Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 19, 2023

CONTACT: Chelsea Wuth, 517-241-2112, [email protected]

MDHHS educates Michigan residents about how to stay healthy this tick season

LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) encourages Michigan residents to take steps to avoid tick bites while enjoying the outdoors. Tick-borne diseases, particularly Lyme disease and anaplasmosis, are increasing across the state as weather warms. Ticks can be active when the weather is above 40⁰F.

“Preventing tick bites is the best way to prevent tick-borne diseases,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, MDHHS chief medical executive. “Michigan residents who find a tick attached to their body should promptly remove it and monitor their health. If they begin to experience fever, rash, muscle or joint aches or other symptoms, they should consult a medical provider.”

Signs and symptoms of tick-borne disease typically begin one to two weeks after a tick bite, often after being in wooded or brushy areas where ticks commonly live. Early symptoms can be non-specific and include fever or chills, rash, headache, fatigue and muscle aches. Early treatment with appropriate antibiotics can decrease the risk of serious complications.

Lyme disease, caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, is the most common tick-borne disease in Michigan. Anaplasmosis, caused by the bacteria Anaplasma phagocytophilum, is the second most common tick-borne disease in Michigan and cases are increasing, particularly in the state’s Upper Peninsula.

Both Lyme disease and anaplasmosis are transmitted by Ixodes scapularis, commonly known as the blacklegged or deer tick. The blacklegged tick is well-established in parts of Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsulas and has been expanding its range over the years. Information about Lyme disease risk by county is available at Michigan.gov/Lyme.

People can protect themselves against Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases by following these tips:

Avoid tick-infested areas.

• Ticks live in grassy, brushy and wooded areas.
• Walk in the center of trails to avoid contact with overgrown grass, brush and leaf litter at trail edges.
• Protect pets! Dogs and cats can come into contact with ticks outdoors and bring them into the home. Talk with your veterinarian about the best tick prevention products for your pets.

Use insect repellent.

• Apply an EPA-registered repellent on exposed skin. Find a repellent product that is right for you.
• Treat clothes (especially pants, socks and shoes) with permethrin, which kills ticks on contact or buy clothes that are pre-treated. Do not use permethrin directly on skin.
• Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions when applying repellents.

Perform daily tick checks.

• Always check for ticks on yourself and your animals after being outdoors, including in your own wooded yard.
• Inspect all body surfaces carefully and remove attached ticks with tweezers.
• To remove a tick, grasp the tick firmly and as closely to the skin as possible. With a steady motion, pull the tick’s body away from the skin. Cleanse the area with an antiseptic.

Bathe or shower.

• Bathe or shower as soon as possible after coming indoors (preferably within two hours) to wash off and more easily find ticks that might be crawling on you.
• Wash clothing in hot water and dry on high heat to kill ticks in clothing.

The MDHHS Emerging & Zoonotic Infectious Diseases Section has recently released a report “Michigan Trends in Tickborne Disease, 2016-2020,” which includes up-to-date information on the types of ticks that are common in Michigan and the diseases they can carry.

Not all ticks spread the same germs. MDHHS can help to identify ticks you may encounter outdoors. Residents can email photos of ticks to [email protected] for identification or submit ticks to MDHHS for identification. For more information on how to submit your tick and/or photos and information on ticks, visit Michigan.gov/Lyme.

For more information on Lyme disease, visit CDC.gov/Lyme.

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 18, 2023

CONTACT: Lynn Sutfin, 517-241-2112, Sutfinl1@michigan.gov

Rally, pinwheels bring awareness to child abuse prevention
Children Trust Michigan holds 15^th annual event at State Capitol

LANSING, Mich. – Advocates for children held spinning blue and silver pinwheels today as Children Trust Michigan held the 15^th annual Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Day Rally outside the State Capitol.

About 250 people attended, planting the pinwheels in the ground following a ceremony where speakers talked about how communities around Michigan can prevent child abuse. The pinwheel is the national symbol for child abuse and neglect prevention.

