Bringing Healthcare Within Reach: How Impact100 Oakland County Is Helping GBCHC Connect More People to Care
For many uninsured and underserved individuals, accessing healthcare can feel like navigating a maze. Questions about eligibility, insurance, appointments, and available community resources can become overwhelming—and sometimes prevent people from getting the care they need.
Thanks to an $82,000 two-year grant from Impact100 Oakland County, the Dr. Gary Burnstein Community Health Clinic (GBCHC) is helping remove those barriers through its Community Health Worker Outreach & Patient Navigation Program.
During the first year of the grant, $41,000 has been invested in personnel, Community Health Worker (CHW) training, educational materials, outreach supplies, and patient resources. The results are already making a measurable difference throughout Oakland County and Southeast Michigan.
Connecting Patients to Coverage and Care
A major component of the program is patient navigation. GBCHC’s Patient Navigation Specialists help individuals understand their healthcare options, complete applications, determine eligibility, enroll in Medicaid, and connect with important community resources.
The clinic originally planned to hire one full-time Patient Navigation Specialist. Instead, GBCHC identified an opportunity to hire two highly qualified part-time specialists who are pursuing healthcare-related degrees.
This approach has expanded the clinic’s capacity and scheduling flexibility while providing valuable workforce development opportunities for future healthcare professionals.
Since January 2026, the Patient Navigation Specialists have:
- Processed more than 1,800 patient applications
- Assisted 439 individuals with Medicaid enrollment
- Helped uninsured and underserved residents connect with healthcare coverage and services
The program is not only helping people access care today—it is also investing in the next generation of healthcare professionals.
Taking Healthcare Into the Community
The grant also supported a Community Outreach Specialist who has worked to build relationships throughout Oakland County and Southeast Michigan.
Through health fairs, community resource events, educational programs, wellness initiatives, and partnerships with community organizations, healthcare providers, municipalities, and local leaders, GBCHC is bringing information about healthcare services directly to the people who need it.
An additional success has made this outreach even more impactful. During the grant period, GBCHC secured funding from the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, allowing the Community Outreach Specialist position to expand from part-time to full-time.
This is an excellent example of how an initial investment can create momentum for additional philanthropic support and long-term sustainability.
Meeting an Urgent Need
One recent outreach event demonstrated just how great the need for accessible healthcare remains.
At a community event at the Detroit Zoo, approximately 7,000 people were in attendance. Through proactive outreach and patient navigation efforts, GBCHC received more than 300 new patient registration forms in just three days.
The response demonstrated both the effectiveness of meeting people where they are and the significant unmet need for accessible healthcare services in the community.
For GBCHC, the challenge is no longer simply reaching people. The success of the outreach program has created increased demand for services, requiring the clinic to continually refine its internal systems for processing applications, verifying eligibility, coordinating appointments, and connecting patients with timely care.
Building a Stronger Healthcare Workforce
As new team members joined the program, they completed Community Health Worker training through the State of Michigan.
This training strengthens their ability to provide patient advocacy, health education, care coordination, Medicaid enrollment assistance, and community resource navigation.
These skills are essential to GBCHC’s mission and are helping establish a comprehensive patient navigation and outreach model that can continue to serve the community well into the future.
A Sustainable Investment in Community Health
The impact of the Impact100 Oakland County grant extends beyond the immediate services provided to patients. It has helped GBCHC build the infrastructure needed for a sustainable outreach and patient navigation program.
The grant has supported:
- Expanded patient navigation capacity
- Community Health Worker training
- Increased Medicaid enrollment assistance
- Stronger partnerships with community organizations and healthcare providers
- Educational and outreach resources
- Greater visibility throughout Oakland County and Southeast Michigan
- Additional philanthropic investment
- A stronger, more sustainable model for connecting vulnerable residents with healthcare
GBCHC plans to continue pursuing public and private funding, philanthropic partnerships, healthcare collaborations, and community relationships to expand this work.
The Impact of Your Investment
The first year of the Impact100 Oakland County grant demonstrates what can happen when an organization receives the resources to build capacity and reach people in new ways.
More than 1,800 applications processed.
439 individuals assisted with Medicaid enrollment.
More than 300 new patient registration forms generated in just three days at one community event.
A part-time outreach position expanded to full-time through additional funding.
New Community Health Workers trained to better advocate for patients.
These numbers represent more than program outcomes. They represent people who are gaining access to healthcare, coverage, information, and resources that can improve their lives.
The Impact100 Oakland County investment has helped Dr. Gary Burnstein Community Health Clinic expand its workforce, strengthen community partnerships, leverage additional funding, and establish a sustainable model for outreach and patient navigation.
Most importantly, it is helping GBCHC bring healthcare within reach for more uninsured and underserved residents across Oakland County and Southeast Michigan.