Learn about Federal changes to Medicaid and Food Assistance Programs..
Michigan's Women, Infants & Children program, providing supplemental nutrition, breastfeeding information, and other resources for healthy mothers & babies.
Information on the Family Independence Program, State Disability Assistance, SSI, Refugee, and other cash assistance.
If you cannot afford child care, payment assistance is available.
Children's Special Health Care Services information and FAQ's.
Information on assistance with home repairs, heat and utility bills, relocation, home ownership, burials, home energy, and eligibility requirements.
Information on the Food Assistance Program, eligibility requirements, and other food resources.
Information about the health care programs available through Medicaid and how to qualify.
Our migrant program works with a number of organizations to provide services for Michigan’s migrant and seasonal farmworkers.
A federal program which helps persons admitted into the U.S. as refugees to become self-sufficient after their arrival.
Universal caseload, or task-based processing, is a different way of handling public assistance cases.
Information on the Children's Protective Services Program, child abuse reporting procedures, and help for parents in caring for their children.
Information on adoption programs, adoption resources, locating birth parents and obtaining information from adoption records.
Information on Adult Protective Services, Independent Living Services, Adult Community Placement Services, and HIV/AIDS Support Services.
Information on child support services for participants and partners.
Programs for healthy children & families, including immunization, lead poisoning prevention, prenatal smoking cessation, and many others.
Information on the Children's Foster Care program and becoming a Foster Parent.
Information about the Michigan law that requires certain information be made available to a woman who is seeking an abortion at least 24 hours prior to the abortion procedure.
Information on treatment and services for juvenile offenders, success stories, and more.
Child Welfare Medical and Behavioral Health Resources
MDHHS and partners support a continuum of prevention services. The continuum is inclusive of primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention activities. Visit this page to learn more.
Information about injury and violence prevention programs in Michigan
Information on Safe Sleep for your baby, how to protect your baby's life.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services' (MDHHS) Environmental Health Bureau (EHB) uses the best available science to reduce, eliminate, or prevent harm from environmental, chemical, and physical hazards.
Information, sources of data and resources to support Firearm Injury Prevention efforts across the state of Michigan.
Medical Resources for Child Protection
Serves as liaison and provides funding to Michigan’s 45 local health departments.
Adult Behavioral Health & Developmental Disability Services
Information and resources for development of Plans of Safe Care.
Multicultural Health
Prevention of diseases & conditions such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes and many others.
Information on communicable & chronic diseases.
Home to an array of public health programs, initiatives and interventions aimed at improving the health and well-being of women, infants, families and communities.
Birth, Death, Marriage and Divorce Records
Boards and Commissions
Bridge Card Participation Information on Electronic Benefits for clients and businesses, lists of participating retailers and ATMs, and QUEST.
Provider Payments Information on the direct deposit of State of Michigan payments into a provider's bank account.
Information on How to Bid, Requests for Proposals, forms and publications, contractor rates, and manuals.
Information & resources for Community and Faith-Based partners
Information on DHS Applications and Forms grouped by category.
State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP)
Health Care Providers
Licensing information for Adult Foster Care and Homes for the Aged, Child Day Care Facilities, Child Caring Institutions, Children's Foster Care Homes, Child Placing Agencies, Juvenile Court Operated Facilities and Children's or Adult Foster Care Camps.
Michigan Statewide Systems of Care
Information on the grant awarded for the State Innovation Model Proposal
Protect MiFamily -Title IV-E Waiver
Offers resources for agencies who operate the Weatherization Assistance Program in the state of Michigan
Information on resources in your community and volunteer recruitment and training, and services provided at local DHS offices.
Information is collected to monitor the general health and well-being of Michigan citizens.
Equal Opportunity, Legal Base, Laws and Reporting Welfare Fraud information.
A variety of reports & statistics for programs and services.
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Heart disease and stroke continue to pose urgent public health challenges in Michigan. In 2023, heart disease ranked as the leading cause of death across all ages, while stroke was the fourth. Together, these two conditions accounted for nearly one-third (30.9%) of all underlying causes of death, according to the Geocoded Michigan Death Certificate Registry (Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Division for Vital Records and Health Statistics, 2023).
