Michigan Department of Health and Human Services


The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is a principal department of state of Michigan, headquartered in Lansing, that provides public assistance, child and family welfare services, and oversees health policy and management.
Additionally, the MDHHS oversees Michigan's child and adult protective services, foster care, adoptions, juvenile justice, domestic violence, and child support programs. The MDHHS also licenses adult foster care, child day care and child welfare facilities.

History

In April 2015, the Department of Human Services was merged with the Department of Community Health to create the Department of Health and Human Services.

Department of Human Services

The Department of Human Services was created in 1965 as a principal department with the name of "Department of Social Services". Renamed in 1995 to "Family Independence Agency", the department was once again renamed in 2004 to indicate its status as a principal department as the "Department of Human Services".
In August 2007, Governor Jennifer Granholm named Ismael Ahmed to replace Marianne Udow as department director effective September 10, 2007.
100 employees were laid off due to budget cuts in January 2015.

Department of Community Health

The Department of Community Health was created in 1996 through an executive order merging Department of Public Health, Department of Mental Health, Medical Services Administration from the Department of Social Services, responsibility for Liquor Control Commission, Licensing, Monitoring and Accreditation and Division of Occupational Health from Department of Commerce, Food Service Sanitation from the Department of Agriculture and many functions of Department of Social Services.

Merger

The merger of the Department of Human Services and the Department of Community Health was announced by Governor Rick Snyder during his 2015 State of the State address.

Programs

The Department has several agencies and programs operating under its management.

Epidemiology

The Bureau of Epidemiology and Population Health is under the purview of the MDHHS. Past Chief Epidemiologists of Michigan include Professor Matthew Boulton of the University of Michigan.

Bureau of Juvenile Justice

The Bureau of Juvenile Justice is responsible for the operation of juvenile correctional facilities.
Facilities include:
Former facilities:
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is divided into 43 districts to service the 84 counties.