by Becky Andrus | May 24, 2022 | Health and Wellness
Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 24, 2022
CONTACT: Bob Wheaton, 517-241-2112, WheatonB@michigan.gov
MDHHS seeks proposals to help victims of child abuse
LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Division of Victim Services is seeking proposals from organizations that can provide services to victims of child abuse.
The focus of the Children’s Advocacy Center Victims of Crime Act proposals is to enhance or expand services offered by organizations with a demonstrated history of providing services to victims of child abuse and their non-offending family members.
Eligible applicants include federally recognized Native American tribes and 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations – including faith-based organizations – that provide children’s advocacy center services.
Successful applicants are expected to provide the following core services to victims/survivors and their non-offending family members, as defined in the Comprehensive Services Guidelines for Children’s Advocacy Centers Funded by the Michigan Division of Victim Services:
- Forensic interview services.
- Information and referral.
- Personal advocacy/accompaniment.
- Emotional support and safety services.
- Criminal/civil justice system assistance.
- Systems change and coordination.
- Trauma-informed therapy.
- Specialized medical evaluation.
The award period is Oct. 1, 2022 through Sept. 30, 2023. MDHHS anticipates issuing up to 35 awards with a maximum of $1.5 million possible for a single award.
Grant applications for the Children’s Advocacy Center proposal must be submitted electronically through the EGrAMS program by 3 p.m. July 12, 2022.
For more information or to apply, visit the EGrAMS website and select the “About EGrAMS” link in the left panel to access the “Competitive Application Instructions” training manual. The complete request for proposals can be accessed under the “Current Grants” section under the “Bureau of Community Services” link and by selecting the “CACV-2023” grant program. |
by Becky Andrus | May 23, 2022 | Health and Wellness
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Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 20, 2022
CONTACT: Chelsea Wuth, 517-241-2112, [email protected]
Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine booster dose
authorized for children ages 5 to 11;
Those 12 and older and immunocompromised or age 50 and older
should receive a second booster dose
LANSING, Mich. – Following the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendation, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) announces Michiganders ages 5 through 11 are eligible for a booster vaccine five months after receiving their primary series. Pfizer is the only COVID-19 vaccine currently authorized for those under age 18. COVID-19 booster doses may be given at the same time as other vaccines, including the flu vaccine.
“We are excited for continuing developments in our fight against COVID-19,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, MDHHS chief medical executive. “We have safe and effective tools to prevent severe outcomes and this booster is another way to combat this virus and keep our children and vulnerable populations protected. Children ages 5 through 11 may now receive a booster dose five months after their primary series. It is important that all Michiganders ages 5 and up get vaccinated if they aren’t already, and we urge everyone to stay up-to-date on vaccines.”
Symptoms may vary when children are infected with COVID-19, and unvaccinated children can still infect those around them even if they are not showing symptoms. Getting children vaccinated and boosted helps keep communities safe.
The CDC is also strengthening its recommendation that those 12 and older who are immunocompromised, and those 50 years and older should receive a second booster dose at least four months after their first booster dose.
When getting a booster dose, you’re encouraged to bring your COVID-19 vaccine card or immunization record to show the vaccine provider. Downloadable immunization records are accessible for adults 18 and older free of charge at the Michigan Immunization Portal. Visit Michigan.gov/MiImmsportal and upload a valid government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license, state ID or passport. If you do not have records in the portal or are seeking records for a child under 18 years of age, contact a health care provider or local health department.
To date over 6.7 million Michiganders ages 5 and up have gotten at least their first dose of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines. Eligible Michiganders are encouraged to stay up-to-date on vaccinations, which includes booster doses that provide extra protection, and residents of long-term care facilities where outbreaks can spread quickly and extra protection is strongly recommended.
MDHHS also encourages Michigan residents to pay attention to local guidance as some communities may be at a higher risk of COVID-19 transmission.
To schedule a primary or booster dose of the COVID vaccine, visit vaccines.gov.
To learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine, visit Michigan.gov/COVIDvaccine.
For more information about COVID-19 in Michigan, visit Michigan.gov/coronavirus. |
by Becky Andrus | May 16, 2022 | Health and Wellness
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Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 16, 2022
MDHHS CONTACT: Lynn Sutfin, 517-241-2112, [email protected]
MAAS CONTACT: Laura Biehl, 248-921-5008, [email protected]
Governor Whitmer honors Michigan’s EMS heroes by
proclaiming May 15-21 as EMS Recognition Week
Honors first responders for their lifesaving pre-hospital care
LANSING, Mich. – Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is honoring Michigan’s EMS Heroes for their lifesaving work on the front lines of the pandemic by proclaiming May 15-21 as EMS Recognition Week.
