Three community-academic partnerships have been selected to receive grants of up to $5,000 each from the Detroit Urban Research Center (Detroit URC). These grants will support research that improves the health and quality of life of Detroit residents.

This marks the tenth round of the Small Planning Grant program. We are pleased to acknowledge the support provided this year by the University of Michigan and the Michigan Institute for Clinical & Health Research (MICHR) Communities Engagement Program.  The partnership involving the University of Michigan School of Social Work (U-M SSW) is supported through our partnership with the U-M SSW Detroit Engagement Initiative.

Funded partnerships are:

Addressing a Critical Gap: Perceptions of Young African American Men of their Access to Sexual Health Services in a Community-Based Setting 

In the United States, heterosexual African American males aged 18 to 24 engage in higher rates of risky sexual behavior and have consequently higher rates of Sexual Transmitted Infections (STIs) than other adolescents and young adults. This problem is particularly acute in urban areas like Detroit (Wayne County), which in 2017 had more cases of chlamydia and Neisseria gonorrhoeae than any other city or county in Michigan. There are many barriers for young African American males to seeking sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services and it is unknown which specific factors and tactics motivate this population in seeking SRH services. Identifying key determinants of care seeking and innovative strategies for addressing this gap is essential to improving access to high-quality SRH services in this population.

The focus of this project is to build capacity and infrastructure for a community-academic partnership and to help create community-engaged research that prioritizes areas for sexual health care needs and access to care among adolescent and young adult males in Detroit.

This community-academic partnership between Detroit Community Health Connection (DCHC) and researchers at the University of Michigan School of Nursing is a necessary step to further this area of research. The academic partner (Jade Burns) has 10+ years’ experience working as both a clinician and nurse scientist in urban settings. Detroit Community Health Connection has a rich history within the city of Detroit, celebrating 30 years in 2018. DCHC has a strong presence for providing unparalleled healthcare and service to the community.

Wayne W. Bradley Sr. 
President & CEO
Detroit Community Health Connection (DCHC)

Jade Burns 
Research Fellow 
University of Michigan School of Nursing

Promoting Infant Health and Wellbeing by Engaging Fathers in Home Visitation

The goal of Promoting Infant Health and Wellbeing by Engaging Fathers in Home Visitation is to improve the delivery of services to expectant and new fathers in the State of Michigan, in order to reduce risk factors associated with infant mortality and other negative infant health outcomes. Although early childhood interventions promote maternal and infant health among low-income families, many do not systematically engage fathers in their programming. Research shows that positive father involvement and engagement during pregnancy and infancy are associated with improved wellbeing for infants. A supportive partner has been shown to increase mothers’ adherence to prenatal health guidelines and associated with better maternal physical and mental health. Father engagement efforts that target American Indian communities are sorely lacking.

This project addresses this gap and provides a model through the Engaged Fathers program for how mentors from the community can engage fathers in early childhood programs to provide parent education to low-income fathers.

This project is in partnership with the American Indian Health and Family Services in Detroit who will implement the project amongst American Indian families and other underserved populations in Southeastern Michigan. The agency’s Healthy Start and Early Head Start program will help carry out the project.

Nickole Fox, M.A., C.P.C 
Director of Community Wellness 
American Indian Health & Family Services of Southeastern Michigan, Inc

Shawna J. Lee, PhD
Associate Professor
University of Michigan School of Social Work

Development of the Healthy Chandler Park Community Advisory Board

In 2016, Chandler Park Conservancy, Eastside Community Network, Ascension St. John, and other community partners created and implemented the Chandler Park Healthy Neighborhood Initiative (CPHNI) as part of the BUILD Health Challenge.  The CPHNI addressed cardiovascular disease and Type II diabetes, following 66 of their initial 100 participants for up to 9 months. Health coaches met monthly with with participants in one-on-one sessions, helping them select from various intervention components (e.g. walking groups, nutrition classes, etc.).  The success of the CPHNI is the impetus for continuing and expanding the partnership. The participants wanted to continue their progress, invite other communities, and build off the existing momentum.

This grant will support the partnership formation between Detroit Eastside residents, Chandler Park Conservancy, Wayne State University, Eastside Community Network, and Friends of Parkside in order to establish a Healthy Chandler Park – Community Advisory Board (HCP-CAB). The HCP-CAB will identify health disparities and develop interventions the residents would like to address within their communities while using Chandler Park as the hub for the interventions.  

Wayne State University School of Medicine and Wayne State University Office of Community Engaged Research will assist in developing a strategic framework and sustainability model for the program starting with the HCP-CAB and utilizing Community Based Participatory Research (CBPR) methods. The formation of this partnership will help the HCP-CAB better leverage funding for programs and developments which can be implemented at Chandler Park and advance the health of their community.

Yvette Bass
Program Director
Chandler Park Conservancy

Phillip Levy, MD, MPH
Professor and Associate Chair for Research
Wayne State University School of Medicine

Related Links

Detroit URC Small Planning Grants Program

Winter 2018 Grant Recipients (Round 9)

All Small Planning Grant Recipients

Detroit URC Grant Opportunities