About the Alliance

Founded in 1994, the Capital Area Health Alliance is a coalition of organizations, businesses, health care professionals and volunteers from Clinton, Eaton and Ingham Counties, working together to empower our community to achieve better health. That mission is realized through the ongoing process of assessing community need, using the expertise and dedication of dozens of volunteers who serve on CAHA committees, and tapping community resources to address local health issues.

The Capital Area Health Alliance has focused its attention on health care issues associated with access, quality and cost. CAHA plans to continue its emphasis on these important issues and recognizes the effectiveness of working on challenges together that no single organization can resolve or achieve on its own. Often complex health problems facing the Capital Area do not have simple solutions and are too multi-faceted to be tackled by a single organization.

As CAHA looks to the future, there are many opportunities for program development, organizational collaborations, partnerships and grant procurement. Responses to CAHA’s various outreach activities, coupled with the strong participation on CAHA’s standing committees, indicate a deep commitment to working together to make a difference in our community’s health. If you would like more information about CAHA, would like to be on our mailing list, or would like to become a member of the organization, please call us at (517) 347-3377 or e-mail us at: CAHealthAlliance@AOL.com.

The strength of this Alliance is the people who contribute their time, talents, resources and expertise. We appreciate your interest and encourage you to thoughtfully consider the contribution you can make to the health of our community.

"I am proud to recognize the important role that the Alliance has played in building coalitions for quality health care over the past 15 years. It is with deep appreciation that I commend the organizations, businesses, health care professionals and volunteers that have made the work of the Alliance possible for more than a decade.

Thank you for your dedication to empowering members of the community to achieve healthy living. I admire your commitment to bringing professionals, organizations and volunteers together to work towards improving community health. I am grateful for all that the Alliance has done to invest in individual health and the well-being of the entire community." - Mark Meadows, Michigan House of Representatives

"Capital Area Health Alliance has played a critical role in building coalitions for quality health care and should be commended for your commitment to enhancing the health of our community. Thank you and the dozens of dedicated people who have volunteered their time and resources to make the work of the Alliance possible." - Gretchen Whitmer, State Senator, Michigan

"Congratulations. . . It has been exciting to watch the difference your programs have made in the health and well being of the community over the past 15 years. As we work to make health care more affordable and accessible in the country, your programs are excellent models for how to collaboratively approach this challenging task. Thank you for everything you have done to create health communities." - Debbie Stabenow, United States Senate, Michigan

"I would lie to congratulate the Capital Area Health Alliance on fifteen productive years of working to enhance the health of citizens in Mid-Michigan. Specifically, I would like to acknowledge CAHA's focus on health care issues associated with access, quality and cost. . . CAHA's Access to Health initiative has been a catalyst for developing community centers and community health organizations, which have already served thousands of local residents. This is an important public service that provides access to basic medical care for struggling families in our area that can't afford health insurance.

Additionally, by launching information campaigns to stress the importance of diet and exercise and workplace wellness, CAHA's Healthy Lifesytles initiative is helping to promote personal responsibility and raise the overall health of our workforce. These accomplishments are just some of the many ways Capital Area Health Alliance has established itself as one of the most important stewards of our community's health resources." -Mark Schauer, United States House of Representatives, Michigan

"As the Chief Information Officer for the State of Michigan, I'd like to specifically thank the Alliance for all the work that has been done to develop the Capital Area Regional Health Information Organization. Your support of the goal to create integrated electronic health records is appreciated. Together, I know we can continue to bring efficiencies and improvements in service through health information exchange, and your support of this important effort is to commended." -Ken Theis, Director and Chief Information Officer, State of Michigan

"Since 1994, CAHA has worked with dedicated partners from the Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham area to achieve better health by enlisting the expertise of volunteers and tapping into community resources. We want to thank you all for your tireless work to empower our community to achieve better health." - Jennifer M. Granholm, Governor of Michigan

"For 15 years the Capital Area Health Alliance has remained vigilant in its efforts to improve the health and welfare of those who reside in Capital Area communities. The alliance has tackled diverse issues with one common thread - each played a vital role in the health of area residents. That is why the alliance has embarked upon campaigns to wipe out the stigma associated with mental illness and raise awareness about the dangers of misusing antibiotics.

