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Stroke Smart Michigan

Stroke Smart Michigan is a statewide public health initiative led by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Michigan Stroke Program (MiSP) to increase awareness, recognition, and rapid response to stroke symptoms. The program partners with local organizations across sectors to deliver tailored stroke education, improve community readiness, and reduce stroke-related morbidity and mortality.

Michigan continues to face a significant burden from stroke. In 2024, Michigan ranked 8th in the nation for stroke mortality, with an age-adjusted stroke death rate of 46.2 deaths per 100,000 population, compared with the U.S. average of 40.0 deaths per 100,000.*

After decades of decline, stroke mortality in Michigan began increasing in 2013, driven in part by the growing prevalence of stroke risk factors among adults. Reducing this burden requires coordinated statewide efforts to improve stroke prevention, increase public awareness, expand access to education and resources, and ensure timely, high-quality care, particularly in communities disproportionately affected by stroke.

Stroke Smart Michigan Goals

  • Increase public awareness of stroke signs and symptoms.
  • Improve community readiness to recognize and respond quickly to stroke.
  • Promote stroke prevention and cardiovascular health.
  • Reduce stroke disparities through targeted outreach.
  • Build sustainable partnerships to strengthen community-wide health outcomes.
     
     

*Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Health Statistics, Stats of the States: Stroke Mortality (2024 age-adjusted mortality rates) Stroke Mortality | Stats of the States | CDC.