Michigan's Women, Infants & Children program, providing supplemental nutrition, breastfeeding information, and other resources for healthy mothers & babies.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Prevention of diseases & conditions such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes and many others.
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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.
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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
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Pictured clockwise from top left: Nick and Jessica Sierakowski, Amanda Falbe, Matthew and Jennifer Seese, and Derika Bacer.
For thirteen years, MDHHS and the Foster, Adoptive and Kinship Parent Collaborative Council has hosted the Foster, Adoptive and Kinship (FAK) Parent Conference. This event aims to provide space for families in the FAK community to come together for a weekend of connection and education. During the FAK Conference, we recognize families of excellence as nominated by child welfare professionals working with the families.
Family of Excellence awardees are caregivers who are honored for exceeding expectations. They show dedication, leadership, and heart in ways that inspire all. Meet the 2025 FAK Family of Excellence recipients:
Amanda Falbe: Kinship Family Excellence Award
Ms. Falbe became a fictive kin placement provider to two children who were previously in her in-home daycare. Amanda partnered with the children’s parents by supervising parenting times. This allowed them to attend the children’s school events and appointments.
Amanda stood out as a kinship provider when she allowed the mother to attend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day parties in her home with her own family. This allowed the biological mother to see her three children for the holidays.
By providing support and encouragement to the parents, she helped them overcome barriers and one of the children returned to their care. Ms. Falbe is the true definition of supporting reunification.
Mathew and Jennifer Seese: Foster Family Excellence Award
Jen and Matt Seese have been foster parents for almost 25 years. During this time, the family has fostered more than 27 children—bringing them into their home, giving them love, structure, guidance, and support.
The Seese family has overcome hardships while providing unconditional love and support for the children in their care. Two brothers were placed with them several years ago. Tragically, the youngest brother drowned during a school-related event. The family stood together navigating through their grief and MDHHS policies and procedures related to the death of a child in foster care.
Once the older brother became available for adoption, Jen and Matt began the process of adding him to their family permanently. The adoption process was lengthy with many setbacks. Not many families can withstand the frustrations and heartache that goes with an adoption journey that lasts years. However, Jen and Matt stayed committed, and the child became a Seese in December 2024.
In addition to opening their home to children in foster care, Jen is an amazing advocate for biological parents. She has a unique way of connecting with parents and offers support, guidance and mentorship to help them improve their parenting skills. Jen also often remains connected to the parents as a support after reunification occurs. The Seese family has become one of their licensing agency’s most dependable foster families.
Meet Derika Bacer: Teresa Marvin Family Partnership Award
Derika has been a foster parent for nearly six years and has helped her community tremendously. She does not shy away from the call to help and has made major changes in her own life to provide the best care for the children she fosters.
She is paving the way for the future of relationships between foster parents and biological families. Derika has had a positive impact on the parents of the children in her care. In an unfortunate circumstance, a mother had her children removed from her care and immediately recommended the workers reach out to Derika due to the amazing work she did providing care for her children's siblings.
Recently, Derika accepted the placement of a sibling set that was previously returned home and re-removed. Derika instantly stepped into action and was the first person in line to provide care for the boys. During the boys’ first placement with her, she was able to successfully facilitate reunification and was a constant support system for the children’s father.
When the boys returned home, Derika provided respite care, transportation to school and doctors, Christmas and birthday gifts, and even took the boys on a trip to Kentucky with the rest of her family. Derika maintained open communication with the father, and he would often initiate contact with Derika to provide updates or just ask for support. Derika never missed a call and was always there for Dad and the boys.
In more ways than one, Derika is an outstanding foster parent. She is incredibly resourceful and has successfully integrated herself into her community. Derika maintains consistent communication and is great at advocating for the children in her care—she does not rest until they are provided for.
Meet Nick and Jessica Sierakowski: Adoptive Family Excellence Award
Nick and Jessica Sierakowski have five biological children and have welcomed four additional kids into their home and family. They have developed a routine that allows all nine children to thrive.
Their adoptive children all play sports, do well in school, and receive exceptional love and care. They always appear to be happy and consistently reach new milestones. The Sierakowskis invested in getting a transit van to transport all their children. They are also expanding their house to allow the children a chance to grow into the home.
Nick and Jessica allow their kids to participate in things that they never had the opportunity to do before. They are encouraging, communicative and supportive of their children.