Excerpts from communication from the National Association of County Behavioral Health and Developmental Disability Directors (NACBHDD):

Just a quick update, by now you may have seen reporting from several sources that the funding cuts are being reversed.  In case you’re not as caffeinated and sleep deprived as I am, you can read them below: 

Axios: Trump admin reinstates cuts to mental health grants after outcry

NY Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/14/health/samhsa-funding-cuts.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share

NPR: https://www.npr.org/2026/01/14/nx-s1-5677714/trump-administration-mental-health-addiction-grant-cuts-restored

Politico: POLITICO Pro | Article | HHS terminates, then reinstates, thousands of grants for substance use, mental health

Roll Call: https://rollcall.com/2026/01/14/hhs-cuts-2-billion-in-mental-health-addiction-grants/

WaPo: SAMHSA cuts hundreds of millions in addiction, mental health grants – The Washington Post

A few key questions remain: 

Will they reverse the cancellations for all grants or just some? 

What is the timeline for reversal?  

What was the exact criteria for cancellation of specific grants? 

We are monitoring the reported reversal and will share pertinent updates.  

While we await those answers, I just want to briefly express my gratitude to the many NACBHDD members, partners, and advocates who worked tirelessly over the past two days get this decision reversed.  

Excerpts from communication from the National Council for Mental Wellbeing:

The White House has confirmed that the mental health and substance use grants, that the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) provided notice of termination earlier this week, are reported to become restored. Letters of confirmation from the agency rescinding the termination are anticipated to go out today.

Approximately 2,800 grants had been terminated through notification from SAMHSA. The notice of grant terminations impacted a wide range of programs that funded evidence-based services, crisis response, recovery support, care for mothers and pregnant women, and efforts that advance prevention and early access to care. These were congressionally approved programs that have long had bipartisan championship, some of which were programs recently reauthorized under the SUPPORT Act that President Trump signed into law last month.

Thanks to your partnership, we quickly learned the breadth of impact and were able to reach out to the administration and Congressional champions, and in less than 12 hours – our community sent over 2,500 messages to federal lawmakers in 46 states!

Hall pushed back on early political analysis suggesting the coming year will be relatively quiet because even-numbered legislative years typically focus on passing a state budget before July 1, with controversial policies deferred to lame duck. He contrasted that approach with the leadership of former Democratic Speaker Joe Tate (D–Detroit).

“He governed very carefully in 2024 and didn’t do significant things,” Hall said. “And they lost the House. I don’t care that it’s an election year. We’re going to take risks. We’re going to do bold things.”

Hall said he hopes House Republicans will pursue “very aggressive and needed changes to Michigan law” aimed at improving affordability, particularly in health care.

As President Donald Trump targets health insurance companies at the federal level, Hall said the House plans to pursue a similar approach. He outlined a potential new commission to scrutinize hospital finances, including whether nonprofit systems are operating extravagantly or expanding massive infrastructure projects without lowering costs.

“We’re going to take on the insurance companies, and we’re going to take on the hospitals and these health systems, which have gotten way too big,” Hall said. “They said when they merged into five big systems that it was going to lower costs. But the studies say it actually cut out competition and increased costs.”

Health care affordability more broadly will also be a major focus.

“As we approach this year, you’re going to see House Republicans take action,” Hall said.

“We’re going to take on the drug companies. We’re going to take on the insurances, and we’re going to take on the hospitals and these health systems.”

Hall added that Republicans want to increase funding for rural hospitals while maintaining close oversight.

“We want our rural hospitals to be very vibrant,” he said. “We want them to provide great care and access to people in rural communities, and we’ll be watching them very closely this year.”

Reducing property taxes is another key component of the House GOP’s affordability agenda, Hall said.

“People are facing a real challenge with affording their property taxes,” he said. “You want to buy a new house, but you can’t because your property tax was doubled. … To make life more affordable, we’re going to propose legislation or a constitutional amendment.”

Another priority will be reforming the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules.

“A really modern JCAR—fixing JCAR to put more teeth in it so we can block a lot of these ridiculous regulations coming out of the administration,” Hall said.

Regulatory reform and lowering energy costs will remain ongoing priorities, he said, while adding that House Republicans are willing to work with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on literacy initiatives.

