support to a teenager

The value of community health workers in extending the behavioral health workforce

Prior studies suggest that Community Health Workers (CHWs) add significant value in healthcare settings. CHWs can improve physical health outcomes and lower health care costs for their patients, but there is limited research on the roles CHWs fill in behavioral health care. Trusted frontline health workers, CHWs often live in or come from the communities they serve. Importantly, they support hard-to-engage …

Read more >
Person in wheelchair shakes hands with someone holding a house key

Housing crisis is magnified for people with physical disabilities. Here’s how we can help.

The U.S. housing crisis is worse for people with physical disabilities for two reasons. First, affordable housing is a challenge because people with physical disabilities are twice as likely to be low income. Second, accessibility is a challenge because significant and costly renovations are often required for people with physical disabilities. Those with physical disabilities are disproportionately impacted by the …

Read more >
Three lines combine into an arrow moving up and to the right.

Increasing access to integrated models of primary and behavioral health care in rural and urban areas of Michigan

Nationally, mental health needs increased over the last several years, exacerbated by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) public health emergency that began in March 2020. A 2021 survey found that “…31.6 percent of adults in the U.S. reported symptoms of anxiety and/or depressive disorder, up from 11.0 percent in 2019.” Primary care and BH providers offer a range of services …

Read more >
Community paramedics prepare patient for transport

Funding community paramedicine is an ongoing challenge, in spite of value and savings

Community paramedicine (CP) programs fill significant treatment gaps between primary care providers and emergency care providers. First, CP programs treat clients in the most appropriate settings. Second, CP programs divert patients from emergency departments when appropriate. Finally, CP programs connect clients with needed social services. But funding community paramedicine is an ongoing challenge. For patients, CP programs offer convenient treatment. …

Read more >
Portrait of a man in a wheelchair on a laptop

Telehealth for people with disabilities: here are the challenges and opportunities policymakers should consider

Telehealth was a lifeline for people with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Federal and state policy changes allowed clinics, health systems, and providers to expand telehealth services, which benefitted people with disabilities.  People with disabilities, approximately one in every four Americans, are six times more likely to have ten or more physician visits and five times more likely to be admitted …

Read more >