“Michigan’s EMS Heroes step up to serve our communities every day,” said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. “During EMS Recognition Week, let’s thank our local heroes for always being there when we need it most and helping our neighbors, family, and friends. We must also recommit ourselves to having their backs through our actions, which is why I proposed awarding $50 million in hero pay to first responders throughout the state in my budget for next year. I will work with anyone to get these bonuses enacted and deliver for our first responders in both my words and actions.”
Michigan EMS providers deliver highly skilled pre-hospital care to residents in need during emergencies. Their work improves survival and recovery rates of people with sudden illnesses and injuries.
“Michigan EMS professionals play a critical role in keeping our residents safe and healthy,” said Jason MacDonald, president of the Michigan Association of Ambulance Services and vice president of administration at Medstar Ambulance. “We are extremely proud of the work we do, being there for those in-need of medical assistance 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It is tough but rewarding work and we greatly appreciate the recognition during EMS week.”
EMS fills critical health care gaps by providing important out-of-hospital care, including preventative medicine, follow-up care and access to telemedicine. EMS agencies have played an essential role during the pandemic, reducing hospital stays by treating COVID-19 patients at home when possible.
Michigan is home to more than 28,700 EMS providers, 812 life support agencies and nearly 4,000 licensed life support vehicles, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Bureau of EMS, Trauma and Preparedness. For more information, visit Michigan.gov/ems. |
by Becky Andrus | May 12, 2022 | Health and Wellness
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Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 12, 2022
CONTACT: Bob Wheaton, 517-241-2112, WheatonB@michigan.gov
MDHHS seeking proposals to prevent vulnerable adult abuse
LANSING, Mich.– The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Behavioral and Physical Health and Aging Services Administration is accepting proposals for providing services to prevent elder and vulnerable adult abuse.
Eligible applicants include government, educational and nonprofit organizations that provide prevention services to populations at risk of elder or vulnerable adult abuse.
MDHHS works to ensure all people at risk for elder or vulnerable adult abuse have access to prevention services and a range of resources. Applicants must develop proposals that fall within one of six areas:
- Mediation: Develop programs or processes to allow older adults and their care team to create mutually acceptable solutions to disputes.
- Hoarding: Develop programs and/or processes that work with multi-disciplinary partners to address hoarding and develop long-term viable solutions.
- Safe Housing: Identify and develop systems or solutions to assist elder abuse survivors and/or those elder adults in potential abuse situations to transition to sustainable long-term housing.
- Forensic Accounting: Improve the prevention and prosecution of financial exploitation.
- Elder Death Review Team: Develop or expand elder death review teams to work with medical examiners to identify gaps in justice for elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation victims, and develop and implement actionable solutions.
- Investigative Team: Develop or expand investigative teams to work with law enforcement, prosecutor, and adult protective services to identify gaps in justice for elder abuse, neglect and exploitation victims, and develop and implement solutions.
The funding priorities for this application period include proposals that develop new services or enhance existing ones; demonstrate the financial or other value to elder or vulnerable adults, family members, and the community; and identify measurable objectives, metrics and outcomes.
The award period is Oct. 1, 2022, through Sept. 30, 2023. MDHHS expects to award approximately $500,000 to up to six applicants, with a minimum award of $75,000 and a maximum award of $200,000 per applicant.
Grant applications must be submitted electronically through the EGrAMS program by 3 p.m., on Friday, June 24.
For more information or to apply, visit the EGrAMS website and click the “About EGrAMS” link on the left panel to access the “Competitive Application Instructions” training manual. The complete Request for Proposal document can be accessed on the EGrAMS website in the “Current Grants” section by clicking the “Health and Aging Services Administration” link and accessing the “PRVNT-2023” grant program. |
by Becky Andrus | May 11, 2022 | Health and Wellness
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Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 11, 2022
CONTACT: Lynn Sutfin, 517-241-2112, SutfinL1@michigan.gov
MDHHS shares FDA’s updated guidelines for Janssen COVID-19 vaccine
LANSING, Mich.- The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is updating vaccine providers across the state about the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) limiting the authorized use on the administration of the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) COVID-19 vaccine.
On May 5, FDA released a statement that it has revised its Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) and limited the authorized use of the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine. The updated EUA limits use to:
- Individuals 18 years of age and older for whom other authorized or approved COVID-19 vaccines are not accessible or clinically appropriate; or
- Individuals 18 years of age and older who elect to receive the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine because they would otherwise not receive a COVID-19 vaccine.
Based on its investigation, the FDA has determined that the risk of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS), warrants limiting the authorized use of the vaccine. TTS is a syndrome of rare and potentially life-threatening blood clots in combination with low levels of blood platelets. TTS linked with the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine has most frequently presented within 10 days to two weeks following vaccine administration.
