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) Division of Environmental Health (DEH) uses the best available science to reduce, eliminate, or prevent harm from environmental, chemical, and physical hazards.
Resources and information to assist in assuring firearm safety for families in the state of Michigan.
The Division of Victim Services (DVS) provides a voice advocating for and responding to all victims of crime in Michigan. Learn more about DVS-funded programs and services, including Michigan’s 24/7, free, confidential, and anonymous domestic violence and sexual assault hotlines.
Medical Resources for Child Protection
Serves as liaison and provides funding to Michigan’s 45 local health departments.
Adult Behavioral Health & Developmental Disability Services
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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Chickenpox (also called varicella) is a virus that causes an itchy, blister-like rash.
Chickenpox can be serious, especially in people with weakened immune systems.
Chickenpox is very contagious. Most people who are not immune will become ill when they are close to someone who has the virus.
Chickenpox is spread by breathing in virus particles or even touching them.
An infected person can spread chickenpox to others 1 to 2 days before the rash begins, until all the lesions of the rash have scabbed over.
About Chickenpox (Varicella) - (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
The vaccine for chickenpox (varicella) is called Varivax. It was introduced in 1995.
The routine schedule for vaccination is:
The chickenpox vaccine can provide life-long protection from chickenpox. Most people who get the vaccine will not get chickenpox.
A person can get chickenpox more than once, but it is not common.
A person who has been vaccinated can also sometimes get chickenpox, but they usually get a mild case. They can still spread chickenpox to others.
Chickenpox Vaccination (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Symptoms of chickenpox begin 10-21 days after first exposure. Symptoms may start 1-2 days before the rash. The rash lasts 5-10 days.
Symptoms of chickenpox include:
About Chickenpox (Varicella) - (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Risk of Disease
Chapter 22: Varicella | Pink Book (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Chickenpox is a notifiable disease. A notifiable disease is one that doctors must report to state or local public health officials.
Public health officials track some diseases because they can spread easily, are serious, or happen often.
Get answers to frequently asked questions about Chickenpox and the vaccine used to prevent it.
Varicella (Chickenpox): Questions and Answers (immunize.org)
Chickenpox Vaccine Saves Lives Infographic (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Video: Why do Children Need the Chickenpox Vaccine? (American Academy of Pediatrics)
Clear Answers and Smart Advice About Your Baby's Shots (immunize.org)
Chickenpox Vaccination
About Chickenpox (Varicella) - (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Impact of U.S. Chickenpox Vaccination Program (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
How Vaccines Work
Video: How Do Vaccines Work? (American Academy of Pediatrics)
Spanish version: ¿Cómo funcionan las vacunas? (American Academy of Pediatrics)
If you have been immunized in the State of Michigan, you may be able to download your immunization record from the Michigan Care Improvement Registry (MCIR).
Visit the Michigan Immunization Portal to learn more or contact your healthcare provider.