“Every child deserves to feel safe in their home, school and community,” said Michigan Department of Health and human Services (MDHHS) Director Elizabeth Hertel, one of the speakers at the rally. “I’m so proud of our employees and the work they do to respond to concerns, and to connect families to the resources they need to be successful and create a safe, healthy and stable home environment for children. However, there is always more that can be done to strengthen families, strengthen communities and prevent abuse before it happens.”

More than 15,000 child abuse and neglect cases were confirmed in Michigan last year. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has proclaimed April as Child Abuse Prevention Month.

Children Trust Michigan, housed within MDHHS, was established by the Michigan Legislature in 1982.  It serves as a voice for Michigan’s children and families and promotes their health, safety and welfare by funding effective local programs and services that prevent child abuse and neglect.

Suzanne Greenberg, executive director of Children Trust Michigan, served as emcee for the rally.

“Child abuse prevention is an acknowledged community responsibility,” Greenberg said. “The theme of this 15^th annual event is ‘Building Together: Prevention in Partnerships.’ This nationwide campaign under the leadership of Prevent Child Abuse America and here statewide through Children Trust Michigan serves as a visual reminder that we all have a role to play in preventing child abuse and neglect.”

Participants walk to plant pinwheels during the 15^th annual Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Day Rally.

She said one way to build strong communities is by supporting family resource centers, which are places where all families are welcomed and receive access to support in their community. Families can get parenting support, access to resources, child development activities and parent leadership development.

Other event speakers included Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, Attorney General Dana Nessel and Fatima Salman, president of the National Association of Social Workers.

Children Trust Michigan honored the 2023 winners of the Inspire Award – Anne Flynn from the Help Me Grow Calhoun program and Mattie Morgan from The Children’s Center in Wayne County.

Terry Loynes from the Child Center of Gratiot County and Erick Hamilton of Voices for Children of Genesee County shared parent stories.

The Dwight Rich School of the Arts Beginner Band from the Lansing School District provided entertainment.

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Director Elizabeth Hertel speaks at the 15^th annual Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Day Rally as Suzanne Greenberg, executive director of the Children Trust Michigan, looks on.

For information on Children Trust Michigan and Child Abuse Prevention Month, visit childrentrustmichigan.org.

Today’s rally is one of two major Children’s Trust Fund events in April and May.

The annual Pam Posthumus Signature Auction Event is May 16 at 5 p.m. at the Breslin Center on Michigan State University’s campus in East Lansing to raise money to support child abuse prevention programming. For more information or to make a tax-deductible donation to support the Children’s Trust Fund, visit www.michigan.gov/ctf.

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 17, 2023

CONTACT: Lynn Sutfin, 517-241-2112, Sutfinl1@michigan.gov  

New state psychiatric hospital to be built on
existing Hawthorn Center location in Northville
State-of-the-art facility will serve both adults and youth as part of state’s
continued commitment to provide behavioral health services to Michigan families

LANSING, Mich. – Today, as part of the state’s continued commitment to providing behavioral health services to Michigan families, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) and the Department of Technology, Management & Budget (DTMB) announced the location of a new inpatient psychiatric hospital. The southeastern Michigan facility will be located at the current site of Hawthorn Center, 18471 Haggerty Road in Northville.

The new hospital is being made possible by a $325 million FY23 budget allocation by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the legislature. It will care for patients currently served at both Hawthorn Center and Walter P. Reuther Psychiatric Hospital in Westland.

The two facilities serve nearly 200 patients and are among the state’s five inpatient psychiatric hospitals for individuals who have severe mental illness or intellectual and developmental disabilities. Hawthorn Center opened its doors in 1956, while Walter Reuther began operations in 1979, and need to be replaced due to aging infrastructure.

“We are excited to be able to provide Michigan families in need of inpatient, behavioral health care a new state-of-the-art hospital in southeastern Michigan,” said Elizabeth Hertel, MDHHS director. “The modern facility will allow MDHHS to continue providing quality, compassionate care to both children and adults. The consolidation of two of our current hospitals will also allow for efficiencies in administrative and support services while maintaining separate living and treatment facilities for adults and children.”

