At Health Net of West Michigan, one of our core organizational values is educate.

We see ourselves as learners and collaborators. Our work focuses on equipping people with the resources they need to navigate the complex healthcare and social services systems while recognizing and building on the natural skills each client possesses to advocate for themselves and others. We also prioritize opportunities for learning and knowledge sharing among our staff, partners, and clients to benefit our collective communities.

Each year, we bring our entire team together for a half-day learning event. This time allows us to pause our daily work and deepen our understanding of trauma-informed practices and how different aspects of our lives influence our health and well-being, while maintaining our commitment to supporting our team with opportunities that are centered on each person’s unique journey of cultural humility. Key principles of cultural humility are continuous, lifelong self-reflection; openness and curiosity; addressing power imbalances; and upholding institutional accountability to build inclusive environments for our community members.

Over the years, we’ve covered topics including:

• understanding trauma and trauma-informed approaches.
• the impact of ACES (Adverse Childhood Experiences) on lifelong health and well-being.
• how trauma can affect families and future generations.
• the importance of self-care for helping professionals.

Healing Through Play

In 2024, our team welcomed Jacqueline Scherer, the founder of The Playgroundgr, and her team to lead an interactive session on the role of play in healing from traumatic experiences.

Through an immersive experience, we learned about the science of nature-based play and how play stimulates the brain. The session introduced different types of play that support brain development and healing, along with practical hands-on strategies we can use to support the community members we serve.

 

Environment as the Equalizer

In 2025, we partnered with the City of Grand Rapids to host a conversation about the power of the environment to promote healing.

Jennifer Spiller and Robert Cloy II shared their expertise on how thoughtfully designed spaces can support health and well-being. They highlighted how physical, social, and cultural environments influence healing and can help reduce the impact of trauma. When environments are intentionally supportive, they can serve as powerful equalizers, helping reduce disparities in access to safety, dignity, and well-being.

Why it Matters

Investing in learning and reflection not only strengthens our ability to serve our community with care, understanding, and empathy; it centers the collective humanity of our staff and community. The organizational learning opportunities help us recognize the support we need for our own health and well-being. By exploring trauma-informed practices and the environments that support healing, our team has been better equipped to walk alongside our community members and respond to the complex needs they face. These shared learning experiences help ensure that our work remains thoughtful, responsive, and grounded in the well-being of the people we serve and of our own team.