Our Mission

Navigating Care. Connecting Resources.

W.E. C.A.R.E.

Well-being and Equity | Collaborate | Adapt | Respect | Educate

Here at Health Net of West Michigan, we are working towards the goal of every person in Kent County receiving the care and resources they need to be as healthy as they desire. We advocate for more equitable social conditions, respect the dignity and choices of community members, and strive to have the knowledge, expertise, partnerships, and flexibility to address the concerns of those we serve.

Our Footprint

Health Net of West Michigan was born out of the need for a community healthcare “hub.” Originally part of programming housed at First Steps Kent, we have since expanded our influence throughout the state, codified our navigation approach, and connected people of all ages living in Kent County with resources to meet health-related social needs. Although we operate and serve those within Kent County, our impact is present across the region, resonating through training, resource navigation, and partnerships.

Our Expertise

Instead of using a deficit-based model where clients are seen as a “problem” to be solved, our model views our clients as whole people with existing skills, strengths, and the ability to problem solve. We serve community members using our Care Model©, a strengths-based framework that empowers clients through motivational interviewing and action planning to create their own goals based on them being the experts in their lives.

Our Approach

At Health Net, inclusion is our focus and we believe that everyone should have a voice at the table when decisions are made. We challenge community and systemic barriers preventing people from reaching their health goals and are responsive to community needs as they arise. Our goal is to provide every client with high-quality services and tailored resources to meet their specific needs.

Our Philosophy

At Health Net of West Michigan, we treat every client like a neighbor: with respect, understanding, and compassion. We see our clients as part of our community and work tirelessly to remove the stigma of seeking social services.

Meet Our Team

Chinyere Aririguzo, LMSW; IMH-E (She/ Her)

Community Outreach Manager

Well-being & Equity - They are the foundation. Moving with the well-being & equity of not solely individuals but of the whole community is how we build a better society.

Melissa Arreguin (She/Her)

Resource Navigator, MCJ

Well-being – Not only do we care for the well-being of others, but Health Net cares about their employee’s well-being. We take care of our own well-being before helping others.

Hilary Bowens (She/Her)

Client Services Supervisor

Collaborate – Collaboration allows for communication, learning, trust, partnerships, and dissemination of knowledge. By implementing this one value, we have opened ourselves up to so much more.

Gerllys Cabral Bustos (She/Her)

Resource Navigator, QIDP

Well-being – It resonates with me because we connect our community members to resources that allow them to control their own life, judge life positively, and feel accomplished.

Yvonnda Carcini (She/Her)

Resource Navigator, CHW

Educate – It is important to educate and empower our community members. When they are equipped to navigate resources, problem solve and advocate for themselves, they can then share and educate others.

Tracie Chapin (She/Her)

Vice President, Administrative Services

Well-being & Equity – I am personally aligned with all of Health Net’s values, but well-being and equity resonate with me the most. The WE inspires me to think creatively and disrupt traditional HR systems.

Emily Dawson (She/They)

Data Entry Specialist

Adapt – In my time here, I have seen Health Net continuously adapt to the environment and needs of our clients and community.

Sophie Dela Cruz (She/Her)

Technology Coordinator/ Project Manager

Collaborate – Through collaboration, we enrich our understanding of the intersections that create the need for our work. This helps better what we do every day to address the inequities in society.

Tanya DePue (She/Her)

Client Services Supervisor

Educate – Providing education prepares clients to handle their health with the confidence and support they need to be successful.

Krystle Duthil (She/Her)

Project Manager

Well-being – As Lena Waithe said, “to be yourself is truly a revolutionary act.” HN recognizes staff as whole people. Our culture encourages and supports me in showing up as my full self.

Lynn Feuerstein (She/Her)

Resource Navigator, BSW

Collaborate – My role at Health Net consists of collaboration daily, whether that is with members of my team or the community to bring the best care to our clients.

Leah Finup (She/Her)

Client Services Program Assistant

Collaborate – We work together daily as a team responding to the needs of our community through problem-solving, idea generation, and trust.

Katie Fox (She/Her)

Client Services Supervisor

Collaborate – I love being surrounded by so many creative, positive, and supportive people. Together we find fun and new ways to support our clients and community partners.

Milo Ghering (He/Him)

Data and Reporting Manager

Adapt – I have participated in several Health Net teams and have seen our work evolve over time. I am proud to be part of an organization that is responsive to systemic, community, and individual needs.

Sarybet Gonzalez (She/Her)

Resource Navigator

Well-being – It resonates with me because Health Net sees me as a person first. Many organizations see you as an employee number but at Health Net, they truly value you as an individual.

Jenn Harrod (She/Her)

Vice President, Client Services

Well-being & Equity – I enjoy working alongside staff and community members who devote time, education, resources, and care to ensure the health and well-being of our whole community.

Kristi Kam (She/Her)

Vice President, Finance and Compliance

Educate – I am proud to be part of an organization that teaches people about available resources and how to best access them. By doing so, we empower clients to help themselves now and in the future.