“DTMB is proud to be a part of this effort to improve the lives of Michiganders most in need of care,” said Michelle Lange, DTMB director. “Our team of construction experts are eager to exercise their skills to ensure that the new psychiatric facility is completed on time and on budget and is a top-notch facility that meets the needs of both the patients and staff.”

“The new facility is a perfect example of how the state is leveraging one-time resources for long-term strategic investments,” said State Budget Director Christopher Harkins. “We are thoughtfully and deliberately building the new facility on the current Hawthorn Center site, which is a convenient location for staff and patient families, and sustains a relationship with the community of Northville, which has long been a partner to the State of Michigan. This project will provide benefits for years into the future.”

“Mental health, especially for children, is an urgent need in our region,” said Mark Abbo, Northville Township supervisor. “We are pleased to have the opportunity to work with the State of Michigan to develop a state-of-the-art facility to help those in our region in need, get the highest possible mental health care.”

During construction of the new facility in Northville, staff and patients currently being cared for at Hawthorn Center will be moved to a separate unit at Walter P. Reuther Psychiatric Hospital to allow for the demolition of the current Hawthorn facility.

While the new psychiatric complex will serve all ages, the hospitals will be distinct facilities with separate living and programmatic spaces for children and adults. The complex, however, will include shared administration and food service.

The construction manager for the project is Christman Company­, with design services provided by Integrated Design Solutions LLC. Construction is expected to begin this fall and anticipated completion is in 2026.

The State of Michigan operates five inpatient hospitals that serve nearly 650 patients. Caro Center, Kalamazoo Psychiatric Hospital and Walter Reuther Psychiatric Hospital serve adult patients while children and adolescents are treated at Hawthorn Center. The Center for Forensic Psychiatry provides diagnostic services to the criminal justice system and psychiatric treatment for criminal defendants adjudicated incompetent to stand trial or acquitted by not guilty by reason of insanity.

Michigan’s state hospitals are accredited by The Joint Commission and are committed to providing evidence-supported, person-centered inpatient care to individuals in an environment that values compassion, collaboration and community reintegration.

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 17, 2023

CONTACT: Lynn Sutfin, 517-241-2112, Sutfinl1@michigan.gov

MDHHS commemorates Minority Health Month by
spreading awareness through community engagement

LANSING, Mich. – As part of recognizing April as Minority Health Month, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Office of Equity and Minority Health (OEMH) is launching a series of conversations to gather statewide feedback on newly proposed Race and Ethnicity Data Collection Standards.

“Michigan must be a place where everyone can envision their future and access quality, affordable health care that meets their needs,” said Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. “During Minority Health Month, we acknowledge health disparities faced by communities of color and recommit ourselves to expanding coverage, lowering costs and ensuring every Michigander – no matter where they live or who they are – gets the medication, treatment and services they deserve. I am proud of the work the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has done to protect and expand access to health care, and I am also grateful to the ongoing work of the Racial Disparities Task Force to face these challenges head on. Let’s keep taking action to reduce disparities and protect the health and safety of every community.”

“Minority Health Month is a time to highlight barriers impeding the health disparities and health inequity for racial and ethnic populations,” said Elizabeth Hertel, MDHHS director. “When people are provided with culturally and linguistically appropriate information, they are empowered to create healthier outcomes for themselves and their communities.”

OEMH will honor its commitment to positively impacting disparities by sponsoring social media and community events throughout the month in partnership with the Regional Health Equity Councils. These efforts will focus on obtaining public input on how to best represent racial and ethnic identities in MDHHS’ data collection, analysis and dissemination efforts. Residents, organizations and businesses are also invited to join OEMH in promoting health literacy in April under the theme of “Better Health Through Better Understanding.”

“Far-reaching impact requires that the voices of those most affected be heard and valued,” said Kimberly Reese, director of Race Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Office. “To achieve better health outcomes for racial and ethnic populations in Michigan, we must amplify efforts to improve cultural and language literacy for health care systems in marginalized communities.”

