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Grant expands GRAAHI’s power to eliminate health disparities

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ESTELLE SLOOTMAKER | MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2023

Thanks to a $1 million American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant awarded by Kent County, the Grand Rapids African American Health Institute (GRAAHI) will expand and enhance programming aimed at reducing health disparities within the county’s BIPOC communities. Founded in 2002 in reaction to a Kent County Health Department community needs assessment, the grassroots organization has leveraged community input and collaborations with other organizations to address disturbing racial disparities in maternal and infant mortality, diabetes, access to mental and medical health care and more.

“That survey showed daunting, glaring disparities — more than the community had anticipated,” says Vanessa Greene, GRAAHI CEO. “Disparities are not just a result of treatment experiences. Eighty percent of health disparities are a result of social determinants — where people live, which determines where they go to school, and then that determines their ability to access resources and higher education, which then informs what type of job they’re going to get. The type of employment determines what type of health insurance that they have.”

Some of the grant money will help fund GRAAHI’s health navigator programs, which focus on maternal infant health and mental health. GRAAHI’s mental health navigators aim to connect at least 500 African Americans with mental health services to address needs exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Navigators working with expectant mothers aim to reduce BIPOC maternal and infant mortality and morbidity. A 2020 Kent County Community Needs Assessment found that nearly twice as many Black babies here died in their first year of life than white babies (8.1 per 1,000 compared to 4.5 per 1,000 live births). Similar disparities exist across the U.S. Research has determined that racism-induced stress is a major root cause.

“We still have mothers who are not highly engaged in prenatal care, who don’t have the comfort level [with their provider],” Greene says. “Community health navigators help them through that process and walk alongside them. We want to be really intentional about supporting pregnant women and making sure that they understand every stage of their pregnancy and have the resources to help them navigate that process.”

The grant will also expand GRAAHI’s Pathways to Healthcare Careers program, which seeks to increase underrepresented students in health care professions.
Launched in Grand Rapids Public Schools in fall 2022 at Stocking Elementary and UPrep Middle and High Schools, Pathways connects educators, healthcare professionals, academic tutors and mentors with students during after-school sessions. Additional Pathways pilot programs are being developed with Grand Rapids Community College, Davenport University, Ferris State University, Michigan State University and Grand Valley State University as well as with three Grand Rapids area hospitals — Spectrum Health Butterworth, Trinity Health Saint Mary’s and University of Michigan Health-West.

“When people come in, it’s important for them to see faces that look like them,” Greene says. “Having increasing diversity in the health care sector is important for [those working in health care to understand] how cultural relevance and affirming treatment impacts the overall attitude and trust level of the patient. The other factor, COVID, created a lot of shifts in terms of people leaving the health care system. There’s a shortage in almost every [health care] field.”

GRAAHI also plans on expanding its Restoring Health program that serves Kent County’s older adults who were adversely impacted by COVID-19 and now face deteriorating health due to chronic conditions, poor nutrition, lack of physical activity, or social isolation. In addition, GRAAHI plans to enlist more than 100 repeat blood donors to help sickle cell patients survive that disease, which is prominent within the Black community.

“We’re nowhere close to achieving all of our goals, but we are really excited about the strides that we’re making and the systems that we have in place,” Greene concludes. “We do anticipate seeing even greater results and impact with this funding we’re receiving from the county.”

Written by Estelle Slootmaker, Development News Editor
Photos courtesy GRAAHI

Article is copied from Rapid Growth Media – https://www.rapidgrowthmedia.com/devnews/0130graahi.aspx

The Brutal Death of Tyre Nichols and the cumulative effects of police brutality and trauma on the Black community 

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Andrae Ivy, MPH | GRAAHI’s Director of Research | February 2023 