While these numbers are alarming, there are steps everyone can take to protect their health. Regular physical activity, balanced nutrition, and routine screenings are proven ways to reduce risk. Learn more about prevention strategies from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: CDC Heart Disease Prevention.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is strongly linked to hypertension and high cholesterol. In Michigan:
In Michigan, 33.8% of adult women have hypertension and 35.1% have high cholesterol. This February, the Go Red for Women campaign reminds us that cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of women, causing one in three deaths each year. Together, we can raise awareness and take action through healthy choices and regular checkups (MiBRFSS, 2023). Learn more: Go Red for Women.
The Million Hearts® initiative is a national campaign co-led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes within 5 years. It focuses on implementing a small set of evidence-based priorities and targets that can improve cardiovascular health for all. CDC’s Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention provides leadership and support for the Million Hearts® initiative, which began in 2012.
▶ Video Clip: https://www.pbs.org/video/independent-lens-free-breakfast-program/
In 1969, The Black Panther Party created the Free Breakfast for School Children program at an Episcopal church in Oakland, CA. The idea was simple:
The program started small but grew quickly. At its peak in the 1970s, the program served over 20,000 children every week at Black Panther outposts nationwide.
School officials immediately noticed the impact:
“The school principal came down and told us how different the children were,” Ruth Beckford, a parishioner who helped with the program, said later. “They weren’t falling asleep in class, they weren’t crying with stomach cramps.”
Not everyone saw feeding hungry children as a success. FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover called the program a threat to the nation. He ordered raids to destroy food meant for the children and intimidate participants. Eventually, the program ended, but its influence lasted.
The Black Panther Party’s efforts put pressure on the U.S. government, leading to the School Breakfast Program, authorized in 1975.
Want to learn more about Black Anti-Hunger Champions? Check out this list.
Learn more about Michigan’s School Breakfast Program here.
Sources:
It's always a good time to learn the signs of stroke and how to prevent it. A stroke happens when the brain loses blood supply, either from a blockage or burst blood vessel. Timely detection and treatment can significantly reduce the impact and improve recovery.
Adopting a heart-healthy lifestyle — like eating a balanced diet, staying active, and managing health conditions — can lower stroke risk. The American Stroke Association Life's Essential 8 guidelines are a great resource for maintaining brain and cardiovascular health.
The Michigan Stroke Program offers community resources and training to help raise awareness and prevent strokes. Learn more about local programs and how you can get involved through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Michigan Stroke Program.
Visit the American Stroke Association for more information.
Image courtesy of https://befast.org/ Check out this video from American Stroke Association: Spot a Stroke F.A.S.T.
Click on image to see a larger version.
A stroke is a medical emergency that can happen to anyone, at any age and at any time. Know the facts! You can take steps to reduce the risk of having a stroke by taking some simple steps.
These lifestyle recommendations also work against high blood pressure.
Do you know your blood pressure numbers? High blood pressure is a leading cause of strokes, as well as kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, dementias, and other life-altering conditions.
Regular medical checkups are important to detect and manage blood pressure. If you have high blood pressure, take your medications as directed, measure your blood pressure often, and talk to your doctor about additional things you can do to minimize your risk of high blood pressure and stroke.
Do you know that pregnancy and the six weeks after giving birth is a time when birthing people are at higher risk of a life-threatening high blood pressure condition called preeclampsia?
From 2015 to 2019, complications related to high blood pressure caused more pregnant Michigan individuals to die than any other reason.
Be sure to keep your prenatal and post-delivery appointments, and watch your blood pressure and blood sugar. Make sure to know the warning signs for preeclampsia, such as increased swelling, headache, and shortness of breath. If you experience any of these, talk to your doctor without delay!
For more information, visit the Preeclampsia Foundation at www.preeclampsia.org.
Click on the image to open a downloadable PDF version of the full factsheet. It is normal for your brain to change as you get older. Having healthy blood pressure can lower your risk for memory loss and confusion. Follow your healthcare provider's guidance to manage your blood pressure.
For more information about blood pressure, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention High Blood Pressure website.
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