During the last 15 years, the alliance has been at the forefront of addressing the important issues of the day- always aligning those efforts with the overreaching goal of creating a healthier Capital Area for future years and generations to come. The alliance's Access to Health initiative helped launch development of community centers and community health organizations, expanding access to health care to thousands of Capital Area residents. The Ingham Health Plan, which provides health care coverage for low-income uninsured residents, can trace its roots back to this very initiative.

Physician and nursing workforce issues are not eh darlings of high-profile celebrity causes. Yet, addressing workforce shortages and their root causes is critical if we are to fix our primary care system and embrace a health care system that delves beyond illness care. The Capital Area Health Alliance understands the importance of addressing these issues and has led the way in the Capital Area with its Nursing Network and Capital Area Physician Experience.

The alliance is no newcomer when it comes to serving as a leader in the Capital Area. Through initiatives such as the Capital Area Regional Health Information Organization (RHIO). This alliance is leading the way in Michigan- and even the nation.
The recently launched Capital Area RHIO makes possible the secure electronic exchange of patient information. This exchange will improve patient safety and quality of care by ensuring patient information is available at the point of care while increasing efficiencies within the health care system.

The RHIO offers a suite of services and technology that can deliver value to every health care provider in the community. It also features a long-term sustainable business plan that has the support of a vast array of stakeholders. Moving forward, the Capital Area RHIO will play an integral role in the state's Health Information Exchange, the Michigan Health Information Network.

These are just a few of the many significant contributions the Capital Area Health Alliance has made to its communities these past 15 years. On behalf of the Michigan Department of Community Health, thank you for working to create a healthier Capital Area and a healthier Michigan." -Janet Olszewski, Director, Michigan Department of Community Health

"With its abundance of talent, know-how, leadership, and a coalition approach through its board, CAHA stands in the forefront in bringing attention to health concerns and health care delivery in the tri-county communities." -Larry Leatherwood, Management Consultant

"The Capital Area Health Alliance has proven to be an innovator and a leader amongst its peers. Great pride and enthusiasm have been generated be its efforts. Furthermore, the Capital Area Health Alliance's commitment to providing better health is commendable." - Mike Rogers, United States House of Representatives, Michigan

" The Capital Area Health Alliance is a great collaborative forum to address local health care access, quality and cost issues. As a founding member of CAHA, Michigan State University is proud of CAHA's successes and looks forward to continuing to work together with CAHA members and volunteers to improve the health of our community." - J. Randolph Hillard, MD, Associate Provost for Human Health Affairs, Michigan State University

" I recognize the great efforts you have made to help residents of the tri-county area. One of the strengths of any community-focused organization is the ability to work closely with many community leaders, and CAHA is an exemplar of this trait." -Carl Levin, United State Senate, Michigan

The Capital Area Health Alliance is pleased to announce the Community Service Award Nominees and Honorees

Community Service Award Nominees

Each year the Capital Area Health Alliance has the extraordinary pleasure of recognizing the service that is offered to this community by some of our fellow citizens in Community Service Awards. This year we have some exceptional nominees that are divided into two categories, Organizations and Individuals.    

Organizational Nominees:

Capital Area Literacy Coalition - The Capital Area Literacy Coalition (CALC) is a non-profit organization helping children and adults learn to read, write and speak English, with the ultimate goal of helping them achieve self-sufficiency. Based in Lansing, the agency serves the tri-county area of Clinton, Eaton and Ingham with direct services and by enhancing literacy efforts of community organizations in the capital area and statewide. The agency’s goals are to increase workplace literacy; help at-risk youth; develop family literacy; provide for personal improvement and achievement; and create a collaborative literacy model for businesses, schools, community agencies and higher education. In its 2007-08 fiscal year, the agency helped 470 new adult students with tutoring and 950 adults with one or more other program aspects, such as pretests, interviews, parenting, and reading children’s books. CALC works on many fronts to address health illiteracy, specifically by working with physician offices to reach patients who struggle with reading and by offering to rewrite often technical patient education and instructional materials for lower level readers. Currently, CALC provides children’s books for the MSU Pediatric Clinic on a regular basis.    

