This reporting series from Planet Detroit examines the growing role of community health workers (CHWs) in Michigan — trusted professionals who assist residents in navigating housing, food access, chronic illnesses, and the health care system. Proposed Medicaid cuts could undermine funding for these workers, who often come from the same communities they serve. By building trust and drawing on lived experience, CHWs are addressing critical gaps in care that traditional health systems often overlook.
Shanon Seymore had given up. Diagnosed with a rare bleeding disorder called von Willebrand disease, she was in constant pain, unable to work, and on the verge of eviction from her Pontiac home. “Nobody was listening,” she said.
Regina Gully knows what it’s like to need help and not know where to turn. Now, as a community health worker with Trinity Health, she spends her days making sure others don’t have to feel that way. “We treat everyone with kindness and respect,” she said.
Community health workers are a vital but often overlooked part of Michigan’s health system, especially as recent federal Medicaid cuts threaten coverage and funding for essential services. They help people manage chronic illnesses, apply for health insurance, find food or housing, and understand what their doctor told them. If you’ve never heard of a CHW or aren’t sure if one could help you, this guide breaks it down.
Login
This reporting series from Planet Detroit examines the growing role of community health workers (CHWs) in Michigan — trusted professionals who assist residents in navigating housing, food access, chronic illnesses, and the health care system. Proposed Medicaid cuts could undermine funding for these workers, who often come from the same communities they serve. By building trust and drawing on lived experience, CHWs are addressing critical gaps in care that traditional health systems often overlook.
Shanon Seymore had given up. Diagnosed with a rare bleeding disorder called von Willebrand disease, she was in constant pain, unable to work, and on the verge of eviction from her Pontiac home. “Nobody was listening,” she said.
When Terry Pita’s doctor told her she needed to start insulin, she burst into tears. “I just didn’t want to take shots,” she said. “I still cringe.”
Regina Gully knows what it’s like to need help and not know where to turn. Now, as a community health worker with Trinity Health, she spends her days making sure others don’t have to feel that way. “We treat everyone with kindness and respect,” she said.
Community health workers are a vital but often overlooked part of Michigan’s health system, especially as recent federal Medicaid cuts threaten coverage and funding for essential services. They help people manage chronic illnesses, apply for health insurance, find food or housing, and understand what their doctor told them. If you’ve never heard of a CHW or aren’t sure if one could help you, this guide breaks it down.