“We’re excited to hit the ground working with Gov. Whitmer to do these things,” Hall said. “I don’t care if it’s an election year—we’re going to take risks. We’re going to do big things.”

At the same time, Hall said he hopes the Legislature will again keep bill signings to a minimum, potentially surpassing last year’s record for the fewest bills enacted.

Hall also predicted the House would prevail in a request for a temporary restraining order expected to be heard Friday, which would block state departments and agencies from spending $644.9 million on work projects rejected by the House Appropriations Committee last month.

Attorney General Dana Nessel has argued the law used by the House to deny the spending is unconstitutional because it did not include approval from the Senate Appropriations Committee. Hall immediately challenged that opinion, prompting the Court of Claims hearing.

“If the courts agree with that reasoning, it will really weaken legislative intent,” Hall said. “It basically says once you give the money to the governor, she can do whatever she wants with it. This is not a good law.”

Hall said House Republicans will continue oversight of Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson’s office but stopped short of committing to a specific investigation into recent allegations of racial discrimination by four Black employees.

“We don’t know exactly what’s going on,” Hall said. “But I look at these allegations as another symptom of her poor management. Benson is focused on running for governor. We’ve seen her drop the ball time after time. There clearly is a problem here—we just don’t know the facts yet.”

Hall also claimed the Rx Kids program—a cash assistance initiative for low-income pregnant women, mothers and newborns favored by Senate Democrats—provides benefits to “illegal immigrants.”

“This is basically a cash assistance workaround to give basic universal income to these new mothers,” he said. “It isn’t for citizens. It’s for people, and they don’t look at citizenship status.”

Dr. Mona Hanna, a Flint physician who helped launch the public-private partnership, disputed that claim, saying state and federal funds used for the program are Temporary Aid for Needy Families (TANF) dollars, which can only go to U.S. citizens. Any assistance provided to non-citizens, she said, comes exclusively from private funds.

Finally, Hall said the House has not yet received a formal request from the governor’s office to use the House chamber for the 2026 State of the State address. The delay likely pushes the address into February at the earliest, he said.

1. All of the CMHA Boardworks sessions are posted on the CMHA website for use by the board members of CMHA member organizations at any time of the day. (The Boardworks sessions have been the core component of CMHA’s education and training efforts designed to support the work of the board members of CMHA’s member organizations.) By providing these Boardworks sessions online, CMHA member organizations no longer have to purchase the DVD recordings of these sessions.

2. Use of recorded Boardworks sessions by CMHA member organizations to expand board member educational opportunities: Many of the boards of directors of the CMHA member organizations use the recorded Boardworks sessions, found on the CMHA website, in one of two ways:

– Group learning sessions, where a local board, as a group, views and discusses the contents of a Boardworks session, often in tandem with a meeting of that local board.
– Encouraging their board members to view the online Boardworks series at times convenient for them outside of the meetings of the local board.

3. Cross-organization board sharing and learning workshops to be offered at 3 annual CMHA conferences: Posting the Boardworks sessions online allows CMHA to replace the Boardworks sessions, traditionally offered at the three annual CMHA conferences, often with low participation rates (note this means that Boardworks sessions will no longer be offered as workshops at CMHA conferences) with other sessions designed to supplement the Boardworks series.

These live sessions will be offered as workshops at CMHA’s three annual conferences and are designed provide board members with structured opportunities for cross-organization sharing of information and approaches while allowing for learning opportunities directly related to board governance knowledge and skills.

Some of these sessions will be “Board Member Cracker Barrels” – informal, dialogue-rich sessions to allow the Board members of any CMHA member organization to learn from each other and identify areas of common interest.

Other board-member-focused sessions will be topic specific and led by a subject matter expert around topics identified by the Member Services Committee. Topics may include Roberts Rules of Order, Michigan’s Open Meetings Act, Michigan’s Freedom of Information Act, strategic planning, forms of board governance and structure, and CEO evaluation, among others.

4. Workshops of interest to board members to be listed in conference programs: CMHA will be providing, in its upcoming annual conferences, a set of recommendations as to the workshops that best meet the needs of board members in guiding their organizations. These recommendations – a curated list of recommended workshops – would be designed to ensure that local board members gained an understanding of the clinical, collaborative, legal and regulatory, technological, and financial dimensions of the environment in which their organizations work.

