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Accelerator Plan

About the SDOH Accelerator Plan to Prevent Chronic Disease

The SDOH Accelerator Plan to Prevent Chronic Disease is an initiative within Phase 2 of the statewide SDOH Strategy. It aims to address community conditions that contribute to health inequity by tackling the root causes of health disparities. The development of the Accelerator Plan was a collaborative effort, supported by federal funding from the CDC's National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention. 

Mission

The primary goals of the Accelerator Plan are to reduce disparities in health outcomes related to chronic diseases, with a specific focus on populations disproportionately impacted by illness. By proactively addressing the impacts of public health and environmental events on historically disadvantaged communities, we strive to pre-emptively mitigate these challenges. Key areas of focus include food security, the built environment, and environmental hazards.

Accelerator Plan Key Outcomes

We anticipate completing an Implementation Ready Report by September 2023, which will incorporate the following components:

  1. Community Engagement: Regional listening sessions will be held throughout Michigan to gather input from community members.
  1. Leadership Team: A collaborative team consisting of community members, state program leadership, and other state and local partners will shape the success of our initiatives.
  2. Review of Promising Practices and Policies: External experts will help review best practices and policies within the state and across the country, identifying recommendations to expedite SDOH interventions and remove policy barriers.

Regional Listening Sessions

To gather valuable insights and expertise from community members, we are utilizing CDC federal funds to hold regional listening sessions. These sessions have the following objectives:

  • Identify communal strengths and resources that contribute to increased community resilience.
  • Understand how various aspects of daily community life impact overall health and wellness.
  • Define and clarify barriers, challenges, and gaps experienced by community members.

The following local partners will host listening sessions in their community:

  • Ottawa County Department of Public Health
  • Ingham County Health Department
  • Detroit Association of Black Organizations
  • Thumb Health Alliance (via the Sanilac County Health Department)
  • Bay County Health Department
  • District Health Department #2
  • Northern Michigan Health Consortium
  • Northern Michigan University - Rural Health Program
  • Institute for Public Scholarship and the Center for Health Equity @ Western Michigan University

How to Get Involved

If your organization is working on efforts to address social drivers that influence chronic disease, such as housing, food, or environment, please share your work with us. We would love to connect your efforts to the Accelerator Plan and learn from each other as we work together to improve health outcomes in Michigan. Email information to MDHHS-SDOH-PolicyandPlanning@michigan.gov.