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.
Search is currently unavailable. Please try again later.
The web Browser you are currently using is unsupported, and some features of this site may not work as intended. Please update to a modern browser such as Chrome, Firefox or Edge to experience all features Michigan.gov has to offer.
September is Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, a time to focus on the health and well being of children and adolescents in Michigan.
New findings from the Michigan Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) show that adolescent obesity has increased between 1999 and 2025, rising from 10.8% to 14.8%. This long-term trend reminds us that supporting healthy growth for Michigan youth continues to be a shared priority for families, schools, health providers, and communities.
Recent data from the National Survey of Children’s Health (2023–2024) adds more context to how daily habits impact youth health. One in five children under age 18 (20.4 %) in Michigan spend four or more hours per weekday using screens for entertainment, including TV, phones, gaming, internet use, and social media. High screen time can reduce opportunities for active play and physical activity that are essential for healthy growth.
Childhood obesity has many contributing factors. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), eating habits, physical activity levels, sleep patterns, family routines, and the environments where children live and learn all play a role.
Small, practical steps can make a meaningful difference. Families can help by offering more fruits and vegetables, choosing water instead of sugary drinks, encouraging daily active time, and sticking to consistent sleep schedules. These routines help build lifelong healthy habits.
You can explore Michigan Youth Risk Behavior Survey trend data on our Physical Activity and Nutrition (PAN) Epidemiology webpage.
If you are looking for easy tools to support healthier routines at home or in your community, the following resources may be helpful:
Source: Michigan Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (1999-2023)
Source: National Survey of Children’s Health (2023–2024)
It's always a good time to learn the signs of stroke and how to prevent it. A stroke happens when the brain loses blood supply, either from a blockage or burst blood vessel. Timely detection and treatment can significantly reduce the impact and improve recovery.
Adopting a heart-healthy lifestyle — like eating a balanced diet, staying active, and managing health conditions — can lower stroke risk. The American Stroke Association Life's Essential 8 guidelines are a great resource for maintaining brain and cardiovascular health.
The Michigan Stroke Program offers community resources and training to help raise awareness and prevent strokes. Learn more about local programs and how you can get involved through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Michigan Stroke Program.
Visit the American Stroke Association for more information.
Image courtesy of https://befast.org/ Check out this video from American Stroke Association: Spot a Stroke F.A.S.T.
Click on image to see a larger version.
A stroke is a medical emergency that can happen to anyone, at any age and at any time. Know the facts! You can take steps to reduce the risk of having a stroke by taking some simple steps.
These lifestyle recommendations also work against high blood pressure.
Do you know your blood pressure numbers? High blood pressure is a leading cause of strokes, as well as kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, dementias, and other life-altering conditions.
Regular medical checkups are important to detect and manage blood pressure. If you have high blood pressure, take your medications as directed, measure your blood pressure often, and talk to your doctor about additional things you can do to minimize your risk of high blood pressure and stroke.
Do you know that pregnancy and the six weeks after giving birth is a time when birthing people are at higher risk of a life-threatening high blood pressure condition called preeclampsia?
From 2015 to 2019, complications related to high blood pressure caused more pregnant Michigan individuals to die than any other reason.
Be sure to keep your prenatal and post-delivery appointments, and watch your blood pressure and blood sugar. Make sure to know the warning signs for preeclampsia, such as increased swelling, headache, and shortness of breath. If you experience any of these, talk to your doctor without delay!
For more information, visit the Preeclampsia Foundation at www.preeclampsia.org.
Click on the image to open a downloadable PDF version of the full factsheet. It is normal for your brain to change as you get older. Having healthy blood pressure can lower your risk for memory loss and confusion. Follow your healthcare provider's guidance to manage your blood pressure.
For more information about blood pressure, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention High Blood Pressure website.
Return to Cardiovascular Health, Nutrition & Physical Activity Section home page
Please Note: Although we make every effort to ensure that our website is compliant with current Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards, some of the links on this page may lead to outside websites that are not ADA-compliant.