The Resilient SW Detroit health education initiative focuses on bridging the gap between environmental health risks and medical care. By training healthcare providers and educating residents, we aim to ensure that our community is better equipped to handle the unique health challenges posed by climate change and local industrial impacts
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Project Overview
Our goal is to inform both the people providing care and the people receiving it about the direct links between our environment and chronic diseases. Key activities include:
Healthcare Provider Training: Training staff at the CHASS Center on environmental diseases, health data, and policy to improve patient treatment and protective health advice.
Patient & Resident Education: Educating families on environmental health risks and the specific protective actions they can take to safeguard their health.
Professional Development: Implementing online certificate programs for clinic staff to deepen their expertise in environmental justice and its connection to community health.
Our Partners
This work is a collaborative effort between healthcare experts and community advocates:
CHASS Center: Leads the healthcare provider training, patient education initiatives, and community health events.
Southwest Detroit Community Benefits Coalition (CBC): Manages project coordination and provides bilingual outreach to ensure all residents have access to this vital information.
University of Michigan / CAPHE: Provides essential educational support and technical assistance to ensure our training materials are rooted in the latest scientific research.
What’s Next?
As we move forward into the next phase of the project, our upcoming steps include:
- Team Strategy Sessions: Scheduling specialized meetings with partner project leads to refine our health training curriculum.
- Expanding Our Reach: Identifying additional health providers and community partners, such as American Indian Health & Family Services, to involve in future training sessions.
- Resource Integration: Collaborating with partners to leverage existing programs, such as weatherization and home mitigation, to provide a more holistic approach to health and housing.
- Narrative Workshops: Participating in upcoming sessions (February 2026) that explore how narrative strategy can be used as a tool for climate and health justice.
