Special Projects & Emerging Ideas is sponsored by Michigan Health Endowment Fund. Supports innovative approaches and emerging health priorities that may benefit senior wellness and other population health challenges in Michigan.

Special Projects & Emerging Ideas - Michigan Health Endowment Fund Michigan Health Endowment Fund Attend/Present Scholarships - OPEN NOW Nutrition & Healthy Lifestyles News from the Health Fund Lessons from the Health Fund Behavioral Health: Models and Lessons Healthy Aging: Models and Lessons Nutrition & Healthy Lifestyles: Models and Lessons Grant Range Up to $500,000 Applications Open Summer, by invitation only Below you’ll find a list of grants from our most recent cohort.

Details about all of our past grants are available in our searchable Grant Database .

Behavioral Health Teleconsultation for Early Childhood Providers Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement and Potential Program: Special Projects & Emerging Ideas Geography: Statewide To support early childhood educators who face behavioral challenges in the children they serve, the Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMHC) program will be expanded.

The project will increase access to virtual mental health consultations statewide to reduce provider burnout and improve outcomes for children in underserved communities.

Building Statewide Community Benefit Collaboratives Michigan Health and Hospital Association Program: Special Projects & Emerging Ideas Geography: Statewide To accelerate progress made by hospital community benefit programs, scale efforts statewide, and coalesce around solving difficult and persistent health problems, MHA will deploy a core set of standard interventions within Michigan hospitals and health systems to address three priority areas identified through community needs assessments, including behavioral health, maternal and infant health, and access to healthy foods.

CHW and Peer Building Capacity Grant School Community Health Alliance of Michigan Program: Special Projects & Emerging Ideas Geography: Statewide To support workers helping individuals access health services, this project will provide technical assistance to CHWs and Peer professionals.

It includes technical assistance for CHWs seeking to bill for reimbursable services as well as making recommendations regarding ways to broaden the impact of Peers beyond public mental health settings.

Comprehensive Needs Assessment of Older Adults and Caregivers Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Program: Special Projects & Emerging Ideas Geography: Statewide To inform Michigan’s State Plan on Aging, this project will conduct a comprehensive needs assessment of older adults and caregivers, with expanded outreach and targeted engagement.

It includes tribal partnerships and regional data analysis to support local planning.

Council of Michigan Foundations 2025 Annual Conference Council of Michigan Foundations Program: Special Projects & Emerging Ideas Geography: Statewide This project will provide support for community-based organizations presenting at the Council of Michigan Foundations’ annual conference, with the goal of increasing representation and reducing burden for nonprofits to share information with the Michigan philanthropy community.

Council of Michigan Foundations Annual Conference Council of Michigan Foundations Program: Special Projects & Emerging Ideas Geography: Statewide This project will provide support for health-related programming at the Council of Michigan Foundations’ annual conference, with the goal of convening and increasing collaboration among health-focused foundations in Michigan.

Culturally Adapted Social Programs for Older Asian Americans Eastern Michigan University Program: Special Projects & Emerging Ideas Geography: Macomb, Oakland, Wayne To improve social connectedness and delay cognitive decline among older adults in Asian American communities, Eastern Michigan University will partner with local organizations to develop culturally adapted senior center programming.

This initiative will serve Chinese, Filipino, and Bangladeshi older adults who face cultural and linguistic barriers to accessing wellness programming, offering activities such as Tai Chi, dancing, and gender-specific sessions aligned with community values.

Development of a Coordinating Intermediary for Medicaid ILOS Michigan Primary Care Association Program: Special Projects & Emerging Ideas Geography: Statewide To enhance the partnership of Michigan’s Food as Medicine programs with Medicaid Health Plans through “In Lieu of Services” (ILOS), this project will develop a coordinating intermediary to integrate Health-Related Social Needs (HRSNs) into Medicaid services, focusing on food and nutrition.

Through streamlining service delivery and enhancing payment processes, the initiative aims to reduce health disparities, improve nutritional outcomes, and enhance the healthcare system’s ability to respond to HRSNs for Michigan residents.

Documenting Support for School Nurses Michigan Council for Maternal and Child Health Program: Special Projects & Emerging Ideas Geography: Statewide To improve the quality and safety of health services provided by school nurses, this project will address gaps in care documentation.

By assessing existing student information systems and electronic documentation platforms, this project will lead to more accurate and standardized documentation and consistent billing processes for school nurses.

Effective Engagement in Public Health: Moving On from COVID Michigan Association for Local Public Health Program: Special Projects & Emerging Ideas Geography: Statewide This project will equip local public health agencies to address misinformation and better communicate public health messages with their communities.

By analyzing attitudes across population groups and training staff in health communication, the project aims to improve messaging and engagement with diverse communities across Michigan.

Enhancing Health Literacy in Foster Care Youth Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Program: Special Projects & Emerging Ideas Geography: Chippewa, Luce, Muskegon, Washtenaw, Mackinac To improve health outcomes for foster youth, this project will scale a health literacy curriculum statewide, starting with a pilot in three regions.

