Interested University of Michigan graduate students will submit a brief 2 page proposal by November 3, 2023 describing their idea(s) for developing a practicable community-based solution to a health equity problems. Students may work independently or in teams of up to 2 students. Proposals will then be reviewed by an independent panel of experts by mid-December 2023. Ten (10) students/projects will be notified that they have been selected to receive a $2,000 award and policy/program mentorship and training from January 10, 2024 to March 6, 2024. Students will receive half of the award shortly following their selection and the other half following the submission of a brief ‘storytelling’ blog about their initial project ideas and their final proposal. The mentorship would involve strategic guidance, introductions to CBOs and other subject matter experts (SMEs), concept and draft review, and problem solving. Most mentorship could be done virtually/electronically.

The solutions that students develop will be documented in a 6-8 page proposal submitted for review by the independent panel at the beginning of March 2024. The Independent Review Committee (IRC) will select up to two top ideas for the Health Equity Challenge Awards by the end of March 2024. The CBO identified in each winning proposal will receive an implementation grant of up to $50,000 and the student proposer will be eligible for an additional $1,000 award to support their continued involvement in the selected projects. Students associated with the winning projects will be required to update their ‘storytelling’ blog with lessons learned from the CBO’s implementation of their idea. 

Successful initial proposals and final projects will be those with a relatively narrow focus on a solvable problem. The mentorship to be offered by University of Michigan faculty, and MolinaCares’ independent consultants with broad health care expertise will help students and their potential local partners focus in on the most feasible ideas for eventual implementation. They will also provide reviews of early versions of the participating students’ final proposals.