Updates About Public Health

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) recently announced a pilot program for community health worker (CHW) services at former COVID-19 neighborhood testing sites.

CHWs are trained public health professionals whose goal is to address social determinants of health and improve the well-being of communities. CHWs can refer visitors to providers, help them get health insurance coverage, and provide education on medications, chronic conditions, and healthy lifestyle habits.

CHW pilot sites will be located in Detroit, Flint, and Muskegon. More information can be found here.

On April 26, Governor Whitmer led an initiative alongside nine other governors in sending a letter to U.S. congressional leadership expressing their opposition to any efforts to cut programs families rely on as budget negotiations continue in Washington D.C.

Any cuts to these programs would affect millions of Americans and Michigan residents as families rely on programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) to feed their children and keep a roof over their head.

The federal budget is currently being negotiated and certain proposals include gutting programs that ensure access to quality health care, childcare, housing, food, and employment. The letter to congressional leadership can be found here.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Office of Equity and Minority Health (OEMH) works to ensure health equity and eliminate health disparities among Michigan’s racial and ethnic populations. Racial and ethnic groups such as African Americans, American Indians/Alaska Natives, Arab and Chaldean Americans, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and Hispanics/Latinos disproportionately face negative health outcomes.

OEMH is working to eliminate health disparities and increase access to quality affordable health care for Michigan’s racial and ethnic populations. With April being Minority Health Month, the office will be launching a series of conversations as well as sponsoring social media and community events in an effort to gather statewide feedback on Race and Ethnicity Data Collection Standards and learn how to best represent racial and ethnic populations in MDHHS’ data collection, analysis, and dissemination efforts.