Whitmer Visits Vaccine Site in Garden City
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enhanced legal services for victims living in rural and tribal communities
Press Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Feb. 25, 2021 CONTACT: Bob Wheaton, 517-241-2112, wheatonb@ Michigan receives grant to enhance legal services for victims LANSING, Mich. – Michigan will develop a roadmap to ensure victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking have enhanced access to civil legal assistance in Michigan’s rural and tribal communities thanks to a federal grant awarded to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Division of Victim Services. Limited financial resources, geographic isolation, and diverse cultural barriers currently inhibit many tribal and rural victims from accessing essential legal services and representation. “Providing affordable, equitable, and accessible civil legal representation to all victims of crime is essential, and this project seeks to enhance these efforts for those living in rural and tribal communities,” said Debi Cain, executive director of the MDHHS Division of Victim Services. “This multi-coalition partnership shows how important these efforts are to countless victims and their families, and we are grateful for this opportunity to work together on their behalf.” For several years the Division of Victim Services has provided funding for numerous legal initiatives that have identified significant gaps in services for tribal and rural victims. This project seeks to evaluate existing efforts to support these communities while creating a comprehensive roadmap for future work to enhance the availability of meaningful legal assistance. The division has partnered with Michigan’s tribal coalition, Uniting Three Fires Against Violence and the Michigan Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence on this project. “As someone who has worked for over 20 years representing rural victims of violence, I can personally attest to the deep lack of available resources for victims of crime,” said Sarah Prout Rennie, J.D., executive director of the Michigan Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence. “I am proud to be part of this effort and am grateful to Debi Cain and the Division of Victim Services for being such trailblazers in the ongoing work to ensure victims of crime have the support they need.” JoAnne Cook, J.D., will serve as the statewide victim liaison responsible for convening stakeholders in tribal communities and in specific rural communities to identify the needs, challenges, and solutions to providing legal assistance to survivors of domestic and sexual violence, stalking, and related crimes. Cook, a member of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, has extensive experience on criminal justice and tribal issues, including service as a tribal court judge and tribal council member. “There is a great need for civil legal service that considers the complexities of access to safety and justice within tribal communities,” said Rachel Carr, executive director of Uniting Three Fires Against Violence. “We’re excited to be a part of this collaborative project and are hopeful that in the future, those seeking civil legal service will not experience the barriers that our tribal and rural communities have faced for so long.” To learn more about programs and services offered by the Michigan Division of Victim Services, visit www.Michigan.gov/CrimeVictim. |
Michigan hosts symposium to address problem gambling
Press Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Feb. 24, 2021 CONTACT: Lynn Sutfin, 517-241-2112, [email protected] Amid pandemic stress, Michigan hosts symposium LANSING, Mich. – After almost a full year of Michigan’s fight against COVID-19 and its impact on the mental health of Michigan residents, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is hosting the 13th annual Problem Gambling Symposium virtually on March 4 and 5. In light of the stress caused by COVID-19, residents may be at an increased risk of developing behaviors that could lead to or exacerbate a problem gambling disorder. As residents seek out ways to connect with others during the COVID-19 pandemic, the impact of social distancing may leave many with idle time, frustrations, and anxiety. “As residents seek out alternate ways to connect with each other and manage the stress of the pandemic, we are keenly aware of the increased risk for a problem gambling disorder to develop,” said Alia Lucas, Gambling Disorder Program Manager with MDHHS. “This year, more than ever, we encourage all residents – health care providers, parents, family and friends concerned about a loved ones’ health – to tune into the symposium to learn about the signs and steps they can take to help someone struggling with a gambling disorder.” There is no fee to attend the virtual symposium; however, registration is required, and attendee registration ends at 5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 26. The symposium will address how the pandemic has changed the face of gambling, the impact made to gambling disorder within the youth and veteran communities, the implications of sports betting and online gambling and responsible gambling. While social gambling isn’t a problem for most, for some, it provides a sense of control and escape which, over time, can affect other areas of life. For youth, this risk is especially concerning with the rise of online gaming and virtual connection during the COVID-19 pandemic. The rate of problem gambling