State of Health

Eastern Market staff load food boxes that were ordered online.

COVID-19 prompts many Michigan farmers and farmers markets to offer online sales for the first time

The COVID-19 pandemic has posed many health challenges, but it's also made it easier than ever for Michiganders to get healthy, local food, as many farmers and farmers markets have started reaching customers online.

Grand Rapids resident Yvonne Woodard has had several low birth weight children and grandchildren.
As awareness of racism’s role in infant mortality grows, Michigan takes action

For Black infants, racism's impacts begin at birth – and may be deadly. But practitioners across Michigan are coming together to address it through a proposed expansion of the state's Healthy Moms Healthy Babies program.

A salad bar in the cafeteria at 10 Cents a Meal grantee Boyne Falls Public School.
Michigan offers “10 Cents a Meal” for all schools to serve healthy, local food

The state recently reinstated and expanded the program, which aims to improve children's daily nutrition, build their healthy eating habits, and invest in Michigan's local food economy.

Michigan SNAP-Ed YouTube channel delivers Online Learning in a SNAP

Shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Michigan Fitness Foundation launched a new YouTube-based learning platform that enlists statewide partners to produce short videos that inspire healthier living.

Jametta Lilly.
State task force leads the way on reducing Michigan’s COVID-19 racial disparities

Black residents have borne a disproportionate share of Michigan's COVID-19 cases and deaths, but in recent weeks those disheartening numbers have begun to turn around.

Lauren Kazee, an independent consultant, wrote the Michigan Department of Education's Social and Emotional Learning Competencies.
Michigan schools once lagged in behavioral health care. Here’s how they made it a priority.

Thanks to new findings, new funding, and a new focus on mental health, Michigan’s schools are expanding behavioral health services.

Dr. Caelan Soma, Starr Commonwealth's chief clinical officer.
Michigan health care workers grapple with stress and trauma during pandemic

Medical professionals are certainly not immune to a widespread spike in mental health challenges, and several new initiatives have sought to provide them much-needed support.

Jim Lee, vice president of data policy and analytics at the Michigan Health and Hospital Association.
Data sharing among health providers boosts Michigan’s pandemic response

Beyond the color-coded counties and line graphs we've all seen, data sharing has helped Michigan's many health providers better understand and respond to the pandemic.

Helen Paige, a parent partner in the pilot program.
State of Michigan and Detroit nonprofit team up to reduce child abuse through proactive support

A new pilot program identifies families at risk and pairs them with peer mentors and benefits navigators, getting the state more involved in addressing the root causes of child abuse.

Belle Harvest farmer Tom Heffron checks a worker's temperature using a touchless thermometer.
With numerous barriers to health care, Michigan immigrants are among hardest hit by COVID-19

Fear of accessing public health programs, vulnerable working conditions, and lack of access to federal pandemic relief all contribute to immigrants being more susceptible to the pandemic than most.

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