On January 27th of 2023, the world watched yet again as a Black man named Tyre Nichols was viciously beaten and harassed by a group of police officers in Memphis, TN. The images, words and violence in this video were terrifying to watch, as the officers seemed determined to end this 

young man’s life following a routine traffic stop. After being violently punched, kicked and tasered, Mr. Nichols would eventually slump to the ground, blood running down the side of his swollen and distorted face onto the cold pavement. The officers showed no signs of treating Mr. Nichols like a human being before, during or after the attack, as they casually shared excuses and lies to justify their violence. The grotesque injuries Mr. Nichols suffered from the beating can also be viewed, as he laid lifeless in a Memphis hospital room with a face reminiscent of Emmett Till’s. Unfortunately, Mr. Nichols would eventually succumb to his injuries and lose his life three days later. Upon release of the video, five of the officers involved in the incident were fired. That following Monday on January 30th, a sixth officer was fired in connection with the beating. This traumatic event is all too familiar for Blacks or African Americans who are often reminded of their fragile and devalued nature in the face of police officers. Blacks are tired of this state-sanctioned treatment and need tangible protections and anti-hate policies to prevent such attacks from reoccurring. 

From Rodney King to Sandra Bland to George Floyd to Breonna Taylor to Tamir Rice to Atatiana Jefferson to Patrick Lyoya and so many others, the deaths of Blacks or African Americans in the presence of police officers are commonalities that plague the hearts and minds of not only the victims and their families, but also those who share a similar phenotype across the many cities and states in this country and across the world. According to Mapping Police Violence, Blacks in America are nearly three times more likely to be killed by police officers compared to whites, resulting in 254 Black deaths in 2022. In addition, this study found that 100 out of 100,000 Black men and boys will be killed by police officers during their lifetime compared to 39 white men and boys. Since Blacks as a whole collectively share the grief and trauma of these deaths, it’s important for Blacks and society to better understand the cumulative effects of these unethical actions on the mental, physical and emotional health of the entire Black population. Several studies have investigated the impact of traumatic events, such as police brutality and racism, on the overall wellbeing of Blacks. One study in 2018, led by Dr. David Williams, found that the killing of an unarmed Black person by a police officer resulted in many days of poor health for Blacks in that state for the next three months. Another study found that Blacks and other non-white groups were more likely to report police victimization, in which that victimization was significantly linked to psychological distress and depression. In a more robust study, researchers found that the constant threat of police violence, the actual acts of police brutality, and the aftermath of these events have a collective and “allostatic load” effect on the mental health of those victimized along with those who identify racially or culturally with said victims. In addition, this study also determined that the effects of police brutality mirror the effects of racism

occurring within many facets of society such as housing, education, employment and health care. 

In this interesting study, Black drivers in America were nearly 20% more likely to be stopped by police officers and nearly twice as likely to be searched compared to their white counterparts. When being confronted by police officers, many Blacks run and flee, which is viewed by some as an indicator of guilt. Many Blacks know the history of this country and the unequal treatment with police officers and the justice system, even when no wrongdoing has occurred. In 2016, the Massachusetts (MA) Supreme Judicial Court showed support for this reality regarding a Black man in Boston who was wrongfully profiled during a police investigation. The MA Supreme Court stated, “The finding that Black males in Boston are disproportionately and repeatedly targeted for FIO [Field Interrogation and Observation] encounters suggests a reason for flight totally unrelated to consciousness of guilt. Such an individual, when approached by the police, might just as easily be motivated by the desire to avoid the recurring indignity of being racially profiled as by the desire to hide criminal activity.” This statement by the MA Supreme Court basically means that Black men running from police officers is understandable due to the fact that Black men are more likely to be racially profiled. Their statement also confers that some Black men simply run to escape the indignity of being racially profiled and a potential victim of police brutality, and that this shouldn’t indicate any form of guilt on their part. This is important to note when thinking about Tyre Nichols who decided to run in an attempt to reach his mother’s home, just sixty yards away. Unfortunately, he was unsuccessful. 