among high school students is twice that of adults, and someone gambling by age 12 will be four times more likely to develop a gambling addiction. Additionally, for many, job-related stress, retirement or the work environment can create a culture of gambling that leads to a problem gambling disorder in personal life. Military veterans have been shown to have an increase in gambling disorders once returning from active service. Compared to the estimated 2-5% of the general population that struggles with problem gambling, that number jumps to up to 10% of military veterans due to their risk factors and co-occurring disorders. If you suspect that you or someone you love may be struggling with a gambling disorder, the Michigan Problem Gambling Helpline, 800-270-7117, is open for crisis intervention and referral to treatment. Trained and experienced counselors are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to provide immediate help to address issues related to gambling disorder, including screening services and referrals to treatment or support groups. To learn more about problem gambling in Michigan, visit Michigan.gov/ProblemGambling. Information around the pandemic is changing rapidly. The latest information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus |
next COVID relief package
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| Greetings,
Want to know the state of play on the next COVID relief package that is working its way through Congress? By the end of the week, the House is scheduled to vote on another round of COVID relief. In addition to providing much needed funding for vaccine manufacturing and distribution, this bill will provide another round of direct, $1,400 stimulus payments for those who qualify, and prioritize small businesses by continuing the Paycheck Protection Program and establishing a dedicated restaurant relief fund. The bill will also extend unemployment benefits through August, provide more funding for schools so they can reopen safely, and even help combat childhood poverty by temporarily expanding the Child Tax Credit. As COVID caused our state and local governments to go without the revenue they normally depend on, the need for federal aid is something I’ve been hearing about from both Republican and Democratic mayors in our district. This bill also includes an estimated $5.7 billion for our state and $4.4 billion for our county, city and township governments –– to help our state and local governments keep basic services going, prevent our firefighters, police, first responders and sanitation workers from getting pink slips, and help put us on good footing toward long-term recovery. And as a new member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, our committee worked on the part of the legislation that would impact our veterans. This includes assistance for unemployed veterans, providing funding for the Veterans Health Administration, and waiving copayments for medical care for veterans during the pandemic. Michiganders need COVID relief that will supercharge distribution of the vaccine, get more help to workers, businesses, and nonprofits, to not only get Michigan through the next couple of months, but to support our state’s economy in the long term. Although I would have preferred a bipartisan agreement on this latest round of relief, we have to meet the COVID threat with the response it deserves. That means passing an additional relief bill, even if it’s not perfect. Elissa
Elissa Slotkin |
Whitmer’s Update on COVID-19 Response
Click link below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zi5hG987gRw
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Michigan Continues to Focus on Equity in Vaccination Strategy
Michigan Continues to Focus on Equity in Vaccination Strategy, Adds Race Data to COVID-19 Vaccine Dashboard
Staff working with immunization providers to improve submission of race data for all vaccines administered, Michiganders urged to fill out race information on forms.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 23, 2021
Contact: Lynn Sutfin, 517-241-2112
LANSING, MICH. Several initiatives to improve access to the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine and ensure equity when it comes to protection from the virus have been announced by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) during the past couple weeks. Today, MDHHS posted race data on the COVID-19 Vaccine Dashboard to help track the effects of those efforts and to provide additional information about vaccinations in Michigan.
“Ensuring those who are most vulnerable are protected by the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine is a high priority for Michigan,” said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive and chief deputy for health. “Black and Brown communities have been disproportionately affected by the virus,and improving the race and ethnicity data being collected for vaccinations is critical for ensuring the equitable administration of the vaccine. We will use this data to continue to drive our strategy towards making sure everyone has equitable access to the vaccines.”
MDHHS is following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations for prioritization of distribution and administration of COVID-19 vaccines for adults. This resulted in vaccinations starting with healthcare workers and staff and patients at long-term care facilities in December. Additional groups, which include individuals ages 65 years or older and some essential frontline workers became eligible in January.
