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.
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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Date added to Michigan Newborn Screening: March 2020
Newborn screening is done on tiny samples of blood taken from a baby’s heel 24 to 36 hours after birth. The blood is tested for rare disorders that may affect a baby’s health and development. A positive newborn screen means that a baby may have one of these disorders. More testing is needed to know for sure.
Your baby had a positive newborn screen for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Your baby’s primary care provider or the Newborn Screening Program will notify you to arrange for more testing.
SMA is a genetic disorder that affects a person’s ability to control muscle movement. It is caused by the loss of special nerve cells in the spinal cord called motor neurons.
Individuals with SMA do not make enough of a certain protein needed to keep motor neurons healthy. As a result, the motor neurons stop sending signals to the muscles. Over time, muscles become weak and smaller from not being used.
SMA is passed on (inherited) from parents to a child. Both the mother and father of an affected child carry a gene change that can cause SMA. Parents usually do not know they carry the gene change because it does not cause health problems for them.
There are four types of SMA that vary in severity and age at which symptoms begin. Symptoms can be mild or severe and can begin in infancy, childhood, or adulthood. A blood test may help predict which type of SMA a child has.
A child with SMA may develop:
It is very important to follow the doctor’s instructions for testing and treatment.
There is no cure for SMA. Treatment is life-long and can include:
Children with SMA should see their regular doctor. They should also see a doctor who specializes in SMA as part of a special care team.
Specialized treatment helps children with SMA live the healthiest lives possible.
It is very important to get follow-up testing as soon as possible.
Michigan Newborn Screening Nurse Consultant
Toll-free: 1-866-673-9939
Email: NewbornScreening@Michigan.gov
SMA Newborn Screening Coordinating Center
Michigan Medicine
734-647-8938
Children’s Special Health Care Services
Toll-free: 1-800-359-3722
MedlinePlus - SMA
National Organization for Rare Disorders
Baby’s First Test