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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What is the Birth Defects Program?
The Michigan Birth Defects Program is a statewide, population-based, passive surveillance system, housed within the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHSS). The Program encompasses the Michigan Birth Defects Registry (MBDR) and the Birth Defects Education, Outreach, and Surveillance Program. The primary aims of the Birth Defect Program are to: 1) monitor the rate of birth defects, 2) conduct follow-up activities, and 3) educate individuals, professionals and the public about preventable risk factors.
Michigan's formal surveillance system for monitoring the occurrence of birth defects began in 1987 when the public health code was amended by Act 48 (Public Act 368) to require establishment of a birth defects registry. Case reporting began in 1992 and continues today, relying on reporting by hospitals and cytogenetic
laboratories for case ascertainment.
Birth Defects Epidemiologist: Kenneth Hanson
Roles & Responsibilities:
This position provides epidemiological support to the Birth Defects Education, Outreach & Surveillance Program at the MDHHS. Roles include data management, surveillance of birth defects, study design and planning, policy and program development, program evaluation, technical expertise and training. Statistical analyses of data are presented in newsletters, updates, presentations, and annual reports. The epidemiologist works to improve data collection and data use to support the functions of this program. The Birth Defects Program includes the Michigan Birth Defects Registry and works to prevent birth defects, monitor the rate of birth defects, and link families to resources and support.
Birth Defects Deliverables:
For more information or to request a different format for any birth defects-related publication on this page, please contact: Kenneth Hanson (Birth Defects Epidemiologist).
Birth Defects Prosperity Region Factsheets
Birth Defects and Birth Characteristics - Prosperity Region 10 (2025)
Birth Defects and Birth Characteristics - Prosperity Region 9 (2025)
Birth Defects and Birth Characteristics - Prosperity Region 8 (2025)
Birth Defects and Birth Characteristics - Prosperity Region 7 (2025)
Birth Defects and Birth Characteristics - Prosperity Region 6 (2025)
Birth Defects and Birth Characteristics - Prosperity Region 5 (2025)
Birth Defects and Birth Characteristics - Prosperity Region 4 (2025)
Birth Defects and Birth Characteristics - Prosperity Region 3 (2025)
Birth Defects and Birth Characteristics - Prosperity Region 2 (2025)
Birth Defects and Birth Characteristics - Prosperity Region 1 (2025)
Birth Defects Newsletter
Michigan Monitor Fall 2022 - Updated Birth Defects Prevalence Data, 2015-2019
For previously released reports, please visit the Birth Defects Epidemiology Archived Reports page.
Back to the Maternal and Child Health Epidemiology Section
Back to the Lifecourse Epidemiology and Genomics Division