Whitmer Signs Proclamation Marking Juneteenth Celebration Day 

Whitmer Signs Proclamation Marking Juneteenth Celebration Day 

by | Jun 17, 2020 | Uncategorized

Governor Gretchen Whitmer Banner - headshot with bridge graphic

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

June 17, 2020

Contact: [email protected]

 

Gov. Whitmer Signs Proclamation Marking Juneteenth Celebration Day

 

LANSING, Mich. — Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer issued a proclamation declaring June 19th as Juneteenth Celebration Day in Michigan. Juneteenth commemorates the day in 1865 when slavery was abolished in the United States.

 

“Juneteenth is a crucial day in our nation’s history to remember how far we have come and recognize how far we still have to go,”  said Governor Whitmer. “During a time when communities of color are disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, and when the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery have shone a light on the systemic racism Black Americans face every day, we must work together to build a more equitable and just Michigan. I’m proud to declare June 19, 2020 as Juneteenth Celebration Day, and will continue to work tirelessly to create a state that is equal for all.”

 

“We have seen Michiganders across the state continue to fight for their freedom and the freedom of others,” said Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II. “This day, which marks when the final group of Black Americans understood that they were free, is an important reminder of the work that must continue to be done to deliver equity and opportunity to every community. I am committed to working every day to build a state that is representative and responsive to the people we serve.”

 

Juneteenth originated on June 19, 1865, when Union Army General Gordon Granger landed in Galveston, where he read General Order #3, stating that all slaves were free, and that former masters and slaves were absolutely equal in personal and property rights. Acting as the date of emancipation, June 19th also became a long-standing day of celebration, meant to honor African-American resilience and the end of slavery.

 

Since day one, both Governor Whitmer and Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II have been committed to making Michigan a more equitable state. The governor appointed the most diverse cabinet in Michigan’s history to ensure that government is more representative of all Michiganders. During her State of the State Address this year, Governor Whitmer called for implicit bias training for all healthcare and medical professionals to combat racism felt across the healthcare industry. The governor also called on the legislature to expand health care for low-income mothers to improve health outcomes for every mom and baby.

 

After Governor Whitmer negotiated the budget last year, the state has implemented a weighed foundation formula, which ensures school funding is based on equity and science. And recently, the governor’s administration negotiated a landmark literacy case where a Michigan court ruled that every child, no matter their community, has a birthright to a path to literacy.

 

Over the last several weeks, the governor added four seats to The Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES), including the Director of the Michigan Department of Civil Rights, to bring more community voices to the table as the commission considers police reforms for our state. The governor also requested that MCOLES provide guidance to law enforcement agencies on continuing education that will help officers keep up with the everchanging landscape of new laws and issues facing the community, including diversity and implicit bias training.

 

Additionally, the governor has encouraged police departments to participate in efforts that are underway on comprehensive reporting on the use of force by police departments and urged law enforcement agencies to implement duty to intervene polices.

 

To view the full proclamation click the link below:

 
Oakland County supports employment rights

Oakland County supports employment rights

by | Jun 16, 2020 | Uncategorized

Coulter: Oakland County supports employment rights for all residents

​Pontiac, Michigan – Oakland County Executive David Coulter issued the following statement about the landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling today that affirmed 1964 Civil Rights Act Title VII employment protection rights for individuals in the LGBTQ+ community in a 6-3 decision. Coulter is the county’s first openly gay executive:

“Today’s historic Supreme Court opinion is a major victory for equality and fairness in our country. No one should be fired simply for whom they love, and today America took an important step forward toward a more just and perfect union. Oakland County is proud to support this right for all our residents.”

For media inquiries only, please contact Bill Mullan, Oakland County media & communications officer, at 248-858-1048.

AG Announces First Seven Proposals for Police Reform

AG Announces First Seven Proposals for Police Reform

by | Jun 16, 2020 | Uncategorized

Attorney General Dana Nessel

Media Contact:

Courtney Covington
(o) 517-335-7666 (c) 517-290-1560


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, June 16, 2020

Nessel Announces First Seven Proposals for Police Reform in Michigan

LANSING – To effectuate substantive, structural change to the police oversight system in Michigan, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel today announced seven proposals as part of a series of actions for police reform. The proposals seek to increase transparency surrounding law enforcement agencies and ensure accountability from and for law enforcement officers.

In 2016, the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES) began requiring that law enforcement officers in the State of Michigan be licensed. But, in many respects, MCOLES lacks sufficient authority to oversee law enforcement professionals and to revoke the licenses of police officers who demonstrate poor moral character or violate the public trust.