Typically, police brutality against Blacks usually involves white officers. In Tyre Nichols’ case, the officers involved were mainly Black, indicating that Black officers can also possess and demonstrate hate, bias and prejudice towards Black life. Such behavior is repulsive no matter the person’s background, and justice should be served no matter the officer’s race. This fact reinforces calls to investigate police departments, unions and officers to determine their ability to serve and protect the community without bias, hate and prejudice. If not, more innocent lives will be lost. On another note, these acts of police brutality from some officers stain the image and reputation of all officers, even though this behavior isn’t indicative of all officers. Like many citizens, many police officers also expressed their dismay with the vile behavior displayed by the officers in Mr. Nichols’ case and many other cases of police brutality, showing that all officers can’t be blamed for the actions of some. The Grand Rapids African American Health Institute (GRAAHI) is dedicated to increasing health equity for Blacks or African Americans in the Grand Rapids community. These acts of violence against Black bodies impact our mental and physical health. We are deeply troubled by the death of Tyre Nichols and so many others. Even though these officers were swiftly charged, many systematic changes, such as anti-Black hate policies and protections, are needed to revamp and rebuild the justice system and the consciousness of Americans, so a person’s life isn’t deemed less valuable because of the color of their skin. 

We at GRAAHI offer our sincerest thoughts and prayers to the family of Tyre Nichols.

GRAAHI blood drive brings awareness to the need for diversity in blood donations.

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This January, National Blood Donor Month, GRAAHI  follows in the footsteps of two heroes for life, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Dr. Charles Richard Drew, by joining with Versiti to hold a Blood Drive at Brown Hutcherson Ministries.

In the 1940s, Dr. Charles Drew laid the groundwork for today’s modern blood donation program through his innovative work in blood banking. The Red Cross blood bank program began in 1940, under the leadership of Drew who became the organization’s first medical director in 1941.

“He was a surgeon, educator, scientist and the first African-American blood specialist who helped shape the blood services industry. His legacy is far-reaching and we hope this drive helps educate the community about the need for a diverse blood supply,” said Vanessa Greene, CEO of the Grand Rapids African American Health Institute.

Why is an ethnically diverse blood supply important?

Because blood type is inherited, a compatible donor is often someone of a similar ethnic background. Diversity in donation is important for improved patient outcomes, as rare and uncommon blood types are often found in similar ethnic populations.

For example, sickle cell patients may require chronic blood transfusions to treat their disease, Since 44% of African Americans have Ro blood, providing matched Ro blood to sickle cell patients may provide a safer blood transfusion. Patients are less likely to experience complications from blood donated by someone with a similar ethnicity.

Become a Hero for Life and feel the good benefits of supporting your community.  Join us January 21st from 9:30am to 1:30pm at Brown Hutcherson Ministries, 618 Jefferson Ave SE, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503.  GRAAHI seeks to create a welcoming and safe environment with a team focused on supporting your needs as you donate.

 Every pint can save 3 lives!To sign up to donate, and learn more about Dr. Drew, go to graahi.com/giveblood.

Grand Rapids African American Health Institute Plans New Programs and Services After Receiving Federal Grant

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Grand Rapids, Mich. (Dec. 19, 2022) – The Grand Rapids African American Health Institute (GRAAHI)announced today it has received a $1 million grant through the federal government’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). GRAAHI was one of 30 grant recipients out of a total of 300 area applicants selected to receive funding by Kent County.

“We are pleased the Kent County administration and commission recognizes the important work GRAAHI provides in this community and has chosen to support our future efforts,” said Vanessa Greene, GRAAHI CEO. “As the leading health equity advocate for African Americans in greater Grand Rapids, we plan to use this federal funding to increase health-related resources for our residents and build on our efforts to make access to healthcare more equitable for all.”