The FDA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have identified 60 confirmed TTS cases following the administration of Janssen COVID-19 vaccine, including nine fatal cases. The FDA has determined that the reporting rate of TTS is 3.23 per million doses of vaccine administered and the reporting rate of TTS deaths is 0.48 per million doses of vaccine administered.
“Throughout the pandemic, our federal partners have been committed to ensuring that science and data guided their decisions,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, MDHHS chief medical executive. “These new guidelines further underscore the robust safety review process in place for these vaccines. We continue to urge all Michiganders ages 5 and older to get their safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible and to get boosted if eligible.”
For individuals who have received the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine as their primary dose, it is recommended they receive a COVID-19 vaccine booster dose. mRNA vaccines are preferred for the first booster dose. Additionally, if Janssen COVID-19 vaccine was used for both the primary and booster doses, individuals are eligible for an additional dose of an mRNA vaccine. In both instances, vaccine protection has been shown to increase following administration of an mRNA vaccine.
Background & Safety Monitoring for Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) EUA
- On Feb. 27, 2021, Janssen COVID-19 vaccine was authorized for emergency use. On April 13, 2021, FDA and CDC recommended a pause in administration of the vaccine to investigate six reported cases of TTS, and to help ensure that health care providers were made aware of the potential for TTS, and could plan for proper recognition and management due to the unique treatment required for TTS.
- On April 23, 2021, following a thorough safety evaluation, FDA and CDC lifted the recommended pause regarding the use of the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine. The agencies confirmed a total of 15 cases of TTS had been reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, including the original six reported cases, out of approximately 8 million doses administered.
- In December 2021, after reviewing updated vaccine effectiveness and safety data, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices made a recommendation for the use of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines over the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine.
To date, nearly 6.7 million Michiganders (67%) have received their first does of COVID-19 vaccine. More than 393,000 residents have received the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine.
Michigan residents seeking more information about the COVID-19 vaccine can visit Michigan.gov/COVIDvaccine. |
by Becky Andrus | May 10, 2022 | Health and Wellness
Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 10, 2022
CONTACT: Lynn Sutfin, 517-241-2112, SutfinL1@michigan.gov
MDHHS urges testing as part of Hepatitis Awareness Month
Nearly 2,000 Medicaid beneficiaries being treated for
hepatitis C through the We Treat Hep C Initiative
LANSING, Mich. – Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has proclaimed May as Hepatitis Awareness Month and Thursday, May 19 as Hepatitis Testing Day in Michigan.
In recognition, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is urging Michiganders to get tested for hepatitis B and C and highlighting one year of progress of the department’s We Treat Hep C Initiative. Launched on April 1, 2021, the initiative is designed to eliminate hepatitis C virus (HCV) in Michigan by increasing access to hepatitis C treatment among Michigan Medicaid and Healthy Michigan Plan beneficiaries. Since April 1, 2021, nearly 2,000 Michigan Medicaid beneficiaries living with hepatitis C have received curative treatment.
Viral hepatitis primarily affects the liver. The hepatitis B virus (HBV) and HCV, the two most common types of viral hepatitis, are leading causes of liver cancer and the most common reason for liver transplants in the United States.
HBV is transmitted from person-to-person through contaminated blood or body fluids. HBV can spread from infected mothers to their infants at birth (perinatal HBV), through unprotected sex or through contact with blood or body fluids of a person who has the virus.
HCV is spread through contact with blood from an infected person and may also be spread from infected mothers to their infants at birth (perinatal HCV). People with HCV infection are often undiagnosed because they rarely experience symptoms or feel sick. There is no vaccine for hepatitis C; however, there are effective medications that can cure HCV infection when taken once daily for as little as eight to 12 weeks.
“As people infected with hepatitis B or C often do not experience symptoms, testing is critical to detect whether treatment may be warranted,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive. “In recognition of Hepatitis Awareness Month and Hepatitis Testing Day, MDHHS is urging Michiganders to ask their health care providers for a hepatitis test at their next appointment.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now recommends HCV testing among all adults at least once in their lifetime, and hepatitis B and C testing among all pregnant people during every pregnancy, regardless of age.
Since the launch of the We Treat Hep C Initiative, there have been 186 new HCV treatment prescribers added; however, the success of the program is highly dependent on the clinical community testing and treating more patients for HCV. To build clinical capacity to treat HCV in Michigan, MDHHS contracted with Wayne State University’s Midwest AIDS Training and Education Center and Henry Ford Health to provide clinical consultation, case-based discussions and trainings to clinicians to guide them through hepatitis C disease management and treatment. Providers are encouraged to utilize the clinical resources available at Michigan.gov/WeTreatHepC.
For more information, visit the Hepatitis and We Treat Hep C webpages.
