Health Equity & Access

HEALTH EQUITY & ACCESS

Without healthcare, it is impossible to live a healthy life. Barriers to care can range between transportation, cost, mistrust, and more. When we address access challenges, we can help advance health equity for underserved communities and prepare kids for success.

Basic healthcare increases the likelihood kids succeed in school, graduate from high school and attend college, earn higher wages, and grow up into healthy adults.

THE PROBLEM

50%

In Michigan, 50%
of kids were covered
by Medicaid in 2022.

70%

In Wayne County, 70%
of kids were covered by
Medicaid in 2022.

Investing
in Solutions

Meeting kids right where they are

The Foundation’s investments in school-based health centers address health equity and access by bringing healthcare services to kids, right where they are. This increases school attendance, helps eligible students enroll in health insurance, reduces emergency room visits, and more.

Staff at the centers treat common ailments, administer vaccinations, screen for dental, vision and hearing, provide mental health care, behavioral health assessments and reproductive health care.

Hamtramck Public Schools

Since 2011, the Children’s Foundation has supported the Hamtramck School-Based Health Center (HSBHC) which serves as a critical resource for uninsured legal immigrant families – 70% of its population.

In Michigan, only legal immigrants of five years are eligible for Medicaid coverage, creating challenges for kids to get immunizations needed to attend school. Because HSBC provides free services, such challenges are eliminated.

Detroit Public Schools Community District

In 2023, the Foundation established a partnership with Detroit Public Schools Community District, to bring access to wrap-around healthcare to the district’s nearly 49,000 students. Foundation support enabled the first of 12 Health Hubs at Central High School – a one-stop-shop of needs for the students that feed into its enrollment and their families. In addition, we allowed for continuation of school nurses at five schools after pandemic-related funding ended. This includes a telehealth pilot program allowing virtual consultations with a live physician, so kids receive necessary prescriptions.