Investing in new and existing mental and physical health programs for local communities was consistently described as “the first priority” in federal, state, and Kent County’s plans for spending ARPA funds. As part of its application process, GRAAHI presented plans to expand our services and impact in these areas. Specifically:

  1. Expanding and enhancing mental health navigation services for Kent County’s BIPOC residents.
    1. PROGRAM GOAL/Impact: At least 500 African American residents of Kent County whose mental health needs have developed or been exacerbated as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic will be connected annually to mental health services to regain their optimal level of physical, mental, emotional, and social functioning during the 4-year project period.
  1. Expanding and enhancing the representation of BIPOC professionals in Kent County’s healthcare workforce.
    1. PROGRAM GOAL/Impact: Increase representation of African American and Latinx individuals in the Kent County healthcare workforce by engaging an additional 200-300 students annually from 2023-2026.
  1. Launching a maternal and infant health community navigation program to serve BIPOC individuals and families in Kent County at high risk of disparate pregnancy outcomes.
    1. PROGRAM GOAL/Impact: Significantly reduce the high and disparate rates of maternal and infant mortality and morbidity from all causes in Kent County’s BIPOC communities.
  1. Expanding and enhancing the Restoring Health program that serves senior citizens in Kent County whose health deteriorated as a result of the social isolation and medical experiences they endured during the COVID-19 epidemic.
    1. PROGRAM GOAL/Impact: To serve 300 or more BIPOC adults 65 and older in Kent County each year who were adversely impacted by COVID-19 and/or whose health and wellbeing are now deteriorating or are at risk of deteriorating as a result of chronic conditions, poor nutrition, lack of physical activity, and/or social isolation.
  1. Organizing and directing county-wide blood drives with a focus on sickle cell patients.
    1. PROGRAM GOAL/Impact: Expand our outreach to over 100 repeat blood donors in Kent County annually, each donating four times per year, resulting in over 1200 lives saved.

“This grant is both an investment in our community’s future health and a validation of the past work by GRAAHI over the past 20 years,” said Paul Doyle, GRAAHI Board Chair. “Since being established in 2002, GRAAHI has worked to improve access to healthcare for marginalized populations, provided health services to uninsured residents and improved the overall wellness of Black and Brown populations in the greater Grand Rapids area. This grant validates our work and sets the foundation for an even greater impact in the coming years.”

Recently our CEO, Vanessa Greene, spoke with Shelley Irwin at WGVU. Listen here.

Meaning in Colors – Holiday Pop Up Shop

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Join us December 17th as we co-host a FREE Christmas shopping opportunity for families in need. In a time of residual and onging challenges with a pandemic and rising costs, we understand that creating an abundant holiday can be additional stress to your mental health. That’s why we are supporting Meaning in Colors in creating this fun community-centered shopping event. The heads of families can shop for their family members from a stock-pile of donated goods! No kids are allowed at the event as this is meant to be a suprise for them! (Hello Santa!)

Currently we are signing up families to shop at: FAMILY SIGN UP

We’re also inviting community members and organizations to donate new items to our shop. And we’d love to have additional hands on that day with friendly volunteers. To make a donation or volunteer, email us at: MIC.info@Mean​ingInColors.org

We’re honored to co-sponsor this event with Meaning in Colors, a local nonprofit that strives to support education and housing for our community members. Collaborations like this mean we’re tackling the social determinants that impact the health of our black and brown communities.

To read more go to:

https://www.meaningincolors.org/gift-giving-pop-up-shop

To support more programs like this, donate as you are able at: graahi.com/growth

It’s Time To Champion Better Healthcare For African-American Seniors

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Written by Aileen Hope, for The Grand Rapids African American Health Institute

The U.S. healthcare system has had a long, rocky reputation, and across the different demographics older Americans have it the worst. The Conversation notes 11 million older adults are struggling to make ends meet, and skip much needed healthcare as a result.

The numbers are worse for older people of color, and the national disparity between Black and white economic insecurity is 17 percentage points. The inaccessibility of healthcare is thus shown to disproportionately impact people of color and other marginalized groups.

Let’s take a closer look at what this means for African-American seniors.