Building on a Health Fund-supported planning grant that developed the foster-care-specific curriculum, the project will equip transition-age youth with tools to navigate health systems and will embed the model into child welfare practices for long-term, youth-driven impact.

Implementing Specialty Behavioral Health Housing Assistance Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Program: Special Projects & Emerging Ideas Geography: Statewide To improve access to supportive housing for individuals experiencing chronic homelessness and co-occurring behavioral health conditions, this project will implement regional pilot programs across Michigan.

By providing technical assistance, building capacity, and analyzing Medicaid rates, the project aims to better coordinate housing and behavioral health systems, ensuring that Medicaid covered Housing Assistance Services are fully utilized to meet the needs of this population.

Juvenile Justice System Reform and Reinvestment Initiative Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Program: Special Projects & Emerging Ideas Geography: Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Emmet, Macomb, Oakland, Presque Isle, Wayne, Wexford To reduce youth incarceration, this project will assist eight Michigan counties in identifying evidence-based community programs for justice-involved youth.

By partnering with a resource specialist and engaging local stakeholders, the project will help identify, implement, and sustain holistic services that strengthen family and community ties using increased reimbursement.

KFF Health News Coverage from Michigan Henry J Kaiser Family Foundation dba KFF Program: Special Projects & Emerging Ideas Geography: Statewide KFF Health News will expand its coverage of health policy issues in Michigan. Funding will also be used to support distribution partnerships with media outlets throughout the state to maximize impact.

Michigan League for Public Policy Program: Special Projects & Emerging Ideas Geography: Statewide To strengthen child well-being data, this project will expand Kids Count reporting in Michigan with deeper analysis and outreach in rural communities. It supports policy advocacy and equips stakeholders with actionable insights.

Leveraging Coalitions and Research to address the Social Work workforce shortage Michigan Association of Community Mental Health Boards (dba Community Mental Health Association of Michigan) Program: Special Projects & Emerging Ideas Geography: Statewide To address Michigan’s shortage of licensed social workers, this project will pilot an alternative licensure exam and use the results to continue engaging Michigan regulators on alternative pathways to licensure.

It aims to reduce bias and expand access to culturally responsive care statewide. Michigan Medicaid Common Credentialing Michigan Association of Health Plans Program: Special Projects & Emerging Ideas Geography: Statewide To reduce the administrative burden on providers participating in Medicaid health plans, this project will establish a standardized credentialling process for all Medicaid health plans in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula.

By selecting a single credentialing verification organization and leveraging input from multiple stakeholders, the initiative aims to promote broader Medicaid participation among healthcare professionals and increase beneficiary access to care by reducing provider approval times.

Michigan Technology First Initiative Program: Special Projects & Emerging Ideas Geography: Statewide To publicly fund enabling technology for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in Michigan, this project will implement the national Technology First framework.

By creating a 20-member task force including parents and state government to develop implementation recommendations and establishing a nonprofit “tech champion”, the initiative aims to improve self-efficacy and resilience among IDD beneficiaries while addressing workforce shortages and enhancing care adherence.

Michigan’s Qualified Interpreter Program: Census Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Program: Special Projects & Emerging Ideas Geography: Statewide To strengthen interpreter services for Michigan’s Deaf, DeafBlind, Hard of Hearing, and Deaf Disabled community, this project will assess the interpreter workforce and the barriers to accessing critical services.

Through a statewide census and data analysis, partners will develop recommendations to enhance interpreter training programs and improve service delivery in health care and community settings.

Michigan’s Section 1115 Reentry Services Demonstration: Collaborative Planning and Strategic Implementation Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Program: Special Projects & Emerging Ideas Geography: Statewide Through expanded Medicaid coverage and targeted services to individuals transitioning from incarceration back into the community, this 1115 waiver aims to improve health outcomes and reduce recidivism.

This grant will support planning and implementation by conducting landscape assessments and engaging stakeholders, healthcare providers, and community-based organizations, facilitating continuous and integrating care for justice-involved individuals.

Patient-Centered Value-Based Stroke Rehabilitation Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital Program: Special Projects & Emerging Ideas Geography: Allegan, Barry, Bay, Clinton, Genesee, Gratiot, Ionia, Kalamazoo, Kent, Mecosta, Midland, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana, Ottawa, Saginaw, Shiawassee, Tuscola, Van Buren To personalize post-acute care (PAC) for stroke survivors, this project will create data models for 1,360 patients.

By integrating patient data, cost measures, and predictive dashboards, the model will inform care planning, stratify results by race/ethnicity and insurance type, and demonstrate clinical and cost benefits that can shape federal regulations.

Policy and Systems Change – Assistive Technology Michigan Disability Rights Coalition Program: Special Projects & Emerging Ideas Geography: Statewide This grant supports Michigan Disability Right Coalition’s participation in a cohort to strengthen their capacity to effectively engage in policy and systems change.