According to data reported as of Feb. 22, 1,252,497 Michigan residents have received at least one dose of vaccine and 547,163 of those individuals do not have race information recorded. Only 56% of reported COVID-19 vaccine doses have race data recorded, a number MDHHS is actively working to improve. Race data collected over the vaccine implementation period shows of those vaccinated:
- 43.7% are unknown.
- 41.7% are white.
- 9.5% are listed as other.
- 3.7% are Black.
- 1.1% are Asian or Pacific Islander.
- 0.3% are American Indian/Alaskan Native race.
A direct entry tool is now live and allows this information to be entered directly into Michigan Care Improvement Registry (MCIR) and immunization providers across the state are asked to submit race data for all vaccines administered. Before the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine, race and ethnicity information could not be submitted as a data field to MCIR. The database collects and consolidates immunization information from multiple providers into a comprehensive immunization record allowing providers to view up-to-date patient immunization history. Currently, 85% of the race and ethnicity data being reported to MCIR comes from electronic medical records.
“We urge Michiganders to fill out race data questions on forms when they get their vaccine,” said Khaldun. “Knowing this information helps guide the state’s strategy and allows us to address any gaps as we move forward getting Michiganders protected from the virus.”
The state recently launched a COVID-19 vaccination strategy to get 70% of Michiganders age 16 and older vaccinated as quickly as possible. The strategy is being guided by the following guiding principles:
- All Michiganders have equitable access to vaccines.
- Vaccine planning and distribution is inclusive, and actively engages state and local government, public and private partners; and draws upon the experience and expertise of leaders from historically marginalized populations.
- Communications are transparent, accurate, and frequent public communications to build public trust.
- Data is used to promote equity, track progress and guide decision making.
- Resource stewardship, efficiency, and continuous quality improvement drive strategic implementation.
As part of this strategy, a new pilot program was launched to help remove vaccine barriers for Michiganders 60 and older who live in communities with high Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) and high COVID-19 mortality rates.
In addition, 40 federally qualified health centers across the state have started to receive vaccine allocations to help vaccinate individuals age 65 and older. These community health centers are located in medically underserved areas to provide high-quality, affordable and comprehensive medical services to everyone – regardless of who they are, where they come from or their ability to pay.
As demonstrated in today’s data, the percent of each population that is vaccinated varies by race. White Michiganders having the highest initiation and completion rates (7.9% and 4.7%), followed by American Indian or Alaskan Native (5.4% and 2.8%, respectively), Asian, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islanders (5.0% and 3.6%) and Black or African American residents (4.1% and 1.6%). Whites are about twice as likely to be vaccinated as Blacks in Michigan, similar to currently available data from Bloomberg Vaccine Tracker. Ethnicity data is not being reported at this time as only 30% of records contain this information.
Overall coverage rates have also been added to the dashboard, both for the state and by county. Currently, 15.1% of Michiganders have initiated vaccination and 8% have completed both doses.
The cumulative COVID-19 case rate has been 40% higher for Black Michiganders than white residents and the death rate for Black residents has been over three times the rate in white residents. The percent of vaccinated people who are Black has more than tripled between the first three weeks and the last week of vaccination (0.5% to 3.8%), but the proportion of vaccinated adults 16 and older who are Black is far lower than the proportion of Black residents in Michigan.
According to research, 66% of Michiganders are likely or very likely to get the COVID-19 vaccine and 34% would like to get it as soon as possible. However, there are disparities when it comes to who is likely to get the vaccine with 47% of white Michiganders very likely to get the vaccine versus 25% of Black Michiganders.
MDHHS launched a statewide paid media campaign in January to inform Michiganders about the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine in response to research about attitudes toward the vaccine and to build vaccine confidence among Michigan residents. The campaign was developed after conducting a statewide survey and six focus groups among key target audiences, including African American, Caucasian, Hispanic and Arab-American adults. The campaign includes television, connected TV, radio, streaming audio, YouTube, search, print in minority publications, social media and digital media.
The most recent vaccine prioritization guidance can be found on Michigan’s COVID-19 website.
Information around this outbreak is changing rapidly. The latest information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.
To learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine, visit Michigan.gov/COVIDVaccine.