A look through the medical facts

Statistics show that African-Americans bear the brunt of these healthcare challenges. This was further exposed under the recent Covid-19 pandemic wherein the ​​NCBA highlights 37% of Covid-19 hospitalizations in 2020 and 2021 were older Black adults. This is despite the population comprising only 9% of the 65-and-older demographic.

Furthermore, the death rate from Covid-19 for older Black adults was more than twice the rate of older white adults. This is a recurring pattern that has occurred throughout history — African-American adults are 60% more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes, are 30% more likely to die from heart disease, and also 50% more likely to have a stroke.

The crucial factors

Experts have thus confirmed the pervasiveness of underlying health conditions within the African American community. In particular, gaps in wealth limit their access to the commercialized healthcare system.

Maryville University suggests that senior poverty has the potential to get even worse in the future. The median net worth of U.S. white families is nearly eight times greater than that of Black families. Social security benefits are based on the person’s earnings and are thus also lower on average for people of color, with the typical older Black family receiving annual benefits about 24% lower.

Acquiring a high-paying job and overcoming poverty is easier said than done, too. While we’ve come far since the 13th Amendment, African-American communities continue to lack access to the high-quality education that prepares young people for well-paying careers. They are also less likely to own a home and other assets, which reduces their ability to build wealth.

Seniors bear the biggest brunt of these effects, having survived their youth in a community that had even less access to wealth than it does today. This further puts people of color at disadvantages that can extend throughout their lifetime and pass onto future generations.

What can be done

As society progresses, means to help everyone build financial security for retirement have been developed. However, progression can go two ways, for the better or worse.

A critical program in the history of healthcare for people of color is the ACA or the Affordable Care Act. This allowed states to expand eligibility for Medicaid to everyone below 138 percent of the FPL, and from 2013 to 2019, the coverage gap between Black and white adults dropped by 4.6 percentage points.

In 2016, though, national progress stalled under the Trump administration and coverage eroded for all groups. This goes to show that systemic change is the key. This includes investing in public education, ensuring fair access to stable employment, and promoting financial literacy.

Government assistance programs such as SNAP benefits for food and housing subsidies, and the foundations of a secure retirement, Medicare and Social Security, must be improved as well. On the other hand, organizations or foundations can also do their part by making sure health programs consider African-American seniors’ specific needs and health conditions. Individuals can join the call and spread awareness in their own capacity, too.

As seen by ACA in 2016, the movement towards better healthcare for African-American seniors will naturally be inclusive of other demographics. It is thereby key that we collectively champion the rights of our seniors and African-American communities, in order to improve the lives of all.

Sickle cell patients need action to promote cures

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by Vanessa Greene

When our country comes together to solve a public health crisis, we can do remarkable things. Diseases that were once death sentences are now manageable conditions. We have created vaccines and therapies and drugs that once seemed impossible. Now, we need to channel this innovation into a group of patients who have been quietly suffering for too long: sickle cell patients.

The reality of the sickle cell crisis is glaring, and the statistics speak for themselves. The life expectancy for people with the most severe form of the disease is 30 years shorter than that of people without sickle cell. The rate of stroke in adults with sickle cell is three times higher than rates in African Americans of similar age without sickle cell, and these patients have the highest rate of return to the hospital within 30 days of discharge.

Sickle cell disease is the most common genetic disorder in the United States. It impacts one out of every 365 African American births and one out of every 16,300 Hispanic births. The sickle cell gene is present in an estimated 3 million Americans, all of whom could pass it onto their children. If two parents carry this gene, there is a 50% chance their child will inherit sickle cell disease. Unfortunately, because of insufficient data collection, countless Americans are unaware they have the sickle cell trait.

We are facing a public health crisis primarily affecting Black and brown communities — over 80% of sickle cell patients fall into this group — but it continues to receive inadequate attention from the medical community. We have known about sickle cell disease for over a century, yet the first sickle cell drug did not even hit the market until 2018. At present there are only a few available drugs on the market, and there is no cure.

