The Northwest Michigan Community Health Innovation Region’s (CHIR) Behavioral Health Initiative (BHI) was launched in June 2021 to respond to the behavioral health crisis in the 10 counties encompassing Northwest Michigan. Behavioral Health was identified as a top concern in several prior MIThrive Community Health Needs Assessments and an initial planning grant was received from the Michigan Health Endowment Fund to explore how to best meet this need in the region.
Conversations with hundreds of diverse stakeholders across the 10 counties revealed shared concerns and an immediate desire for action. By September, 2021 the BHI pivoted from a planning project to a collective action initiative focused on two prioritized goals:
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Increase Access to Behavioral Health Services and Supports
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Enhance Wellbeing and Resilience
To inform collective action efforts, a Blueprint for Action was developed in fall, 2021. Using local, state and federal data and best practices, this Blueprint describes local needs and introduces our shared Action Framework. Since November, 2021 over 400 stakeholders representing over 180 different organizations have worked together to address action priorities identified in the Blueprint. These teams have made progress on issues such as: expanding crisis services, recruiting and retaining staff, reducing stigma, promoting parity, enhancing care coordination, promoting social emotional competencies, and preventing suicide.
Search below to discover more about the change priorities, the region’s collective action efforts, and the numerous resources action teams have created to increase access and enhance wellbeing/resilience:
Our Change Goals
Click on on one of our change goals to learn more about the Action Priorities pursued by our network and the work of the Action Teams.
Our Funders
Thanks to our funders for their support.
