Scaling Network Lead Entities Grantee Profile 

Network Name: Center for Healthcare Research and Transformation 

Grant Goal: 

To build the Center for Health Research and Transformation (CHRT), to fully function as the network lead entity (NLE) and position 

the network to contract with health payer entities to deliver care coordination services and address social determinants of health 

related to food insecurity for adults aged 60+ and those with disabilities under the age of 60. 

Grant Partners: 

• State of Michigan Department of 

Health and Human Services 

• Chelsea Senior Center 

• Catholic Social Services of 

Washtenaw County 

• Jewish Family Services 

• Southeast Michigan Senior 

Regional Collaborative 

• Ypsilanti Meals on Wheels 

• Area Agency on Aging 1-B 

• Vital Seniors Network 

Award: $291,564 

Target Population: 

Underserved adults aged 60+ and those 

with disabilities under the age of 60 

Grant Objectives: 

1. Create a network governance 

structure for decision making and 

establish roles and responsibilities of 

the NLE and partner organizations; 

2. Develop a business plan that 

includes financial modeling that 

positions the network to contract 

with health payers; 

3. Formalize partnerships in five 

counties in Southeast Michigan 

region for service delivery; and 

4. Identify evidence-based 

interventions and implement 

coordinated service delivery models 

that use an equity lens. 

Grant Contact: 

Grant Summary: 

The CHRT at the University of Michigan serves as the NLE in partnership with key 

stakeholders of the Vital Seniors Network (VSN). They will be working to address 

social determinants of health through care coordination interventions with 

linkages to home and community-based services. 

CHRT is a 501(c)3 organization housed at the University of Michigan committed to 

transforming research and evidence and inspiring policies and practices that 

improve the health of people and communities. CHRT will use this grant to 

formalize a local network of social service providers into a CIHN, referred to as the 

VSN, that serves a large population in the Southeast region of Michigan. CHRT 

additionally plans to create processes for one-stop contracting for multiple 

services with health entity payers. Through these efforts, CHRT will develop a 

business plan that positions to contract with health payers. 

The Michigan State Unit on Aging (SUA) and the area agencies on aging (AAAs) 

have identified limited access to services and long waitlists as weaknesses within 

the state. In Michigan, the SUA has begun to align resources to better coordinate 

with Older Americans Act programs, while Michigan’s AAAs have collaborated 

with aging and disability resource centers to improve access to services. The 

state’s Plan on Aging for FY 2021-2023 identified a state-wide goal to ensure older 

adults choices for aging in place, naming social needs as key strategies. CHRT and 

VSN will support this statewide vision by increasing competencies and capacities 

of network partners to deliver care coordination services and address social 

determinants of health. CHRT additionally supports nationally focused efforts, 

including supporting various Medicaid waiver programs and improving No Wrong 

Door functions. 

For this grant, CHRT anticipates that their efforts will enhance capacity in the 

areas of leaderships, management, operations, and strategic direction. The 

network will also refine current processes for business development and financial 

developments for healthcare contracting. CHRT will onboard new partners 

through this grant that are providing services in the expanded geographic region. 

Lastly, the network partners will demonstrate competencies in outreach and 

engagement using evidence-based practices. 

Planned Activities for NLE enhancement will focus on: 

☒Leadership 

☒ Finance 

☒ Business Development 

☒ Network Development and Support 

☒ Network Administration 

Deana Smith, Center for Health and Research Transformation: dgrabel@med.umich.edu