We currently do not have enough medical providers who are trained to treat sickle cell disease, leaving too many patients with few options for care. Racial stereotypes add further barriers to care, as sickle cell patients looking for pain relief are often dehumanized as “drug seekers” who exaggerate their symptoms. One study found the mean wait time for sickle cell patients at the ER was over an hour, which can endanger lives and force patients to endure extreme pain flareups without treatment. This is over 25% longer than patients without sickle cell disease.

Of the 100,000 Americans suffering from sickle cell disease, nearly half rely on Medicaid for their insurance. As Medicaid coverage is decided by states, there are stark gaps in coverage around the country for sickle cell patients. All patients are deserving of the treatments they need, and we need to make sure they have access to every available drug and therapy, no matter their background or their insurance.

Right now, there are groundbreaking new developments in cell and gene-based therapies that could potentially cure sickle cell, but this means nothing if we do not get these treatments in the hands of every single patient as soon as they are available. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Department of Health and Human Services all have a crucial role to play here. We need leaders at these federal agencies to promote this innovation and coordinate with state policymakers and sickle cell stakeholders to ensure patients on Medicaid have access to all treatments.

If we come together, we can finally give these patients the treatment and care they have lacked for so long.

(From an oped in the Grand Rapids Business Journel, June 24, 2022)

COVID Vaccines for Small Children – What you need to know.

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After multiple delays, very young children are finally eligible for COVID-19 vaccination. In mid-June, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted emergency use authorization (EUA) to Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 6 months to 5 years, as well as to Moderna’s vaccine for kids ages 6 months to 6 years. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) soon after recommended the vaccines, which are now available.

Understandably, parents of small children are hesitant to get their children vaccinated without knowing the risks and benefits. 

Both vaccines are safe and effective

The Moderna vaccine primary series for children 6 months through 5 years old is administered in two 25-microgram doses given four to eight weeks apart. The shots were about 40–50% effective at preventing milder Omicron SARS-CoV-2 infections in young children. Moderna expects children in this age group to be offered a booster dose at some point in time. 

The Pfizer vaccine primary series for children 6 months to 4 years old is administered in  three 3-microgram doses. The first and second doses are separated by three to eight weeks and the second and third doses are separated by at least eight weeks. Three doses of the Pfizer vaccine were shown to be 80% effective in preventing symptomatic COVID-19.  

Both the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines were shown to have similar side effects, which included pain at the injection site, irritability, drowsiness and fever. 

Here are some common questions, with answers provided by the Kent County Health Department:

  • Is it a problem for my child to receive the COVID-19 vaccine at the same time as other vaccines?
    • No, children and teens may get a COVID-19 vaccine and other vaccines at the same time.  Because children may experience pain at the site where the shot is given, however, you should think about the number of shots you want your child to have at one time.
  • What kind of side effects should I worry about after my child gets the vaccine?
    • Any vaccine can cause side effects. These are usually minor (for example, a sore arm or low-grade fever) and go away within a few days.  The COVID-19 vaccine is no different.  If your child has any of the following after getting their vaccine, however, you should call or visit a doctor:
      • Breathing fast or having trouble breathing
      • Chest Pain
      • A fast or irregular heartbeat
      • Fainting
      • A high fever with spasms or jerky movements (seizures)
      • A swollen tongue or throat
      • A rash or hives on their body
  • Should my child get the vaccine if they have allergies?
    • Children with an allergy to food, latex or things in the environment (pollen, pets, bug bites, etc.) can get the COVID-19 vaccine.  Serious allergic reactions to the COVID-19 vaccine have been very rare, especially among children.
  • Will my child act any differently after getting the vaccine?
    • Your child will likely complain that their arm hurts where the shot was given.  They may also feel tired, not want to eat and be more irritable and cry more than usual.  This shouldn’t last longer than a day. 
  • Why should my child get the COVID-19 vaccine?
    • Vaccinating children protects them when participating in childcare, school, and other activities.  It’s hard to predict how a child’s body will respond if they are infected with COVID-19.  Most kids will do well, but some get very sick and need to visit the hospital.  Getting the vaccine is the best way to help prevent this.
  • What’s the difference between the two vaccines for kids under 5 years old?
    • Both vaccines have been proven to be safe and effective at preventing symptomatic COVID-19 infection.  The main difference is that the Pfizer vaccine is 3 doses and the Moderna vaccine is 2 doses.  The most important choice is the one to have your child vaccinated.
  • Will the COVID-19 vaccine affect my child if they have diabetes or sickle cell disease?
    • There is no evidence that the COVID-19 vaccine negatively impacts children with diabetes or sickle cell disease.  In fact, it is especially important for children with these conditions to be vaccinated as they are more likely to get severe COVID-19 if they are infected.
  • My child is 4 years old.  Should I wait until they are 5 to get vaccinated with the vaccine for 5-11 year olds?
    • It takes some time to be considered fully protected after getting vaccinated (6 weeks for the Moderna vaccine and 13 weeks for the Pfizer vaccine).  So that your child is fully protected as soon as possible, it is best not to wait and to get them vaccinated now.

