Michigan's Women, Infants & Children program, providing supplemental nutrition, breastfeeding information, and other resources for healthy mothers & babies.
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If you cannot afford child care, payment assistance is available.
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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.
Resources and information to assist in assuring firearm safety for families in the state of Michigan.
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Serves as liaison and provides funding to Michigan’s 45 local health departments.
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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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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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August 02, 2001
Breastfeeding is simple, natural and it produces healthier babies. Unfortunately, many moms lack the experience and support to breastfeed their baby. This missed opportunity is costing Americans well over three billion dollars in additional health care every year.
Governor Engler has declared August as Breastfeeding Awareness Month in Michigan, noting "Breastfeeding provides infants the benefits of perfect nutrition and immunization against disease which are not available through any other method of infant feeding." The proclamation coincides with the international celebration of World Breastfeeding Week August 1-7.
Breastfed babies are healthier babies, putting fewer demands on the healthcare system. A recent study by USDA's Economic Research Service reports that a minimum of $3.6 billion could be saved in medical costs every year if the number of women choosing to breastfeed increased from 64 percent to 75 percent.
The Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program in the Michigan Department of Community Health provides supplemental food and nutrition education to more than 213,000 women, infants and children monthly throughout the state. For more information about enrolling in the WIC Program call 1-800-26-BIRTH.
"In Michigan, breastfeeding has increased by 11% among WIC mothers over the past 4 years and currently, 50% of WIC mothers initiate breastfeeding," said Michigan Department of Community Health Director, James K. Haveman, Jr. "This increase reflects the effort to provide staff training, peer counselor support for mothers, extra food, and breastpumps to assist mothers as they return to work or school while continuing to breastfeed.
"The WIC program has also partnered with Michigan State University Extension to provide peer counseling Mother-to-Mother support for breastfeeding moms and their babies," said Michigan Department of Community Health WIC Division Director Alethia Carr. "This support helps moms keep breastfeeding longer."
The World Health Organization and the American Academy of Pediatrics promote breastfeeding as a health behavior that needs to be encouraged and supported throughout the first year of life.
Local WIC agencies have developed activities throughout the state to observe Breastfeeding Awareness Month.
-- Kent County will have a breastfeeding support group celebration on August 9, prize drawing, and gift bags for breastfeeding moms and coloring books for the children of breastfeeding moms.
-- Bay and Kent Counties will have special events to teach moms how to make baby slings.
-- St. Clair County will raffle off a breast pump and have an informational breastfeeding booth at the mall.
-- The Detroit WIC agency is celebrating its fifth anniversary of the Mother-to-Mother Program and holding a "Mom's Day Out" picnic for breastfeeding moms at the end of the month.
-- Chippewa County will recognize health care providers for their support of breastfeeding and recognize restaurants for welcoming breastfeeding moms and families.