Message from our CEO, Loretta V. Bush... |
CEO Message
Celebrating the People in Recovery, and the Health of Black Families
When someone has fought the good fight against cancer, heart disease, or diabetes and achieves remission or control of the disease, we celebrate. The same is true for addiction or Substance Use Disorder. This is a chronic disease that is very taxing on mind and body. To achieve control through social and medical support in Medication Assisted Therapy, people in recovery can lead normal lives and do great things.
We are fortunate to have one such person – Keith Graham – working with us as a Peer Recovery Coach. Keith supports our Medication Assisted Therapy program at Popoff Family Health Center and works with people who have Substance Use Disorder.
September is National Recovery Month, a time for celebrating the recovery of people with substance use disorder but also treatment providers and support personnel, public service organizations, 12-step groups, and anyone who contributes to the larger, shared recovery effort. Consider some of the statistics involved in substance use disorder:
- In 2019, 19 million people aged 12 and up needed substance use treatment.
- Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, overdoses have increased by 50 percent in the United States.
- 18 million people have abused prescription drugs at least once in their lives, and young people aged 18 to 25 are the most likely to have problems with prescription drug abuse.
- 30 percent of marijuana users are in danger of developing a marijuana use disorder.
The good news is that 75 percent of people seeking recovery from a substance use disorder achieve their goal. One in 10 adults have overcome a substance use problem. Recovery is Possible.
Please take a moment to watch my interview with Keith Graham (see video link below). If you’d like more information about our Medication Assisted Therapy program, call 313-824-1000.
We also were pleased to commemorate Black Family Month in an interview with Keyatta Stephens, CEO of Black Family Development. (See video link below.) This observance promotes the enrichment of Black families through their connection and heritage. Our families began generations before us and will live on generations to come. Studies show that spending time together as a family can foster communication, promote respect and mutual appreciation, build confidence and self-esteem in our children, and create memories that enrich our family life.
Authority Health is proud to be the primary care provider for youth clients of Black Family Development, as well as our broader efforts to improve the lives of Black families in Detroit.
If anyone in your family – infants to elders -- needs a primary care doctor, call us at 313-824-1000. Knowledge is power, especially when it comes to family health.
Loretta V. Bush, MSHA
President and CEO, Authority Health
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VIDEO - Recovery Within Reach |
Keith Graham, the Peer Recovery Coach at Authority Health's Popoff Family Health Center and Authority Health's CEO, Loretta V. Bush had a candid and thoughtful conversation about the behavioral therapy and counseling that he provides to those who struggle with Substance Use Disorder (SUD) and how the Medication Assistant Treatment program can help get those who are in need of help with SUD to a place of recovery.
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Healthy Children, Healthy Community: The importance of connecting the dots...
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A scene from Family Spirit Day at Russel Woods Park in Detroit's Nardin Park Community |
There's a a greeting that is used by communities in Africa upon entering one another's village; instead of, "Hello" or "Good morning" it's, "How are the children?" The thinking behind this greeting is that, if the children are well, then the village is well; and, if the children are not well, then, of course, the village can't possibly be doing well.
Although here in the states we may not initially greet each other in quite that exact same way, in that, it may take us a salutation or a line or two prior to asking about the children, it doesn't change the fact that, here too, the wellbeing and health of the children in a community is probably the best indicator of the overall health and wellbeing of the entire community.
This makes sense, right? With children making up a large percentage of the total population, and soon to become young and middle age adults (a group that makes up over 60% of the total population) according to childstats.gov) it makes sense that keeping and bolstering the wellbeing and health of this demographic is crucial to ensuring healthy populations.
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Federal Low-income Housing Tax Credits Help Develop New Apartments In Detroit
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The complexity of developing low-income housing cannot be underestimated. The social and financial engineering that is necessary to make a project work is extremely difficult. A recent project to convert an abandoned school into 138 units of affordable housing for extremely low-income people required vision, humanitarian values, fiscal savvy, and government support — the latter which has been in short supply. It also requires $38 million in federal low-income housing tax credits. This will ensure that qualified renters will pay rents ranging from $470 to $940.
Few low-income housing developments are as simple as a developer buying land, hiring an architect, assembling contractors, and scheduling a dedication with the mayor. They can take years and often many setbacks. An essential component is a federal housing administration that realizes the value and necessity of these properties.
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‘Fending’ for Dinner Making something out of nothing, and even saving the planet
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Technically, “fending” means to look after yourself. Well, at the end of the day when it’s time for dinner and you don’t have anything planned, you slip into “fending” mode, searching through the refrigerator and cabinets for whatever you can put together and call it a meal.
The Washington Post says the idea of "fending" for dinner is to minimize dishes and waste, and to assemble a plate of proteins and carbohydrates, fiber and vegetables in an effort to form a full meal.