The proposals aim to create oversight for law enforcement agencies and their officers similar to many of the professions and professional licenses required across the state, along with a comprehensive approach to evaluating misconduct complaints and imposing disciplinary actions by a single agency, MCOLES.

The proposals include:

  • Authorizing MCOLES to suspend or revoke a license when an officer: (a) engages in conduct that adversely affects the ability and fitness of the police officer to perform his or her job duties; or (b) engages in conduct that is detrimental to the reputation, integrity or discipline of the police department where the police officer is employed.
  • Mandating that law enforcement agencies maintain all disciplinary records of a police officer in his or her personnel file.
  • Requiring MCOLES to create a statewide misconduct registry of verified claims that is accessible by the public.
  • Amending the Public Employee Benefits Forfeiture Act (MCL 38.2701, et al.) so that officers forfeit their retirement benefits upon conviction of a felony related to misconduct while on duty.
  • Mandating law enforcement agencies report use of force data, disaggregated by race, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, religion and age.
  • Creating an independent investigative and prosecutorial process for deaths that involve the actions of law enforcement officers.
  • Requiring continuing education for law enforcement officers as a license requirement; improving and standardizing police policies and trainings (including de-escalation, cultural competence and implicit bias trainings).

“We must do more than just condemn bigotry and acts of excessive force committed by law enforcement officers. We must act,” said Nessel. “Today, I have announced seven proposals for police reform, but this is merely a start. Making meaningful and concrete changes doesn’t end here, but it’s crucial that we move first with measures which create better accountability and more transparency to the actions of law enforcement here in Michigan. This work is a marathon, not a sprint and I am committed to moving with all deliberate speed in making progress on this front.”

In the coming weeks, the Attorney General will meet with members of the Legislature, community groups, advocacy groups, law enforcement agencies and other relevant stakeholders to discuss these proposals in addition to other potential areas of reform.

“This is just the first step toward implementing positive change in our criminal justice system,” Nessel said. “I look forward to working with these stakeholders to identify and implement additional ways to ensure all people – regardless of their race, color or zip code – are treated with equal respect and dignity under the law.”

DNR News Digest

by | Jun 16, 2020 | Uncategorized

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News Digest – Week of June 15, 2020

A scenic view at Black River State Forest Campground

Join the #100in100 cleanup challenge and help keep your favorite forests healthy and beautiful.
Some of the items in this week’s news digest reflect the impact of COVID-19 and how the Michigan Department of Natural Resources is adapting to meet customers’ needs. Public health and safety are our biggest priorities, and we will continue to share news and information about the safest, and sometimes new, ways to enjoy our state’s natural and cultural resources.

Follow our COVID-19 response page for FAQs and updates on facilities and reopening dates. For the latest public health guidelines and news, visit at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.

Here’s a look at some of this week’s stories:

See other news releases, Showcasing the DNR stories, photos and other resources at Michigan.gov/DNRPressRoom.

PHOTO FOLDER: Larger, higher-res versions of some of the images used in this email, and others, are available in this folder.

Enjoy, or start, a Father’s Day weekend fishing tradition

Brad Utrup, who works in the DNR Fisheries Division's Research Section, shows off a fish he and his young sons caughtCast a line. Wait for a nibble. Reel in a keeper, especially your first fish. It’s a scenario played out across the state, year after year. If you’re looking for a great Father’s Day gift for your dad, grandpa or maybe that family friend who’s always there with the perfect fatherly advice, how about a day on the water? Better yet, if you are that dad, tell your family you want to go fishing!

Where to go? With so many world-class fishing opportunities, choosing where to fish may be your toughest decision. Michigan is home to more than 11,000 lakes, tens of thousands of miles of rivers and streams, more freshwater shoreline than any other state in the nation and 3,000 miles of water trails.

If you’re new to fishing, the DNR offers many online tools to help you find fabulous fishing spots close to home, plus a lot of easy-to-follow tutorials to get you started. If your plans include a visit to one of Michigan’s 100-plus state parks, take your gear – many locations offer excellent places to fish. (Right now, you don’t need a Recreation Passport for vehicle entry at state parks.) Get more ideas on where to fish and other useful tips and information at Michigan.gov/Fishing.

No matter where or when you fish this Father’s Day weekend, be safe (keep 6 feet apart from people outside your household), have fun and, most of all, make some memories. Download the 2020 Fishing Guide at Michigan.gov/DNRDigests and purchase your license online at Michigan.gov/DNRLicenses.

Questions? Contact Suzanne Stone at 517-599-7987.

