Detroit Health Equity Education Resource:
D-HEER
A SEMPQIC Project.
The W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF) awarded SEMPQIC a $450,000 three-year grant (as $150,000 per year) to create the Detroit Health Equity Network, beginning October 2020. The Detroit Health Equity Education Resource (D-HEER) is being developed using a collective impact approach enveloping the “Water of Systems Change,” framework as described by FSG. The intent of using this framework is to shift the conditions that hold disparate birth outcomes in place in Detroit. D-HEER will be an online platform for health equity information, resources, and best practice exchange that will assist organizations to better serve those at high-risk for experiencing maternal and infant mortality. The site will also create community connections that foster capacity growth for agencies to implement equitable policies, practices, and programs that create system change for improved birth and maternal health outcomes. The platform will expand to enable the dissemination of lessons learned statewide and will coordinate efforts with MDHHS in the promotion of the Mother Infant Health and Equity Improvement Plan.
In late 2020, 46 individuals from diverse backgrounds, such as published authors, university leadership, health insurance providers, birthing hospital personnel, federally qualified health centers, medical students, home visitors, breastfeeding proponents, community activists, and faith-based and community-based organizations were invited to participate as members of a Collective Impact Advisory Committee. This committee was tasked with helping to shape the direction of the Network and members were placed into three work groups, each with a specific task in coordinating the Network. The first group worked to identify resource materials and establish criteria for resource selection in the Network. The second group defined the methods for sharing use of the resources with end-users and the community. The third group collected data elements for inclusion in the data dashboard and ensured the evaluation plan for the Network appropriately captures metrics to reflect the impact of this effort. Advisory Committee members actively participate in the D-HEER site, and provided input before the site was made available to the public.