Shannon Kaza (She/Her)

Training Project Manager

Well-being & Equity – They resonate with me as an advocate for healthcare for all and a longtime student and provider of wellness practices.

Maureen Kirkwood (She/Her)

President and CEO

Equity – All our values are meaningful to me – but equity resonates the most. It is the ultimate goal: a community where everyone has a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible.

Amelia Lopez (She/Her)

Resource Navigator, CHW

Respect – Working with others and accepting others’ differences is the key to a respectful, strong relationship between employer, coworker, and clients.

Joanna Marchena Molina (She/Her)

Client Services Supervisor

Well-being – It resonates with me because Health Net sees me as a person first. Many organizations see you as an employee number but here at HN, they truly value you as an individual.

Kristy Markowski (She/Her)

Resource Navigator, BS

Collaborate – I enjoy collaborating with clients with the hope to produce a positive outcome with them. Additionally, I enjoy working with others by walking alongside them to achieve their goals.

Christina Pavlak (She/Her)

Vice President, Training and Development

Educate – Learning is a lifelong personal value and a source of joy for me. I am a perpetual learner (and teacher), and I love to witness others grow and develop.

Rhonda Rogers (She/Her)

Accounting Manager

Well-being – A core value I resonate with is well-being. It helps with all aspects of my working life, from quality, quantity, and timeliness to productivity and creativity.

Keyuana Rosemond (She/Her)

Vice President, Engagement and Innovation

Respect – While all of our values are important, in my experience “respect” is always the precursor to education and evolution on a basic human level. Respect is the foundation for modeling all of our values.

Maria Silguero-Mavis (She/Her)

Resource Navigator, CHW

Respect – It resonates with me the most because I want to create feelings of trust, safety, and well-being in the relationships I build with individuals and families.

Lesly Sis (She/Her)

Community Outreach Representative

Equity – As a case manager, I provide services with respect and empowerment to every client, allowing them to be their own advocates.

Bianca Springer (She/Her)

Receptionist

Respect – Having the respect of meeting people where they are through their lived experiences and building relationships with them is a core value Health Net upholds.

Rachelle Tetley (She/Her)

Data Support Specialist

Equity – It resonates with me most because I value fair treatment, inclusion, and opportunity for all individuals while respecting their unique needs, life experiences, and perspectives.

Nicole Totten (She/Her)

Resource Navigator

Educate – One of my favorite things about being a case manager is educating clients on the many resources Kent County has to offer as well as empowering clients to reach their goals.

Miguel Velasco (He/Him)

Community Outreach Manager

Equity – I believe in patient advocacy and the importance it has within our Latinx community. I believe in cooperation and partnership to really make a difference in our community.

Kellan Whitman (She/Her)

Resource Navigator, BSW

Collaborate – It is an imperative piece to any measure of change-making. When we are in the community, we grow, heal, and thrive. Creating a better world is a collaborative effort.

Sarah Wilson (She/Her)

Director, Strategic Communications

Collaborate – Without genuine collaboration, we cannot make progress toward our vision of health equity. The rest of our values illustrate the qualities of being an effective collaborator.

Nirali Bora, MD (She/Her)

Co-Chair, Medical Director and Health Equity Liaison, Trinity Health

Working towards health equity guides my path as a public health physician. It’s a privilege to be part of an organization striving to help people thrive and make our community more just and equitable.

Jennifer Chaffer (She/Her)

Co-Chair, Director of Community Health & Well-Being, Trinity Health Grand Rapids

I believe in the work Health Net is doing in the community, and I want to support its efforts toward cross-system collaboration, health equity, and empowerment of individuals to achieve their health goals.

Philip Alt (He/Him)

Founder, Alt Long Term Care Consulting

To support equitable access to health care with a focus on social determinants of health.

Bill Joure (He/Him)

Secretary, COO, Cherry Health

I serve on the board of Health Net because I believe in their mission of connecting people in our community to quality health care and services that address social determinants of health.

Kathy Howard, MD (She/Her)

Member, Pediatrician, Forest Hills Pediatrics

As the Medical Director of Health Net and FitKids360, being part of the Health Net board gives me a better understanding of the services needed and the challenges our clients face.

Tricia Baird (She/Her)

Member, VP of Care Coordination, Corewell Health

Our community’s health is strengthened by collaboration. Health Net is a valuable asset to our community.

Latesha Lipscomb (She/Her)

Member, Urban Planner and Community Engagement Specialist, Progressive Companies

I have always been drawn to the idea of service to mankind above all else. The opportunity to co-create upstream solutions that result in a thriving community, where everyone has a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible resonated with me personally and professionally. Through strategic partnerships and collaborations, we will ensure that everyday people have access to the quality of life they need and deserve.

Kathy Howard (She/Her)

Pediatrician, Forest Hills Pediatrics

As the Medical Director of Health Net and FitKids360, being part of the Health Net board gives me a better understanding of the services needed and the challenges our clients face.