Join the #100in100 forest cleanup challenge

Two men and a woman clean up dumped trash and debris from state forest land in Grand Traverse County, MichiganIt is well known that regularly spending time in the woods does a body good. A strengthened immune system, reduced blood pressure, increased energy, boosted moods and greater focus – all thanks to trees. Wouldn’t it be great if there was a way to say thanks? This summer, you can.

Now through Sept. 22, the DNR challenges nature lovers to spend some quality time among the trees and clean up 100 state forest sites in 100 days. It’s all part of celebrating 100 years of the National Association of State Foresters and that group’s work to ensure thriving forests for generations to come.

This cleanup effort is hosted by Michigan’s Adopt-a-Forest program, which tracks sites on public land where trash has been dumped and connects with volunteers to help restore the land. An interactive map shows the locations and type of trash that needs to be cleaned up at more than 600 known sites. If a site has a large amount of debris or items that require special disposal, volunteers can request the assistance of program managers who will coordinate placement of appropriate trash bins.

How to join in:

  1. Visit CleanForests.org to find a dump site, learn about cleanup safety and sign the volunteer waiver.
  2. Gather your crew, get started and do some good!
  3. When you’re done, report the site as clean and spread the word on social media with #trashtag and #100in100 forest cleanup challenge to inspire others.

Contact Conor Haenni with questions and for assistance in coordinating a cleanup.

When getting together for a cleanup, be sure to follow guidance from health experts and practice social distancing to help slow the spread of COVID-19. It’s also important to be on guard for ticks in the forest, so check out the next story for some helpful information.

Questions? Contact Conor Haenni at 989-429-5542.

Help track valuable tick data with mobile health app

close-up view of blacklegged tick, photo courtesy of James Gathany, Centers for Disease ControlWhy is it that some people seem to come into contact with ticks more often than others? How can I avoid ticks? Can the tick that has attached to me transmit Lyme disease? With the goal of helping people get answers to questions like these and developing better strategies to prevent tick bites and tick-borne diseases, a team from the University of Wisconsin, Columbia University and Michigan State University created The Tick App – a mobile health app that both provides tips on how to avoid ticks and invites users to share information about their own tick exposure.

Coordinators are hoping people who spend time outdoors will use the app throughout June to share details (and photos) about ticks they see, where they were and what types of activities they were doing. Besides being a handy resource for outdoor lovers, The Tick App also gives people 18 and older the chance to help shape a research study through true citizen science and the contribution of daily “tick log” posts.

Download The Tick App here or through GooglePlay and/or iTunes. You can also participate through the desktop version.

Questions? Send an email to [email protected] or contact Jean Tsao, an associate professor in the Departments of Fisheries & Wildlife and Large Animal Clinical Sciences at Michigan State University, at [email protected].

THINGS TO DO

State-managed trails (including ORV trails and nonmotorized trails for hiking and biking) are open, but some previously postponed maintenance work is now underway. Enjoy the trails, but be alert and put safety first!

BUY & APPLY

Did you know that every time you buy a hunting or fishing license you’re supporting conservation and fish and wildlife habitat? Learn more about your license dollars at work and see details about some of our priorities statewide.

GET INVOLVED

How have you changed the way you work, how you interact with people, what you do and where you go? For the first phase of its COVID-19 collecting initiative, the Michigan History Center welcomes your photos, videos and audio files.

DNR COVID-19 RESPONSE: For details on affected DNR facilities and services, visit this webpage. Follow state actions and guidelines at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus.
MDHHS Issues Order to Protect Nursing Home Residents and Staff

MDHHS Issues Order to Protect Nursing Home Residents and Staff

by | Jun 16, 2020 | Uncategorized

MDHHS Issues Order to Protect Nursing Home Residents and Staff from COVID-19

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 15, 2020
Contact: Lynn Sutfin, 517-241-2112

Order requires testing and reporting; additional efforts address accuracy of nursing facility data, staffing, infection control practices

LANSING, MICH. To help protect residents and staff at nursing facilities from COVID-19, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Director Robert Gordon today issued an Order requiring regular testing and timely and accurate reporting of cases, deaths, personal protective equipment and staffing shortages.

“We took the time to make today’s report as accurate as possible,” Gordon said. “And now we’re doing everything in our power to protect nursing facility residents through mandatory testing, support for adequate staffing, and new efforts at infection control.”

“As we continue working to protect Michigan families from the spread of COVID-19 and lower the chance of a second wave, we must do everything we can to protect our most vulnerable Michiganders and those frontline workers who care for them,” said Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. “Continuous testing and proper staffing are crucial to that effort. As we continue to safely reopen sectors of our economy, Director Gordon and I will keep working with our partners in health care to ensure protections for our most vulnerable populations and for the brave men and women on the front lines fighting this virus.”