Delta Dental - As a company, Delta Dental is committed to helping those less fortunate and to financially supporting other community programs that promote oral health. Delta Dental provides excellent educational materials that reinforce the importance of good oral health and how it impacts overall health. For example, during a routine dental checkup, a dentist can also detect signs and symptoms of more than 120 diseases including oral cancer, heart disease, diabetes complications, and kidney failure. One of Delta Dental’s collaborative efforts is the launch of the new Chair-side Screening pilot program with Ingham Regional Medical Center and the Michigan Primary Care Association. Participating Lansing-area dental offices will provide free blood pressure screenings as part of routine dental check-ups. If a problem is detected, the dentist  will recommend their patients follow up with their own primary care physician or offer a referral through Ingham Regional Medical Center and the Michigan Primary Care Association. Other examples of Delta Dental’s service to the community are 1) Donated Dental Services; 2) Happy Smiles Happy Meals; 3) Employee Giving – the Delta Dental Foundation offers annual Community Mini-Grants of up to $5,000 to community oral health programs in Michigan. Starting this year, three of the grants will be funded entirely by voluntary employee contributions. Delta Dental also provides employees with eight hours of paid time off each year to volunteer for a worthwhile cause.    

Physicians Health Plan of Mid-Michigan Family Care - Physicians Health Plan of Mid-Michigan Family Care (PHPMM-FC) participates with Ingham County community organizations and other health plans to improve the overall health of the community. PHPMM-FC made lead testing available at the Lansing Community Neighborhood Center farmer’s market. Forty-eight children were tested in a fun environment that promoted improved health and nutrition. Every child tested received a $10 gift certificate to spend at the Farmer’s Market. Health plan support in a community collaborative event such as this is an example of a method which can improve community wellness. PHPMM-FC recognizes lead as a serious community health issue and works on initiatives to improve the PHPMM-FC lead testing rates as well as rates for Ingham County. Through such efforts, Ingham County lead testing rates have increased from 69% in 2008 to 76% in 2009. PHPMM-FC, Community Organized Partners Addressing Lead (COPAL), McLaren Health Plan (MHP) and the Ingham County Health Department (ICHD) worked with the Allen Street Neighborhood Center to organize and support this lead screening event.

Community Service Award Honorees

Organizational Honorees:

Care Free Medical Clinic - Care Free Medical Clinic is a not-for-profit family health center that provides affordable, comprehensive health care to families and individuals who would otherwise not have access to the health care system. They have created an atmosphere of genuine respect for and consideration of the needs of their patients. Doctor Saltman and the dedicated volunteers have remodeled older buildings in the Lansing area to use as clinics in order to benefit the community while maximizing the available funds. An example is a community partnership created to bring in social work students to help patients fill out forms. By assembling a highly-qualified group of community members that volunteer their time and money, they have created a system that provides needed services to people that would have otherwise not been able to access it. Care Free Clinic has demonstrated how to use limited resources to assure ongoing financial stability while providing excellent care and services to as many people as possible. They were able to open a second location and increase the number of individuals they are able to serve. Without this wholehearted dedication to this effort, nearly 2,400 people would be without access to care in Lansing and Mason.

Cristo Rey Family Health Clinic - Cristo Rey Family Health Clinic (CRFHC) has provided medical service to uninsured, underinsured, low-income Lansing area residents for over 30 years. The clinic provides pediatric, ob/gyn, chiropractic, and adult primary care. Within each of these areas, the clinic provides treatment and intervention services, diagnostic service, prescription assistance, education, and information and referral service. In addition, CRFHC was certified in December 2006 by Homeland Security as a Civil Surgeon to perform immigration and change of visa physicals. During the summer months, CRFHC provides a mobile clinic that extends health care access to rural and hard-to-reach populations.   The clinic has three full-time staff and several part-time staff, including interpreters. The clinic has a strong relationship with many area colleges and technical schools, providing the majority of the volunteers. CRFHC is open 40 hours a week with 24-hour on-call services for after-hours emergency care. In 2008, CRFHC treated 8,319 patients, 80% of whom are unemployed or underinsured. Over 50% are on Medicaid/Medicare and/or are minorities. During the summer months, CRFHC uses a mobile health clinic to provide free health care to those in rural, hard-to-reach areas, providing health care for migrant workers.