Michigan Disability Right Coalition will focus on efforts statewide to improve access to assistive technology (AT) and support changes in how AT policies, services, and funding are organized, managed, and distributed. Assistive technology refers to any device, software, equipment, or product that helps enhance, maintain, or improve the functional abilities of individuals with disabilities.

Policy and Systems Change – Food Sovereignty Program: Special Projects & Emerging Ideas Geography: Washtenaw This grant supports Growing Hope’s participation in a cohort to strengthen their capacity to effectively engage in policy and systems change. Growing Hope will focus efforts on improving food sovereignty within Washtenaw County, including a senior bill of rights, food justice reform, and land use reform.

Policy and Systems Change – Lead Testing and Lead Poisoning Prevention Program: Special Projects & Emerging Ideas Geography: Statewide This grant supports Ecology Center’s participation in a cohort to strengthen their capacity to effectively engage in policy and systems change.

Ecology Center will focus on efforts in Detroit and statewide on improving lead testing and lead poisoning prevention, aiming to reduce the impact of lead exposure on children and families. Policy and Systems Change – Student Wellness Program: Special Projects & Emerging Ideas Geography: Kent This grant supports K-Connect’s participation in a cohort to strengthen their capacity to effectively engage in policy and systems change.

KConnect will focus on supporting educational tools in Kent County to promote the importance of the 31n funding program (enhances/expands mental health services for K–12 students), while also strengthening coalition efforts and planning for the program’s funding sustainability.

Securing Services for Infants at Risk for Developmental Delays Grand Valley State University Program: Special Projects & Emerging Ideas Geography: Statewide To improve early identification of developmental delays in premature and medically fragile infants, this project will implement and validate the “Premature and Young Infant Developmental Assessment Tool” (PYIDAT).

By training Ealy On Michigan staff and assessing 200 infants across Michigan, the project aims to enable earlier interventions, enhance long-term health outcomes, and reduce healthcare costs for at-risk infants.

Social Worker Career Pathway with Registered Apprenticeship (SWCPRA) Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) Program: Special Projects & Emerging Ideas Geography: Statewide To strengthen Michigan’s behavioral health workforce, this project will expand a registered apprenticeship program enabling entry-level workers to become social service technicians.

It offers comprehensive career navigation support and seeks to improve retention by creating stronger connections between employees and their employers. Strengthening Community Care: A Community Integrated Paramedicine Regulatory Framework for Michigan Center for Healthcare Research & Transformation d. b.

a. Center for Health & Research Transformation (CHRT) Program: Special Projects & Emerging Ideas Geography: Statewide To create administrative rules and a statewide regulatory framework for community paramedicine, this project will help paramedics deliver non-urgent care in homes, reducing hospital visits and expanding access for underserved populations.

It builds on prior investments to standardize certification, education, and billing practices for sustainable implementation.

Strengthening Michigan’s Medical Control Authorities for Rural EMS Excellence Michigan Center for Rural Health Program: Special Projects & Emerging Ideas Geography: Statewide To improve emergency care in rural Michigan, this project will support under-resourced Medical Control Authorities with training, infrastructure, and governance tools. It targets compliance gaps and enhances care quality for 1. 7 million rural residents.

Supporting the Voices of Michigan Mothers through the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Program: Special Projects & Emerging Ideas Geography: Statewide To preserve Michigan’s only statewide maternal health survey, this project will sustain and adapt PRAMS to better reflect mothers’ experiences and inform policy.

It ensures continuity of critical data collection amid federal funding uncertainty. Sustainable Immunizations Coalition for Michigan Michigan Council for Maternal and Child Health Program: Special Projects & Emerging Ideas Geography: Statewide To reverse declining childhood vaccination rates and address racial disparities, this project will build a statewide coalition to streamline immunization efforts and improve vaccine access.

The initiative will develop a coalition and strategic plan to guide future outreach and coordination.

Telehealth Mental Health Consultation for Infant and Early Childhood Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Program: Special Projects & Emerging Ideas Geography: Statewide This project will increase access to prevention and early invention services for infants and early childhood providers by supporting the implementation of virtual infant and early childhood mental health consultation (IECMHC) to licensed and registered childcare providers serving children birth to age six and their families.

View all Special Projects & Emerging Ideas grants The Health Fund is committed to supporting long-term, systemic change that outlasts any given grant cycle. Through our Special Projects & Emerging Ideas program, we partner with stakeholders on shared priorities to support statewide replication of successful models and help inform policy change.

Working with key institutions, such as the Department of Health and Human Services, we identify projects with the potential to have significant statewide impact on the health of Michigan residents. Select organizations with the capacity to initiate large-scale, complex projects are invited to apply for a grant through this program.

The Special Projects & Emerging Ideas program allows the Health Fund to take calculated risks that have the potential to be transformative, and to advance ideas with broad reach that might not otherwise move forward. " * " indicates required fields This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.