The Order requires nursing facilities to conduct the following COVID-19 testing for residents and staff:

  • Initial testing of all residents and staff.
  • Testing of all new or returning residents during intake unless tested within 72 hours of intake.
  • Testing of any resident or staff member with symptoms or suspected exposure.
  • Weekly testing of all previously negative residents and staff in facilities with any positive cases among residents or staff, until 14 days after the last new positive result.
  • Weekly testing of all staff in regions of medium or higher risk on the MI Safe Start Map.
  • Testing of all staff in Regions 1 through 5 and 7, at least once between the date of this order and July 3, 2020.

“We are appreciative that the governor continues to work with us and adopt our recommendations,” said State Rep. Leslie Love who leads the House Democratic Nursing Home Hub Taskforce. “As she continues to refine guidelines and protections for the safety of nursing home residents and staff, this will go a long way to preventing the spread of COVID-19 among our most vulnerable.”

“AARP strongly supports the testing mandate in Michigan nursing homes,” said Paula D. Cunningham, AARP state director. “The sad fate of so many older adults in long-term care facilities is both heartbreaking and infuriating. Setting up and implementing a comprehensive plan for testing of staff and residents is among the essential steps necessary to overturn this abject tragedy.”

Nursing facilities are required to submit plans for testing by June 22 and to implement those plans by June 29. Facility staff who are not permitted to come to work because they test positive for COVID-19 are eligible for unemployment insurance benefits and Pandemic Unemployment Compensation. The Unemployment Insurance Agency is committed to working with nursing facilities throughout the process of filing for unemployment on behalf of their employees.

MDHHS also announced several additional efforts to protect nursing facility residents:

  • Direct support for rapid response staff who can provide immediate support to long-term care facilities facing urgent staffing shortages due to COVID. Beginning in Southeast and West Michigan, the Department will help to make available, for up to 14 days, registered nurses, certified nursing assistants, personal care aides, and other key staff.
  • Coordination with Doctors Without Borders to help identify long-term care facilities in need of assistance with their infection prevention and control practices. Doctors Without Borders is sending mobile teams to assess facility practices and provide tailored recommendations for improvement.
  • Improved targeting of the Infection Prevention Resource and Assessment Team (IPRAT), which is helping nursing facilities complete the CDC Infection Control and Assessment Response Tool. More than 300 have completed the tool to date. IPRAT will now target its support to Regional Hubs and other facilities based on data from LARA. At the same time the Department will begin decommissioning some regional hubs due to reduced demand.

Additional information about these efforts is available on the MDHHS website.

In addition to the measures above, MDHHS is announcing the results of its comprehensive effort to validate nursing facility data on COVID-related cases and deaths. As of June 14, there have been 7,163 cases and 1,947 deaths among patients in nursing facilities with 4,919 patients recovered or recovering. In addition, there have been 3,133 cases and 20 deaths among staff. This represents cumulative data recorded since Jan. 1. These numbers reflect an extensive data validation effort led by DHHS, involving outreach to each of the state’s nursing facilities to confirm key data fields, ensure that facilities were aware of state and federal reporting expectations, and troubleshoot barriers to reporting.

The Emergency Order reiterates reporting requirements and formally establishes penalties for non-compliance to ensure timely and accurate data reporting. Facilities that do not report required data are subject to a $1,000 fine for each violation or for each day that a violation continues. Any violation of the order by a facility regulated by LARA shall be referred to the agency for determination whether to pursue additional enforcement action as it deems appropriate.

Gov. Whitmer today also signed Executive Order 2020-123, which extends her previous order protecting staff and residents in long-term care facilities from the spread of COVID-19, including by ensuring that employees who stay home when exhibiting symptoms are protected from adverse action. The order establishes a system of regional hubs for care of COVID-19-affected residents, and requires nursing homes to take special precautions when a resident exhibits symptoms of COVID-19. The governor’s order extends through July 12, 2020.

Information around this outbreak is changing rapidly. The latest information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.

 

from COVID-19

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 15, 2020
Contact: Lynn Sutfin, 517-241-2112

Order requires testing and reporting; additional efforts address accuracy of nursing facility data, staffing, infection control practices

LANSING, MICH. To help protect residents and staff at nursing facilities from COVID-19, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Director Robert Gordon today issued an Order requiring regular testing and timely and accurate reporting of cases, deaths, personal protective equipment and staffing shortages.