Community Service Award Nominees

Individual Nominees:

Alicia Armstrong - Alicia is a tireless advocate for healthy lifestyles for the residents of the Greater Lansing community. She is a committed team member of Playmakers, who supports and donates multiple hours of resource time to local walks, runs, and other fitness events. Alicia also volunteers on several local work groups and committees that focus on promoting wellness to the people of the area. Her greatest work has been at the helm of the Community Partners in Health (CPH) for the past several years, as this Coalition of like-minded businesses comes together to put on the annual “Winter Warm-Up” (WWU) mall walk clinic at the Lansing Mall from mid-January through mid-March. Coordination of this effort and all the “partners” entails hundreds of hours of work. Under Alicia’s leadership and through her outreach to health and wellness-minded partner entities, the WWU has evolved into an annual program that now reaches out to satellite walking groups, offering them similar opportunities. Hundreds of people benefit from this effort each year. She is committed to making a difference in the health and fitness levels of the citizens of Mid-Michigan.    

Debbie Brinson - While employed by the Ingham County Health Department in 2002, Debbie was instrumental in applying for Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) Look-Alike status, thereby increasing funding by over $1.5 million (which is now about $3.5 million or more). While Debbie was an employee for Ingham County, her leadership and skill in working with partnerships led to the establishment of the Otto Community Health Center in Otto Middle School, providing health care to not only the children in that school (900), but the north Lansing community. Debbie now leads a new association for school-based health centers (over 90 of them) in the state. The School-Community Health Alliance of Michigan (SCHA-MI) has helped maintain state funding for these centers during economic challenges this year. During her tenure at SCHA-MI, Debbie has worked with legislators to increase Medicaid reimbursements and increase the number of school-based health centers in Michigan. On a federal level, Debbie has promoted legislation for school- based health which is now part of Health Reform, through Senator Debbie Stabenow that, if passed, will further diversify the funding streams for school health centers, like Otto Middle School and Willow Health Services, in Lansing. She also helped lead efforts to open Healthy Smiles, ICHD, which provides dental services to over 1,500 children in the Lansing area. In addition, she has helped to start the Abstinence Coalition, a program that promotes healthy lifestyles, and the Peer Education Program, a nationally recognized program educating youth on healthy life choices.

Jaeson Fournier, DC, MPH – Dr. Fournier has left a permanent mark on the health of Ingham County and Michigan. Because of the work he has done here we, as a community, are better able to cope with the current tough times in which we find ourselves. Under Dr. Fournier’s leadership, the Ingham Community Health Centers developed into a network of true Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) while the school-based health centers retained their special status. Accomplishing this required detailed knowledge of the legal and policy framework under which FQHCs operate. This important development expanded reimbursement options and funding opportunities for the Health Department going  forward, making the health of residents more secure. Dr. Fournier worked with the Health Center Board and his staff to develop policies and procedures that increased the number of patients served by over 50 percent during his tenure. The types of services offered also expanded including a special infectious disease clinic and expanded behavioral health care options. In addition to making badly needed health care services available to community residents, the increase in the number and types of services available to community residents, the increase positively impacted the Health Center’s bottom line, making them more flexible and sustainable. Health Center revenues increased from 112 million dollars to 116 million dollars. In addition, Dr Fournier guided the Health Center Board and his staff through preparations for the rollout of an electronic medical records system. He worked to coordinate with the Capital Area RHIO. His successor will benefit from these preparations once the EMR system is launched by being able to coordinate care seamlessly with other providers in the area and to qualify for Meaningful Use incentives payments. Dr. Fournier chaired the Michigan Primary Care Association and Compete the Elite Athletes.  

Lonnie Johnson – Mr. Johnson has given of himself unselfishly to meet the health needs of underrepresented groups in the Greater Lansing Area. He was the first person to head the State of Michigan African American Health Unit in the Department of Public Health. He organized and directed the Ingham Regional Medical Prostate Education Program. In addition he founded a coalition, “rainbow group” to address the health needs of men of color in the area. In his retirement, he has now been asked to chair the Board of the Greater Lansing African American Health Institute. Mr. Johnson continues to be involved with community mental health issues by volunteering his time to talk to groups about physical  and mental health. He is known throughout the State of Michigan as a health advocate/educator and is well respected by his peers. Lonnie has also been involved with the Power of We Consortium. He has spent countless hours counseling men about prostate cancer check-ups and has brought hundreds of men to prostate screening sessions at Ingham Regional Medical Center, Sparrow Hospital and St. Stephens Community Church. He is known as a steadfast person who embraces change for a healthier society.