This is also known as “scratch cooking” or, as they used to say, doing it “from scratch.”
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‘Park Rx’ adds a Treatment Modality for Primary Care |
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Above: Community members at Russel Woods Nardin Park on Detroit's westside on practicing tai chi. |
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Earlier this spring, a news article announced the adoption of “Park Rx” by the Belle Isle Conservancy. Interestingly, it happened during the peak of the pandemic when many people were forced to work from home and needed to get out of their house and stretch. So, neighborhoods and parks were filled with parents with babies, kids, young adults, elders moving. Sometimes, crises breed opportunities and the opportunity here is to maintain the momentum of something as natural as getting out and moving.
The idea behind Park Rx has been around awhile. It’s like the “Fresh Rx” or “Prescription for Health” program. Primary care providers who identify patients with more sedentary lifestyles and have disease states that could be improved through exercise simply ask them what activities they do or would like to do. Someone might say, “oh, I take a walk at lunch time.” Another person might say, “I garden.” To the goal-oriented fitness person that may be laughable. But to Park Rx, those are opportunity areas.
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Providing a "Whole-Patient" Approach for the Treatment of Substance Use Disorder
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Above: Graham with one of his clients near the end of a coaching session. |
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Keith Graham, the Peer Recovery Coach at Popoff Family Health Center provided some insight into the Medication Assisted Therapy (MAT) program. He believes that the key ingredient in helping his clients to get to recovery is “not by being judgmental or critical, but rather by embracing them where they are.” Graham’s role at Popoff as a Recovery Coach plays an important role in the goal of providing a truly holistic approach to the treatment of opioid and alcohol addiction. His work at the center was made possible with funding from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and The Children’s Foundation through the “Building Health Care Bridges to Stable Health” grant.
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Family Spirit Day at Russel Woods Nardin Park |
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Above: Qiana, enjoying the moment...
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It was simply gorgeous outside. The sun wasn't just shining, it was literally sparkling, against a spectacularly blue sky. It was warm, but not smoldering hot. There was the perfect breeze that came around just when you needed it, like a really good friend.
Family Spirit Day, brought to the Nardin Park Community on Detroit's westside, at Russel Woods Park was amazing. The group made up of community members, including the parishioners of Ebenezer Church, community partners, including EC3 (Ebenezer Community & Cultural Center), Auntie Ne's Village, With This Rock We, and of Detroit Health Department, Hope Academy, and of course Authority Health's Hope Family Health Center, and others came together as, Collaborative to bring this lovely event to the community.
While the focus was on bringing awareness around the many community partners and resources whose purpose is to serve the children and families of the community. Whether it is by providing free clothing, mentorship, housing information, child education, vaccinations and other health related services, etc. we all agreed that we wanted to make it fun and enjoyable for the families that took time out of their day to show up. Mission accomplished! I simply can't get over this short sweet clip of little Qiana, full of joy as she takes in the moment.
Enjoy...
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And, Just Like That, We Have a New Cohort of Year 1 Medical Residents
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Above: Authority Health PGY-1 Medical Residents
In late June, we held a 3-day event to formally welcome a brand-new cohort to our medical residency program. This diverse body of 27 amazing and accomplished physicians has joined one of our 3 residency programs that will help further expand not only their experience with providing medical services and treatment to patients, but will also further engage them in the nature of working with medically underserved urban communities, such as some of the ones here in Detroit.
We fully believe that the experiences that our residents gain while serving in this capacity will help to inform their understanding of what quality care both feels and looks like. We're honored to have them join our program and very excited about the care they'll bring to the southeastern Michigan population. You can learn more about our GME Residency Program here or give us a call at (313) 871-3751.
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VIDEO - A conversation on The Health of the Black Family |
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In thinking about the health of families that identify as Black or as a part of the Black diaspora who in live in our region it was necessary to look at not only how they are fairing physically, but also the mental and social aspects of wellbeing. To help give us some insight into this area we wanted to talk to Ms. Kenyatta Stephens, CEO of Black Family Development. She sat down with Authority Health's CEO, Loretta V. Bush for what was an insightful conversation. |
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In Honor of National Black Family Month
A Haiku...
a Japanese poem that must consist of the following: 17 syllables total: 3 lines only; 5 syllables in the first line; 7 in the second; 5 in the third.
The Black family,
Enduring, forging ahead.
Prevailing, always.
Send us a haiku in honor of Black Family Month or in honor of the benefits of exercising with your child, which is our focus for August and we'll share it in a future publication.
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Authority Health is a public body corporate serving the needs of the health care safety net. It sponsors the nation’s second-largest graduate medical education teaching health center and community-based wellness centers. In addition, Authority Health provides extensive enrollment and navigation services, as well as professional training opportunities.
Authority Health | 313.871.3751 | media@authorityhealth.org | www.authorityhealth.org
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