The Morris Hood III Chronic Kidney Disease and COVID-19 Complications Prevention program is based on the fact that COVID-19 complications and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are closely connected. The pandemic has highlighted the challenges faced by populations ranked high on CDC’s social vulnerability index, including evidence that kidney disease and its precursors—obesity, diabetes and hypertension, which significantly affect older adults—are known risk factors for serious COVID-19 complications up to and including death per the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention COVID-19 webpage. Individuals who are 30-day survivors of COVID-19 are at greater risk for acute kidney injury or eGFR decline regardless of whether hospitalized due to COVID-19. These individuals with acute kidney injury are now at high risk for CKD. This intersection between COVID-19 and CKD highlights the need for the Morris Hood III prevention program. The foundation for this project is the “Chronic Kidney Disease Prevention Strategy in Michigan 2021-2026” which emphasizes that kidney disease is common, serious, costly and often preventable.
The National Kidney Foundation of Michigan (NKFM) and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) developed this public health approach to prevention with the support of many state and local partners. This 3-year initiative will have a true and lasting impact on CKD and COVID in Michigan.
What We're Doing
Click LEARN MORE in the boxes below for more information on each initiative.
CKD Awareness Campaign
The NKFM partnered with the National Kidney Foundation to implement the Are You the 33%? Campaign throughout Michigan. The strategic digital campaign is focused on reaching, educating, and empowering Hispanic/Latino and Black/African American people and individuals living in rural areas in Michigan to take control of their kidney health and raise awareness of COVID-19 risk.
View the campaign toolkit here.
Discover your Data Platform
The Discover your Data platform will help us better understand the cost and health impact of CKD on Michigan residents and the relationship and risk between CKD and COVID-19.
Health Care Initiatives
We are working with health systems and providers across the state to increase understanding of CKD and the relationship and risk between CKD and COVID-19.
Community Initiatives
We are serving people with CKD, at risk for CKD, or at risk for COVID-19 through evidence-based programs and/or culturally appropriate nutrition and physical activity programs. Click on the logos below to learn more about each program and how to get involved.
Advisory Committee
More information to come.
Project Partners
- HHS Technology Group
- Joint Venture Hospital Laboratories
- Mathematica
- Michigan Association of Health Plans
- Michigan Association of Health Plans Foundation
- Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
- Michigan Primary Care Association
- Public Sector Consultants
- University of Michigan Kidney Epidemiology and Cost Center
A Message from Morris Hood III 's Family
The bill honors the late Morris W. Hood III, a former member of both the Michigan House and Senate. Hood had diabetes as a child, which later developed into kidney disease. As the recipient of a kidney transplant in 2016, Hood was an advocate for people with CKD, an ardent supporter of kidney disease awareness and prevention, and a long-time supporter of NKFM’s healthy living programs. He particularly loved the NKFM Regie’s Rainbow Adventure® program, which features a broccoli superhero who gets his superpowers from healthy foods and physical activity. Hood sometimes took Regie puppets to the Senate floor during Kidney Month to raise awareness. Hood died on May 11, 2020 from COVID complications. He was 54.
For More Information
For more information about the Morris Hood initiative, please email info@nkfm.org with the subject line MHI Inquiry.