Salute! to the Center for Disparity Solutions and Equity

DETROIT, MI - The Center for Disparity Solutions and Equity (CDSE) - a community-driven organization by the University of Michigan-Dearborn, College of Education, Health, and Human Services, received the Breakthrough Award from the Greater Detroit Area Health Council (GDAHC) during its annual awards dinner Salute! to Healthcare on November 3, 2016 at the Atheneum Suite Hotel in Detroit.

CDSE received the 2016
Breakthrough Award

The Breakthrough Award is presented to an individual or organization for their impact on the health and well-being of southeast Michigan through community engagement and innovation. This year GDAHC decided to honor the Center for Disparity Solutions and Equity (CDSE) with this award.

The overarching objective of the CDSE is to develop evidence-based solutions that seek to create equity across education, public and community health, healthcare, wellness and human services. To achieve this aim, the CDSE partners with community, corporate, education, government, health and wellness organizations spanning the Detroit area, the State of Michigan and the United States.

Working in collaboration with these stakeholders and through the application of leading-edge research, the CDSE seeks to implement actionable solutions by way of innovative programs and policies, systems and environment best practices and responsible evaluation mechanisms—among other channels.

Center of Disparity Solutions and Equity team members

  Currently, there are more than 20 professionals, from the University of Michigan-Dearborn as well as a number of regional organizations and institutions, associated with the CDSE. These regional organizations range from healthcare payers to free clinics to health systems to school districts to social service organizations and more.

Examples of the substantial work, with actions implemented, that have been completed include:

1. hotspotting to identify geographic areas of high concentration of chronic diseases and at-risk populations
2. across-sector collaborations to lessen the disparities and burden of determinants of health;
3. working of institutional policies to increase equity; and
4. convergence of education and health and human services entities to increase educational attainment and quality of life. Some of the areas of clinical focus has involved, but has not been limited to: autism spectrum disorder, diabetes, hypertension, asthma, bipolar disorder, and learning disabilities.

The CDSE features knowledgeable faculty and staff members who are passionate about eliminating disparities across education, health and human services. These experts bring together other faculty members, students and communities in effort to help eliminate disparities.

The CDSE works from the position that progress and positive change can be realized, that equity throughout the areas of education, public and community health, healthcare, wellness and human services is a true possibility.