“We took the time to make today’s report as accurate as possible,” Gordon said. “And now we’re doing everything in our power to protect nursing facility residents through mandatory testing, support for adequate staffing, and new efforts at infection control.”

“As we continue working to protect Michigan families from the spread of COVID-19 and lower the chance of a second wave, we must do everything we can to protect our most vulnerable Michiganders and those frontline workers who care for them,” said Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. “Continuous testing and proper staffing are crucial to that effort. As we continue to safely reopen sectors of our economy, Director Gordon and I will keep working with our partners in health care to ensure protections for our most vulnerable populations and for the brave men and women on the front lines fighting this virus.”

The Order requires nursing facilities to conduct the following COVID-19 testing for residents and staff:

  • Initial testing of all residents and staff.
  • Testing of all new or returning residents during intake unless tested within 72 hours of intake.
  • Testing of any resident or staff member with symptoms or suspected exposure.
  • Weekly testing of all previously negative residents and staff in facilities with any positive cases among residents or staff, until 14 days after the last new positive result.
  • Weekly testing of all staff in regions of medium or higher risk on the MI Safe Start Map.
  • Testing of all staff in Regions 1 through 5 and 7, at least once between the date of this order and July 3, 2020.

“We are appreciative that the governor continues to work with us and adopt our recommendations,” said State Rep. Leslie Love who leads the House Democratic Nursing Home Hub Taskforce. “As she continues to refine guidelines and protections for the safety of nursing home residents and staff, this will go a long way to preventing the spread of COVID-19 among our most vulnerable.”

“AARP strongly supports the testing mandate in Michigan nursing homes,” said Paula D. Cunningham, AARP state director. “The sad fate of so many older adults in long-term care facilities is both heartbreaking and infuriating. Setting up and implementing a comprehensive plan for testing of staff and residents is among the essential steps necessary to overturn this abject tragedy.”

Nursing facilities are required to submit plans for testing by June 22 and to implement those plans by June 29. Facility staff who are not permitted to come to work because they test positive for COVID-19 are eligible for unemployment insurance benefits and Pandemic Unemployment Compensation. The Unemployment Insurance Agency is committed to working with nursing facilities throughout the process of filing for unemployment on behalf of their employees.

MDHHS also announced several additional efforts to protect nursing facility residents:

  • Direct support for rapid response staff who can provide immediate support to long-term care facilities facing urgent staffing shortages due to COVID. Beginning in Southeast and West Michigan, the Department will help to make available, for up to 14 days, registered nurses, certified nursing assistants, personal care aides, and other key staff.
  • Coordination with Doctors Without Borders to help identify long-term care facilities in need of assistance with their infection prevention and control practices. Doctors Without Borders is sending mobile teams to assess facility practices and provide tailored recommendations for improvement.
  • Improved targeting of the Infection Prevention Resource and Assessment Team (IPRAT), which is helping nursing facilities complete the CDC Infection Control and Assessment Response Tool. More than 300 have completed the tool to date. IPRAT will now target its support to Regional Hubs and other facilities based on data from LARA. At the same time the Department will begin decommissioning some regional hubs due to reduced demand.

Additional information about these efforts is available on the MDHHS website.

In addition to the measures above, MDHHS is announcing the results of its comprehensive effort to validate nursing facility data on COVID-related cases and deaths. As of June 14, there have been 7,163 cases and 1,947 deaths among patients in nursing facilities with 4,919 patients recovered or recovering. In addition, there have been 3,133 cases and 20 deaths among staff. This represents cumulative data recorded since Jan. 1. These numbers reflect an extensive data validation effort led by DHHS, involving outreach to each of the state’s nursing facilities to confirm key data fields, ensure that facilities were aware of state and federal reporting expectations, and troubleshoot barriers to reporting.

The Emergency Order reiterates reporting requirements and formally establishes penalties for non-compliance to ensure timely and accurate data reporting. Facilities that do not report required data are subject to a $1,000 fine for each violation or for each day that a violation continues. Any violation of the order by a facility regulated by LARA shall be referred to the agency for determination whether to pursue additional enforcement action as it deems appropriate.

Gov. Whitmer today also signed Executive Order 2020-123, which extends her previous order protecting staff and residents in long-term care facilities from the spread of COVID-19, including by ensuring that employees who stay home when exhibiting symptoms are protected from adverse action. The order establishes a system of regional hubs for care of COVID-19-affected residents, and requires nursing homes to take special precautions when a resident exhibits symptoms of COVID-19. The governor’s order extends through July 12, 2020.

Information around this outbreak is changing rapidly. The latest information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.