In 2026, states will receive first-year awards from CMS averaging $200 million within a range of $147 million to $281 million

The Rural Health Transformation Program is a national commitment to improving the health and well-being of rural communities across the country. With this funding, states will implement comprehensive strategies to improve care delivery, support providers, and advance new approaches to coordinating health care services across rural communities. Across the country, many states are planning efforts that will:

– Bring More Care Within Reach
– Strengthen and Sustain the Rural Clinical Workforce
– Modernize Rural Health Infrastructure and Technology
– Driving Structural Efficiency & Empowering the Community Providers
– Advance Innovative Care Models and Payment Reform

Awardees and Funding Amounts

The Rural Health Transformation Program’s $50 billion in funds will be allocated to approved states over five years, with $10 billion available each year from 2026 through 2030. As directed by Public Law 119-21:

50% of the funding is distributed equally among all approved states. This provides states with a strong foundation to begin implementing their Rural Health Transformation Plans; and

50% is allocated based on a variety of factors. As described in the Notice of Funding Opportunity, those factors include individual state metrics around rurality and a state’s rural health system, current or proposed state policy actions that enhance access and quality of care in rural communities, and application initiatives or activities that reflect the greatest potential for, and scale of, impact on the health of rural communities. All scoring factors are outlined further in the Notice of Funding Opportunity.

CMS made funding awards through this program to all fifty states with Michigan receiving over $173 million in 2026.

Given that CMHA members have been doing SDOH work for decades, CMHA wanted to ensure that its members knew of this opportunity.

Social Determinants of Health Month 2026 Webinar Series

January is Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) Month in Michigan. MDHHS is partnering with organizations, advocates and community leaders across the state to highlight the everyday conditions that shape health, like housing, food access, transportation, education and economic stability, and the work underway to advance equity in these areas.

As part of this recognition, MDHHS is hosting a webinar series focused on real examples of partnership, community-led solutions and efforts to measure the impact of SDOH initiatives. Sessions will feature presenters from state, local and community organizations working to reduce disparities and strengthen supports for Michigan residents. Sessions will follow the theme “Connecting Communities, Amplifying Impact.”

Click here to view the webinar schedule and register to attend.

Showcasing Your SDOH Initiatives:

We know that our partners are at the forefront of creating innovative and impactful initiatives that address social determinants of health. From programs that provide access to healthy food, to initiatives that promote education and job opportunities, we want to hear about your efforts that are making a tangible difference. 

How to Participate: Participating in #MISDOHMonth2026 is simple: 

– Share your SDOH initiative: Take to your organization’s social media platforms to showcase your SDOH initiatives. Describe how your project is tackling one or more social determinants of health and improving the well-being of Michigan residents.
– Use the hashtag: Don’t forget to include the hashtag #MISDOHMonth2026 in your posts. This will ensure that your initiatives are part of the larger movement to create healthier communities across our state. 

Why Participate:

By joining #MISDOHMonth2026, you’re not only putting your organization’s efforts in the spotlight but also contributing to a greater narrative of positive change. Sharing your initiatives can spark new ideas, collaborations, and conversations that drive forward the mission of the SDOH Strategy Michigan’s Roadmap to Healthy Communities.

Throughout January, we will be actively monitoring the hashtag #MISDOHMonth2026 and showcasing select initiatives in our monthly newsletters and website. This is your chance to showcase your dedication to creating a healthier and more equitable Michigan. 

The mission of MiABLE is to encourage and assist in saving private funds to help persons with disabilities cover costs that support their health, independence, and quality of life.

The MiABLE Disability Savings Program was created to allow individuals with disabilities and their families to save for Qualified Disability Expenses, without jeopardizing eligibility for essential federal benefits.

We are always looking to partner with community organizations that work with people with disabilities to help spread the word about the MiABLE Savings Plan. We can:

– Host an information booth at your event
– Provide an in-person or virtual presentation
– Share information for inclusion in your newsletter
– We also offer monthly MiABLE Savings Plan virtual information sessions

If you or the individuals you serve are interested in learning more, please visit our MiABLE webinar page to register.

If you have any upcoming opportunities where we can share information about the MiABLE Savings Plan, please let us know. The MiABLE Team is excited to partner with you to raise awareness and support individuals with disabilities.

