Council committee approves renewal with Henry Ford College for community health worker training; member asks to explore local college partners

The Detroit Health Department asked the committee to authorize a revenue contract with Henry Ford College to continue classroom instruction for the Michigan Community Health Worker Alliance training.

Leah Smith, director of administrative operations for the Detroit Health Department, said the city provides the instructor and Henry Ford College recruits students and pays the department $850 per student under a one-year revenue contract. Smith told the committee this is a renewal of an existing relationship; the prior revenue contract had expired and this action renews that arrangement.

Council member Mary Waters asked why Henry Ford College (Dearborn) was the vendor rather than local Wayne County Community College. Smith said the department has a longstanding relationship with Henry Ford College for this training but that staff are investigating other potential partner agencies and would consider other local colleges when the contract comes up for renewal.

The committee approved the contract and sent it to formal with a recommendation to approve. Council members asked that the department assess local alternatives in the next year to broaden training partnerships.

Clarifying details recorded in the hearing: the contract period is one year, Henry Ford College acts as the training partner and pays the department $850 per student; the city provides the instructor and materials; the agreement is a revenue contract rather than a city appropriation; the department committed to explore Wayne County Community College and other local partners moving forward.