Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Aug. 20, 2024

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

Michigan’s older residents have taken 1.5 million GetSetUp classes

LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is observing four years of partnership with GetSetUp, an online learning platform tailored for older adults to support active aging and independence. This collaboration aims to enhance mental, physical and social well-being in older Michigan residents to combat social isolation and provide opportunities for lifelong learning.

Through this partnership, Michigan residents aged 60 and older have free access to a catalog of more than 5,000 classes across 40 different categories. Over 1.5 million classes have been attended by Michiganders since the partnership began in 2020.

“We are proud to partner with GetSetUp to offer a wide array of classes that enrich the lives of older Michigan residents,” said Elizabeth Hertel, MDHHS director. “This initiative is part of our ongoing commitment to support the health and well-being of our senior community and create opportunities for our residents to connect and engage.”

GetSetUp offers a number of benefits, including:

• Digital Literacy: Classes on digital skills needed to thrive in today’s tech-driven world to meet older adults where they are.
• Health Equity: Virtual education options on aging benefits, demonstrating how to use websites and apps, and offering health and wellness classes.
• Mental Health: Classes on mindfulness, meditation and cognitive exercises help enhance mental clarity and reduce stress.
• Physical Health: Fitness sessions promote physical well-being with low-impact exercises and modified exercises like chair yoga and yoga for arthritis.
• Social Health: Interactive and live classes create opportunities for social engagement, reducing feelings of loneliness and isolation.
• Equity and Accessibility: Combat social isolation and provide equitable access to services. GetSetUp ensures that older adults in Michigan’s rural and socio-economically diverse areas can benefit from these resources.

Many of these classes are also available embedded on websites such as area agencies on aging (AAAs) and libraries through GetSetUp Anywhere.

“Michigan was our first statewide partner, and we are incredibly proud to positively impact Michiganders as we move into our fourth year of a thriving partnership that benefits hundreds of thousands of older adults,” said Lawrence Kosick, GetSetUp president and co-founder. “The success and engagement we’ve seen in Michigan exemplify the power of lifelong learning and community connection. Our partnership highlights the practical impact that MDHHS has on its older residents daily to show a shift and change to offer this growing aging demographic empowering opportunities.”

About GetSetUp

GetSetUp is an online platform for active agers, ensuring opportunity exists at every age. Through expert-led sessions by older adults for older adults and vibrant community interactions, we inspire continuous learning, holistic well-being and a renewed sense of purpose, turning aging into an era of boundless growth and connection. GetSetUp partners with AAAs, Departments of Aging, DHHS, Medicaid and Medicare Advantage plans to offer programming to millions of older adults. Classes are taught in English, Spanish, Hindi and Mandarin.

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 24, 2024

CONTACT: Lynn Sutfin, 517-241-2112, [email protected]

MDHHS and Michigan 211 launch on-demand grief and
bereavement support services and resources

LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), in partnership with Michigan 211, has launched a new website dedicated to increasing access to grief and bereavement support services and resources.  

The website was made possible through a $490,000 grant to the MDHHS Division of Maternal and Infant Health from the Michigan Health Endowment fund. This funding also provided for grants to improve partnerships between hospitals, community-based organizations and hospice, and activities designed to address the critical need for support following the death of a mother or infant and to provide linkages to ongoing support for grieving families, communities and care providers. 

“There was a need for a statewide system to support individuals dealing with the loss of a loved one,” said Elizabeth Hertel, MDHHS director. “Each person’s grief experience is affected by their relationship to the deceased as well as the circumstances surrounding the loss. This partnership offers on-demand access to a wide range of bereavement support services through 211 to help Michigan families navigate loss.” 

Each year in Michigan, 80 to 90 people die while pregnant or within the year following pregnancy, and 700 infants die before their first birthday.  

“The deaths of mothers and infants and the resulting grief can impact families and communities for generations,” said Jennie Pollak, Michigan 211 executive director. “Grief journeys are individual, lifelong and require ongoing assistance, including support immediately following a death. We’re honored to help navigate resources to support this journey.” 

Any member of the community, including bereaved families and health care professionals, will be able to access resources and services through the site or by calling 211. Individuals will be able to search for resources and services before and immediately following a death, including perinatal hospice, palliative care, burial and cremation services; financial assistance; mental health support; resources and services for maternal and infant loss; and resources and services for sudden loss. Users will be able to search for services by ZIP code. 

In addition, 211 specialists have been trained to assist callers in locating grief and bereavement services.  