OEMH was created in 1988 and is the third oldest minority health office in the United States. Since its inception, OEMH has dedicated its efforts to assuring health equity and eliminating health disparities among Michigan’s racial and ethnic populations, including African Americans, American Indians/Alaska Natives, Arab and Chaldean Americans, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and Hispanics/Latinos.

These groups face disproportionate burdens of disease and health outcomes including higher mortality rates and overrepresentation in some chronic illness like diabetes and hypertension due to systemic racism, lack of culturally responsive services and other barriers to adequate and appropriate health care.

As part of its efforts to address social determinants of health and other factors that contribute to many racial and ethnic populations experiencing disparate health outcomes, OEMH supports 11 Regional Health Equity councils throughout the state. Through community-driven priority settings, each council tailors its activities on capacity building, community outreach and education.

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 11, 2023

CONTACT: Chelsea Wuth, 517-241-2112, [email protected]

Hometown Health Heroes and Jean Chabut Policy Champions honored by Michigan Public Health Week partnership

LANSING, Mich. – As part of Public Health Week in Michigan, 10 individuals and organizations will be presented with the 2023 Hometown Health Hero and Jean Chabut Health Policy Champion awards for their contributions to protecting and improving the health of Michigan. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is a founding member of this partnership.

Hometown Health Hero awards are presented every spring as part of Michigan Public Health Week.

“Our Hometown Health Hero awards are a way for us to highlight selfless and dedicated champions of public health who are making incredible efforts to improve the lives of Michigan residents,” said MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel. “We celebrate all efforts, no matter how small or large, of health care professionals who make a positive impact on our state.”

2023 Jean Chabut Health Policy Champion Award

There are three recipients this year of the Jean Chabut Health Policy Champion Award. These individuals were nominated either by a member of their staff or members of their community. They have demonstrated an untiring commitment to the health and safety of their communities.

Jane Sundmacher, Northern Michigan Community Health Innovation Region

Jane Sundmacher established and expanded the Northern Michigan Community Health Innovation Region (NMCHIR), a 10-county collaboration supporting healthy people through partnerships of local health departments, hospitals, community-based organizations and more by aligning systems and addressing barriers to health and well-being. Sundmacher has secured millions of dollars of federal, state and local grant funding to support health department programming, mentor public health professionals, lead cross-jurisdictional sharing projects, and facilitate strategic planning for health organizations across northwest Michigan.

Northern Michigan Community Health Innovation Region (NMCHIR)

The NMCHIR has been recognized with a national Rural Health Innovation Profile for exciting and potentially replicable innovations in rural health care that show promise in improving health, care and lowering costs. NMCHIR achieved $3 million in Medicaid Health Plan savings between 2016 and 2021 by reducing emergency room visits by 23.5% and inpatient stays by 25.5%. NMCHIR uses a coordinated approach to address social determinants of health and represents a unique, collaborative strategy to improve conditions where people live, work, learn and play. Programming includes:

• Community Connections: A program addressing social determinants of health by connecting residents to community resources.
• Behavioral Health Initiative: A response to increasing behavioral health costs in the region to improve access to services and promotion of resiliency.
• Learning Community: A network of cross-sector partners with a common interest of amplifying resident voices and power, promoting health equity, and strengthening the 10-county digital neighborhood for improved coordination and alignment.
• MiThrive: A program bringing together cross-sector partners and residents in 31 counties including local health departments and hospitals to conduct common community health assessment and collaboration for community health improvement.

Ottawa County Department of Public Health

According to the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), Project Public Health Ready (PPHR) is a criteria-based training and recognition program created by NACCHO and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to help local health departments develop core public health and emergency preparedness competencies. Ottawa County Department of Public Health first achieved PPHR recognition in 2017. They successfully completed the five-year re-recognition process in 2022. This intensive 18-month program provides local health departments with the structure to build training and preparedness capacity using a continuous quality improvement model. Through PPHR, local health departments demonstrate preparedness and response capability and capacity by showing they meet a nationally recognized set of criteria that are aligned with federal requirements and national best practices. This recognition is valid for five years, after which local health departments must reapply for recognition.

