Author

Estelle Slootmaker

Estelle Slootmaker's Latest Articles

Dr. Colleen Allen, AAoM president and CEO cuts the ribbon.
Autism Alliance of Michigan celebrates grand opening of new Grand Rapids location

On Thursday Nov. 16, the Autism Alliance of Michigan (AAoM) celebrated its new Grand Rapids-area office with a grand opening ribbon cutting and open house at its location within the Special Olympics Michigan Unified Sports & Inclusion Center, about 10 miles south of Grand Rapids proper. 

Datasha Chapman, a member of Calvin University's Lay Ambassadors for Mental Health program, chats with a colleague.
Mental health ambassadors and prenatal coaches: Michigan orgs tackle social determinants of health

Michigan organizations are innovating to address the non-medical factors that influence people's health in alignment with the state of Michigan's Social Determinants of Health Strategy.

Amy Romain, program director of behavioral medicine, Sparrow Health System/MSU Family Medicine Residency, and Emalie Karp, Sparrow Health System/MSU Family Medicine Residency behavioral medicine faculty member.
Michigan initiatives create new supports for parents experiencing postpartum depression

Over 23,000 Michigan women and their families per year are affected by perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, but several innovative initiatives are working to change that.

Parents, caregivers and providers invited to learn about “Navigating Autism Today”

On Friday November 17, the Autism Alliance of Michigan (AAoM) will host a conference, “Navigating Autism Today” at the Grand Valley State University Pew Campus L.V. Eberhard Center from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Joseph Balberde, chief information officer of North Country Community Mental Health
Community mental health agency applies Lean processes to improve service to clients

North Country Community Mental Health applies Lean processes throughout its operations with the result of improving care for its patients.

Shelby Holman, Southern Imaginations’ CEO and managing member.
Southern Imaginations helps Michigan collect feedback and plot course for free PreK for All

A collaborative partner with the Policy Equity Group and a member of Governor Whitmer’s PreK for All taskforce, Southern Imaginations has been brought in to help formulate recommendations for rolling out free, universal pre-k to all Michigan 4-year-olds. 

Autism Alliance of Michigan trip to the U.P. shared training and health care opportunities

The Autism Alliance of Michigan team traveled to Michigan’s western Upper Peninsula to provide free trainings and health care services for people living with autism, their families, and the communities where they live. 

Michael Williams, president and CEO of Orchards Children's Services, a child and family services agency with locations in Genesee, Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw, and Wayne counties.
Michigan’s foster children face mental health challenges – but these agencies set them up to succeed

All foster children experience some form of trauma, but Michigan's child and family service agencies are working to provide the mental health services foster kids desperately need.

Grand Haven resident Lesa Jordan with Sheyenne Cole, a counselor in Senior Resources of West Michigan's Behavioral Health at Home program.
Behavioral health at home helps Muskegon-area older adults improve quality of life

Multiple organizations in the Muskegon area are bringing trained counselors to the homes of older adults who face mobility or transportation challenges.

A Livability Lab meeting.
Livability Labs bring Muskegon County leaders together to solve community challenges

An annual collaboration among a slew of cross-sector organizations and community members has created 15 teams working to develop solutions to community challenges in Muskegon County.  

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