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 18, 2024

CONTACT: Lynn Sutfin, 517-241-2112, [email protected]

Women, Infants, and Children program marks 50 years of
providing special supplemental nutrition for Michigan families

LANSING, Mich. – For the last 50 years, the Michigan Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program has worked to positively affect pregnancy outcomes, child growth and development.

The U.S. Congress began  the federally funded Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for women, infants and children in 1974 under the administration of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. WIC began operating in Michigan that year, with the first clinic opening in the Delta-Menominee region of the Upper Peninsula, followed soon by one in Kalamazoo. Administered by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), WIC serves low and moderate income pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum women, infants and children up to age five who are found to be at nutritional risk.

As part of the anniversary celebration, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued a special tribute commemorating 50 years of distinguished service and support to WIC families in Michigan. Past and present Michigan WIC staff also recently gathered to share memories and celebrate the enormous strides made in the program over the past five decades.

The mission of WIC is to improve the health of pregnant and postpartum people, infants and children by providing client-centered services, nutritious foods, nutrition education and counseling, breastfeeding and chestfeeding education and support, health screenings and referrals to health care providers and other community resources.

“WIC has positively impacted the health and well-being of millions of Michigan families over the past five decades,” said Elizaeth Hertel, MDHHS director. “Each month, more than 200,000 moms, babies and children under age five receive nutritious foods from the Michigan WIC program, providing them with a healthy start.”

WIC has been shown to lessen the number of fetal deaths, reduce infant mortality, decrease low birth weight deliveries, lower the prevalence of iron deficiency anemia and increase immunization rates. It has also provided positive economic impacts to local communities as WIC food benefits are redeemed at local retail stores.

Pictured (l. to r.) at the MDHHS WIC 50^th anniversary celebration with a tribute issued by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer are Brenda Jegede, director, MDHHS Bureau of Health and Wellness; Christina Herring, Michigan WIC director; Sarah Lyon-Callo, senior deputy director, MDHHS Public Health Administration; and Kristi Fox, branch chief, Supplemental Food Programs, U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service.

Michigan was one of the first adopters of Electronic Benefit Transfer issued benefits, moving away from paper coupons in 2007. While only a few options existed at the start of the program, WIC clients can now choose from around 2,200 products when shopping for their families. Vendors accepting WIC have grown to more than 1,400 locations, providing options and promoting a dignified shopping experience.

“We are so proud of the ways in which we have improved the WIC program in Michigan since its inception and look forward to continued modernization to make WIC even more accessible for those in need,” said Michigan WIC Director Christina Herring.

Learn more about the WIC program and its benefits at Michigan.gov/WIC.

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 16, 2024

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

MDHHS observes second anniversary of the 988 crisis line
More than 88,000 calls answered by specially-trained crisis staff in the past year

LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is recognizing the past year’s success since launching the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline in Michigan in 2022.

The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, previously known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, is a 24/7 toll-free nationwide hotline made up of a network of local call centers across the country that confidentially provide compassionate care for behavioral health issues or any other kind of emotional distress. The hotline accepts calls from anyone who needs support for a suicide, mental health and/or substance use crisis.

“Michigan’s 988 Lifeline receives as many as 9,000 calls per month, and the dedicated staff who answer these urgent calls are well-trained to help and connect those experiencing crisis with support and resources,” said Elizabeth Hertel, director. “Over 1.5 million adults in Michigan currently have a mental health condition, and strengthening crisis care and mental health services continues to be a top priority for MDHHS. We encourage anyone experiencing a crisis, whether personally or one of their family members, to use this resource whenever needed.”

Over the past year, more than 88,000 calls have been answered with approximately 19,000 hours spent on the phone with Michigan residents. Out of the highest volume states, Michigan had the quickest speed to answer calls (17 seconds). More than 48% of callers had high or overwhelming stress at the beginning of a call, which was reduced to 12% by the end of the call after speaking with a 988 specialist. The 988 Lifeline connects callers to behavioral health services, resources and referrals to follow-up care.

Anyone with concerns like these can call for support:

• Mental health-related distress.
• Thoughts of suicide.
• Substance abuse crisis.
• Emotional distress.
• Help finding a behavioral health resource.

People worried about a loved one who may need support also can call 988. Additionally, there are specialized services available for veterans, LGBTQ+ individuals and other groups, that are available by selecting the corresponding option on the call menu.

Crisis center calling services are available in English and Spanish, plus Language Line Solutions provides translation services in more than 250 additional languages. Text and chat are currently available in English only.

TTY users will be served either through their preferred relay service or by dialing 711, then 800-273-8255.

For more information, visit the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and Michigan Crisis & Access Line.