2023 Hometown Health Hero Award Winners

Lyn Campbell, Central Michigan District Health Department

Campbell serves residents in central Michigan living with HIV/AIDS through supervision of the Ryan White clinic. The Ryan White clinic operated by the Central Michigan District Health Department (CMDHD) has achieved a 100% viral suppression rate and is one of only a few clinics in the U.S. to offer CABENUVA, an injectable antiretroviral therapy medication to treat HIV/AIDS. Additionally, the CMDHD offers PrEP, a pre-exposure prophylaxis medication to reduce the chance of getting HIV from sex or injection drug use. Campbell and her team have brought in additional providers to offer full wraparound services for clients in one location. Case managers help coordinate care from basic needs to medication management. The Ryan White clinic at CMDHD is used as a model of success for other clinics.

Dana Kissner, MD, Detroit Health Department Tuberculosis Program

Dr. Kissner worked for decades to serve patients in the Detroit area and establish a tuberculosis (TB) clinic. The program offers a comprehensive approach including providing caregivers who speak multiple languages and treat the patient as a whole and not just their TB diagnosis. Kissner modernized the TB program at Detroit since joining the Detroit Tuberculosis Clinic in 2007. Kissner advocates for patients with complex backgrounds and ensures the social and environmental contexts are considered and addressed during treatment. As a result of these efforts, there have been no multi-drug resistant TB cases in the city of Detroit since 2012.

Carol Thornton, Dickinson-Iron Child Death Review Team

Thornton volunteered to create and lead a Child Death Review (CDR) team in Iron and Dickinson counties. The purpose of a CDR is to create activities and initiatives that can prevent future child deaths. CDR teams are not required in Michigan but help facilitate the review process for locations served. Thornton has helped families learn about teen suicide, safe infant sleep and safe sledding, as well as providing information on how to choose a safe vehicle for teens and keeping the vehicle properly maintained. Thornton’s dedication to health and safety aimed at preventing death has been incredibly beneficial for her community.

Christopher Petrat, Be Well Medical Center

Petrat was instrumental in broadening availability of the Jynneos vaccine during the mpox outbreak beginning last year. Petrat worked with community leaders and event organizers in the local LGBTQ+ community to set up vaccine tables at a variety of events on weekends and evenings and made sure the vaccines were available where community members felt secure and comfortable. More than 400 Jynneos doses were administered by the Be Well Medical Center where Petrat works, which was 3% of all doses administered in the state and 14% of all doses administered in Oakland County.

Jeremiah Hodshire, Hillsdale Hospital

Hodshire, the CEO of Hillsdale Hospital, has worked to increase specialists and services provided to the rural community of Hillsdale. He has been an advocate for rural health within the state and nationally. Additionally, Hodshire worked with local leaders to build trust with community members and help with the cost-sharing of medical expenses, which led to people accessing more preventative care instead of only receiving emergent care for more complex issues. Hodshire also worked to reopen My Community Dental Center to provide dental care to low-income and Medicaid patients, which decreased the number of patients visiting the emergency room for oral-related emergencies.

Dollar General

Dollar General partnered with Feeding America to positively impact food insecurity concerns across the country. In Michigan, Dollar General partners with the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan in Flint, Forgotten Harvest in Detroit and Food Gatherers in Ann Arbor. In 2022, Dollar General donated 168,000 pounds of food equaling approximately 127,000 meals. Produce was added to 38 stores in 2022, five of which were located in areas defined as a food desert. Throughout Michigan, 91 stores offer produce in 11 food desert areas.

Northern Michigan Opioid Response Consortium

The Northern Michigan Opioid Response Consortium (NMORC) serves 25 counties in the lower peninsula to offer a coordinated response to reduce opioid and substance use disorders. NMORC offers naloxone training and distribution, harm reduction activities including education, provider training and workforce assistance, and works to reduce stigma around opioid and substance use. NMORC uses data to offer best practices and coordinate comprehensive care to those affected by substance use.