Monica Kwasnik – Ms. Kwasnik has a steadfast commitment to making this community a better and healthier place. She spends numerous hours working directly with less-advantaged individuals to help them access needed services. She works with several minority coalitions on issues of equality and equity. She also sits on several committees and boards in the health care arena as an advocate for the uninsured and underserved. She has advocated for less advantaged individuals at all levels--from the neighborhood level as a community-based health worker to the governor’s office. She sits on the Allen Neighborhood Center Board (after having worked there for several years as Director of Health Programs) and the Board of the Lansing Latino Health Alliance. She is also a tireless proponent of measures to increase neighborhood  health and safety, and of improvements to ‘build environment’ to support health and well-being of residents. She is also a member of the Capital Area Health Alliance Access to Health committee and several other committees.    Christine Pearson - Christine Pearson is the founder of the Mid-Michigan Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure (SGK). This organization holds the annual Race for the Cure in Lansing. In the eight years since its inception the Mid- Michigan affiliate has granted nearly $2 million to local health departments, hospital services, community organizations, and other groups. These funds are earmarked for breast cancer education programs and other services for people who have been diagnosed with breast cancer or who have need of preventive services related to breast cancer. In difficult economic times, the Mid-Michigan Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure has continued to raise significant funds for  breast cancer outreach programs. Women in neighborhoods such as the Allen Community and Northwest Community have received breast cancer education as a result of grants from SGK. Women who are breast cancer survivors are able to attend exercise programs supported by SGK grants. This year up to 50 patients who could not afford a mammogram will be able to obtain one through a SGK grant and those with positive findings will be able to obtain medical follow-up care through another grant. The Mid-Michigan Affiliate will grant over $300,000 for these programs this year.    

Jessica Yorko - As Co-Chair of the Lansing Walk and Bike Taskforce, Jessica has been the leading voice in this region in promoting active transportation infrastructure and policy. Working on behalf of the Mid-Michigan Environmental Action Council (MidMEAC), she has called awareness to the crucial role that transportation plays in the amount of physical activity we get, and in turn, how healthy we are. Jessica’s advocacy and organizing work has inspired scores of citizens to get involved and get active. These efforts culminated in major policy changes this year, namely the Lansing City Council’s unanimous passage of the Complete Streets and Non-Motorized Plan Ordinance. This ordinance changes the way Lansing designs and plans infrastructure and should dramatically increase the amount of non-motorized infrastructure in the City of Lansing over the next decade, putting more people outside walking and biking. Jessica’s most significant contribution has been her work on behalf of MidMEAC to lead the Walk and Bike Lansing effort (www.walkbikelansing.com). In 2008, the group published a detailed Action Plan to achieve its goals.

Community Service Award Honoree:

Dean G. Sienko, MD – Ingham County Health Department

Dean G. Sienko, MD is the Health Officer, Medical Director, and Chief Medical Examiner for the Ingham County Health Department and has worked for Ingham County since 1988. He is also responsible for providing medical direction to two of the surrounding County Health Departments (Barry-Eaton and Ionia). In fulfilling his responsibilities Doctor Sienko has been a staunch advocate for community collaboration in public health and primary health care initiatives, working to increase the community’s capacity to address and prevent chronic diseases. Doctor Sienko is a recognized public health authority and has championed a ban on smoking in local restaurants. He is a strong advocate for the medically vulnerable populations in the community and works to ensure that more than 25,000 individuals receive primary care through the  Health Department’s Community Health Centers. Doctor Sienko has aggressively advocated for continued expansion of the Ingham Health Plan (IHP). As a consequence of his support and advocacy almost 15,000 residents are medically covered through the Ingham Health Plan.    Some of Doctor Sienko’s recent achievements are: 1) continued expansion of the Ingham Health Plan; 2) working to ensure that the Capital Area Regional Health Information Organization is launched with full inclusion of public health; 3) working to address the causative factors that result in health disparities that persist within the community; 4) leading the community’s response to the H1N1 Influenza situation, ensuring that the whole community is informed and engaged.