You may still have more questions, so we encourage you to speak to your healthcare provider/pediatrician to determine what is the most appropriate action for your family.  

Need to get your child vaccinated?
GRAAHI is offering multiple free, local vaccine clinics.  To see the dates, locations and make an appointment, go to graahi.com/getvaccinated.

GRAAHI Welcomes New Board Members

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Grand Rapids African American Health Institute Names
Three New Members to its Executive Board

The Grand Rapids African American Health Institute (GRAAHI), an organization devoted to achieving health parity for Black Americans in Kent County and throughout the state, today announced the appointment of three new members to its Executive Board.

Dr. Karen Kennedy, Misti Stanton and Mia Gutridge were elected by existing GRAAHI Board members at the organization’s June meeting.

“Adding these three talented and dedicated leaders to our Executive Board will bring new insight to our advocacy efforts and strengthen our impact to the residents we serve,” said Vanessa Greene, CEO of GRAAHI. “We are grateful to have them join our Board and help us address chronic health issues and inequities facing the Black community.”

Dr, Karen Kennedy currently serves as the Mercy Health Physician Partners (MHPP) Regional Medical Director and serves as Lead Physician in one of their direct-to-employer medical sites with Lacks Enterprises Primary Care. She is also proud to serve as the MHPP Diversity and Inclusion Champion alongside a team of dedicated leaders from across West Michigan. She has previously served as Vice President of the West Michigan Medical Society in Grand Rapids. Dr. Kennedy has been a board-certified Family Medicine physician since 2002, earning a degree from Upstate Medical School in Syracuse, NY and her MD from the UMDNJ Robert Wood Johnson Family Medicine Residency program in New Brunswick, NJ.

Misti Stanton is a fresh voice in diversity in Michigan. After more than 30 years of community and non-profit work, she currently serves as the Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for Mercantile Bank. She devotes her time and energy to cultivating an inclusive work environment in a rapidly-growing organization.

Misti is passionate about health equity, advocacy, and community empowerment. She has dedicated her career to improving the lives of others. She lives by the philosophy that community service impacts the health and well-being of our region. In her spare time, Misti volunteers for a variety of community organizations and advocates for youth literacy and community empowerment.

Mia Gutridge is currently the Human Resources Manager at Grand Rapids Housing Commission. She has a master’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Project Management, is a certified Professional Human Resources (PHR) provider, and a member of the Society for Human Resources-Certified Professionals (SHRM-CP).

Mia is active in the community and serves in many leadership roles. She is the chapter president of the Grand Rapids Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, leading the chapter’s efforts in education development, economic development, mental and physical health, international awareness and development, and political awareness and development. She also serves as the District President of the Women’s Home and Missionary Society of Western Michigan and as a member of the Evaluation and Impact Committee for the Women’s Resource Center. She is married to Dwight L. Gutridge, Pastor of St. Luke A.M.E. Zion Church in Grand Rapids.

