Voices of Youth: Connect or disconnect? Teens and social media

When is enough and when is too much? More than three hours a day on social media doubles a youth's chance of depression or anxiety, according to the U.S. Surgeon General. How to set boundaries and handle overexposure? Voices of Youth Alex Velo talks to peers and adults to find out.

Alison Hirschel, director and managing attorney for the Michigan Elder Justice Initiative.
Michigan works to continue residents’ lifesaving health coverage after post-pandemic Medicaid cuts

When the federal public health emergency for COVID-19 expired in May 2023, over 500,000 Michiganders stood to lose their Medicaid health insurance coverage. But the state is working to help residents maintain coverage.

James Ribbron reads to Dwayne Sharpe and Elizabeth Brooks.
Detroit Champions for HOPE empowers parents as their children’s first teachers

Through a focus on advocacy, community leadership, and parent engagement, Detroit Champions for HOPE works to better the lives of Detroit’s children by empowering parents and caregivers to be their child’s first champions.

Suicide is also the second-leading cause of death for Michigan residents ages 15 to 34
Suicide prevention coalitions address a leading cause of death in Michigan

Across the state, more than 40 suicide prevention coalitions work to help Michiganders who are thinking about ending their lives.

‘It really opened up my world’: Users welcome health benefits of accessible trails

The Land Conservancy of West Michigan worked closely with Disability Network West Michigan to develop an accessible trail system that gives visitors like Jeffrey VanDyke access to the health benefits of being in nature. 

Faith in Action: Befriending the Great Mystery with death doulas

“Westernized culture increases the fear of death,” says Debbie Eisenbise, a Kalamazoo death doula. “We outsource death. Doulas are trying to make a change in that culture by bringing about an acceptance of death. Death is natural. My goal is to keep people living until they die. This is about quality of life.”

Surviving Holy Childhood: Indigenous woman shares story after 50 years of silence

“I say to other survivors, what happened to one of us happened to all of us. We met in Harbor Springs and we bonded together,” says Sharon Skutt, an indigenous survivor of a Michigan boarding school. “The more I speak about it, the more healing there is."

Katie Wendel, director of planning and advocacy at Area Agency on Aging 1B, which recently launched a voucher program to help unpaid caregivers afford respite care.
Finding temporary care is a challenge for Michigan’s many unpaid caregivers, but help is available

Approximately 1.7 million Michiganders are unpaid caregivers, and they often desperately need a break from that work. Resources, like a new voucher program to pay for respite care, can help.

First-time homebuyer in Portage gets help from program funded with Kalamazoo County housing millage

The future can be intimidating for a person in their early 20s, but for Blaise Boulding it's off to a secure start. With help from a program that assists people to get ready to be a homeowner she now has her own small house in Portage.

Battle Creek Holiday Vendor Pop-Up to showcase local food and art

Join the On the Ground Battle Creek team to celebrate its 5th Anniversary during the first-ever Holiday Vendor Pop-Up event, featuring local artists and food artisans, on Dec. 7 at 32 West Michigan Avenue, Battle Creek.

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