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Capacity Connect Initiative

Capacity Connect Initiative

The Capacity Connect Initiative

Empowering Local Food and Nutrition Providers

The Capacity Connect Initiative (CCI) is designed to empower local, community-based food and nutrition providers who have not traditionally delivered services within the Medicaid system. By offering tailored technical assistance, direct funding, and strategic support, this initiative helps providers overcome barriers to participation in the Medicaid program’s new In-Lieu of Services opportunity.

capacity connect initiative approach

Direct Funding

MDHHS made direct funding available to organizations through a grant application and award process to support investments such as the implementation or enhancement of technology solutions, development of business or operational practices, workforce development and training efforts, and education and outreach. 

Allowable Uses of Funds

  • Development of Business or Operational Practices

    • Development of policies/procedures related to:
      • ILOS referral and service delivery workflows
      • Billing/invoicing
      • Data sharing/reporting
      • Program oversight/monitoring
      • Evaluation
      • Privacy and confidentiality
    • Contract development and management
      • Cost of developing/managing contracts with Medicaid health plans, ILOS service delivery providers, and/or vendors
    • Training/technical assistance on ILOS program and roles/responsibilities
    • Modifying infrastructure necessary to perform ILOS duties or build/enhance ILOS service delivery capacity
    • Planning needs for the implementation of ILOS program
    • Procurement of administrative staff supports to assist implementation of ILOS program
    • Quality improvement planning

  • Workforce Development and Training

    • Cost of recruiting, hiring, and training new staff
    • Salary and fringe for staff that will have a direct role in overseeing, designing, implementing, and executing ILOS responsibilities.
    • Training/technical assistance related to privacy/confidentiality for executing ILOS services
    • Costs associated with updating internal policies to comply with Medicaid requirements/ILOS requirements

  • Technology

    • Procuring IT infrastructure/data platforms needed to support necessary ILOS services, for example:
      • Referral to ILOS services
      • ILOS service delivery
      • ILOS service billing
      • ILOS program reporting
    • Modifying existing systems to support ILOS services (meal ordering systems and delivery management)
    • Integration of data platforms/systems/tools
    • Onboarding and/or training to new, modified or existing systems (e.g., data information exchange)
    • Purchasing hardware or office equipment necessary to support delivery of ILOS services

  • Outreach, Education, and Convening

    • Production of materials necessary for promoting, outreach, training and/or education
    • Developing educational materials that are accessible and relevant
    • Planning for and facilitation of community-based outreach events to support awareness of ILOS services
    • Planning for and facilitation of community engagement activities, including learning collaboratives or stakeholder convenings necessary to support ILOS implementation

Technical Assistance (TA)

  • Technical assistance is available to all interested organizations whether they receive funding or not. Technical assistance will support critical areas of program operations and administration which may encompass referrals, authorizations, documentation of service levels, billing procedures, claims processing, and staff training. 

More Information:

  • 2025-2026 Awardees

    • Community Action House
    • Community Food Clubs
    • MIGen- Gay Elders Metro Detroit
    • Genesis Harbor of Opportunities Promoting Excellence
    • Hurley Medical Center
    • Jewish Family Services of Washtenaw County, Inc.
    • Meals on Wheels Western Michigan
    • Revive & Thrive Project
    • Trinity Health Michigan
    • Grand Rapids Metropolitan YMCA

    Resources

    Contact

  • In Collaboration with:

    The Capacity Connect Initiative is made possible through funding support from The Health Fund, with ongoing collaborative program design support from our partners, the Michigan Farmers Market Association (MiFMA), the Michigan Association of Health Plans (MAHP), and with the Food Bank Council of Michigan (FBCM) having contributed during the initial research and development phase.

    Learn more about our active partners below:

    The Michigan Health Endowment Fund Michigan Farmers Market Association (MIFMA) Michigan Association of Health Plans (MAHP)

    The Michigan Health Endowment Fund is a philanthropic foundation that works to improve the health and wellness of Michigan residents while reducing healthcare costs, with a special focus on children and seniors. The Health Fund supports organizations across Michigan, from grassroots groups addressing local health challenges to large agencies working in every county.

    		 The Michigan Farmers Market Association (MIFMA) is a member-based, non-profit organization with a mission to support the viability of community-driven marketplaces and healthy food access for all. In service of this mission, MIFMA leads Michigan Produce Prescription Coalitions to sustain and advance the impacts of Produce Prescription programs including equitability addressing nutrition access and creating positive health outcomes. The mission of the Michigan Association of Health Plans (MAHP) is to provide leadership for promoting and advocating high-quality, affordable, equitable, and accessible health care access for the people of Michigan.
    mihealthfund.org mifma.org/ppr www.mahp.org