“The strength of any organization begins with its Board,” said GRAAHI Board Chair Paul Doyle. “We are fortunate to have three dedicated, knowledgeable and passionate people join our Board and devote their efforts to improving health parity for Black citizens in the area.”

Mothers’ Milk – Baby Formula Shortages Impact Black and Brown Women the Most

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By Mikisha Plesco, Director of Operations, GRAAHI

A nationwide baby formula shortage is severely impacting Black parents and babies, who are already disproportionately affected by the lack of access to the necessary nutrients to grow and thrive. In May, 43% of the top-selling baby formula products at national retailers were out of stock.

Formula is very expensive, with a yearly estimated cost between $1200 and $1500 which means Black families are hit the hardest, many of them living paycheck to paycheck. They may be relying on WIC benefits, perhaps even SNAP benefits, to purchase baby formula and do not have the resources to be able to stock up. And, they didn’t have the ability to stock up months ago when they saw this coming.

Mothers in Detroit and Grand Rapids have been sounding the message since February that there was no formula on their local grocery store shelves.

Here’s my story:

The most exciting day of my life was having my daughter in June of 2021. Being pregnant during a pandemic was truly frightening because COVID-19 vaccinations were not approved for pregnant women. So, I took every precaution – from masking with a N95, hand hygiene and not going out besides going to work. Even at work, I ensured social distancing and cleaning twice a day.

When my daughter was born, I thought “okay now I have to keep her safe from COVID-19 because no vaccination is available for her age.” She has been in this bubble and has been at home. No daycare, no visiting extended family, and no outside outings. This has been tough.

At her delivery, I was able to choose which formula I wanted to feed her. A formula that I had researched throughout my pregnancy. Although no explanation is needed, I chose not to breastfeed because of a medication that I take. As a new mom I stressed about everything, but COVID-19 was not the worst thing I was going to face.

During my pregnancy I was fortunate that I could save money for formula and ordered 13 cans, wanting to ensure I had enough for her first year. When my daughter was 3 months old, I had to downgrade her formula because it was not available.The formula I had researched, saved for and stored was recalled, and all 13 cans had to be sent back to the company. I scrambled, but was blessed to have my daughter’s physician provide 2 cans of milk. Friends and family also helped us find formulas without considering which kind (such as sensitive, pro advance, regular, allergens, etc.). My daughter is 11 months old and we will not be able to go past 12 months for her formula.

Formula shortage is not a new problem. There are only 2 formula companies that are recommended and only 4 major brands. Necessary recalls and shutting down a plant made the problem exponentially worse. Price increases and hoarding make it even more difficult for low-income families to have adequate supply.

President Biden enacted the Defense Production Act to ensure that baby formula is produced and/or flown to the United States. President Biden proposed $28 million aid that would assist the Food and Drug Administration to address the shortage, but 192 Republicans voted against the bill (Washington Post 2022). The bill came a little too late for some families, but it could have helped millions of families.

Formula shortages should have been addressed just like many other shortages that have happened across the United States. We have known for months that this was a problem and a solution was not mitigated early on to ensure every child under 1 had the formula that they need despite economic status. We have to do better for our community to mitigate risk proactively rather than reactively.

Now we are here and this is every new mom/dad/caregiver’s nightmare. Not to be able to feed formula to your child. If you are having difficulty with formula please seek out the following resources:

Your primary pediatrician may have a list of resources and guidance on formula recommendations.
If you are giving birth soon or in the process of giving birth, please ask hospital staff for formula packs.
Check out this article from Bridge Michigan which provides some helpful resources: https://www.bridgemi.com/children-families/how-find-baby-formula-michigan-and-how-keep-your-child-safe

References:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2022/05/18/house-formula-shortage-abbott/

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