Join us for an upcoming webinar to learn how to save for qualified disability expenses—such as health and wellness, housing, transportation, assistive technology, education, and more—using a MiABLE 529 Disability Savings Plan.

The session will cover MiABLE account basics, provide an enrollment demonstration, and include time for Q&A.

January 15, 2026   |   6 – 7 p.m.   |   Register at Michigan.gov/MiABLE

New Office Will Continue Leading Implementation of the $50 Billion Rural Health Initiative

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced the establishment of the Office of Rural Health Transformation (ORHT) within the Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services (CMCS). Following the creation of the Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program earlier this year, CMS has been carrying out this work and has now formally established ORHT within its organizational structure. The office will continue overseeing the RHT Program — a historic, $50 billion initiative to strengthen rural health systems and expand sustainable access to care nationwide.

“The Office of Rural Health Transformation reflects CMS’ commitment to ensuring rural communities across America have consistent access to high-quality, dependable care,” said Deputy Administrator and Director of the Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services Dan Brillman. “With this office now formally established, CMS is reinforcing the infrastructure needed to help states deliver real, lasting improvements in rural health.”

“States are poised to undertake bold, ambitious work under the Rural Health Transformation Program, and CMS is committed to partnering with them every step of the way,” said Principal Deputy Director of the Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services Caprice Knapp. “The Office of Rural Health Transformation will help ensure states have the tools, strategic guidance, and strong program stewardship necessary to improve outcomes for the communities they serve.”

For more information about the ORHT, visit: http://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/12/22/2025-23588/statement-of-organization-functions-and-delegations-of-authority

For more information about the RHT Program, including state resources and program updates, visit: http://www.cms.gov/priorities/rural-health-transformation-rht-program/rural-health-transformation-rht-program

The Children’s Services Administration will be helmed by Tim Click in the new year, the Department of Health and Human Services announced Tuesday.

Click will take over as interim senior deputy director effective Jan. 12, 2026, following the departure of Demetrius Starling from state government to become the executive program officer for the Human Services Program at the Kresge Foundation.

“I’m grateful to Demetrius for his dedication to MDHHS and his 26 years of service to Michigan’s children and families,” DHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel said in a statement. “Demetrius has done a remarkable job guiding Michigan’s child welfare system through meaningful change and growth. He leaves a lasting positive impact, promoting equity, safety and well-being for children and families across the state.”

Click has been with DHHS since 1994, holding roles as a children’s protective services specialist, program manager in Ionia and Montcalm counties, CSA county director for Barry, Eaton and Allegan counties and In-Home Services Bureau director.

“MDHHS is deeply committed to keeping kids safe as well as supporting and strengthening Michigan families,” Hertel said. “I’m confident Tim Click will lead with integrity and stability as interim senior deputy director during this transition.”

Full press release can be viewed here.

87.1 percent of LTSS users received HCBS in 2023.

63.8 percent of LTSS expenditures were for HCBS in 2023.

In 2023, 8.4 million HCBS users accounted for $145.9 billion in HCBS spending, while 1.5 million institutional service users accounted for $82.7 billion in institutional spending. Access the full reports at

https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/long-term-services-supports/reports-evaluations

In addition, CMS released a brief report providing updated data through December 31, 2023, on transitions of Medicaid beneficiaries from institutions to community living under the Money Follows the Person (MFP) Demonstration. The report summarizes progress under the Demonstration in transitioning eligible people to the community and increasing Medicaid support for community-based LTSS. The report shows that, from the time transitions began in calendar year (CY) 2008 to the end of CY 2023, MFP grant recipients transitioned over 127,000 people to community living through MFP. In CY 2022 and 2023, two target populations—older adults and people with physical disabilities—represented more than three-quarters of all transitions. Across MFP grant recipients, the annual number of MFP transitions increased by 77 percent between CY 2020 and 2023.

The report is available at https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/long-term-services-supports/money-follows-person/mfp-evaluation

For more information on MFP, visit https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/long-term-services-supports/money-follows-person

House Speaker Matt HALL (R-Richland Township) said he plans to sue to preserve what he’s called many times his “favorite law.” Deputy Budget Director Kyle GUERRANT alerted department heads within a half hour after Nessel’s press release that it agrees with the Attorney General. He said departments can fund the denied work projects as long as officials take the proper procedural steps.

Nessel wrote in her 29-page opinion that the law empowering a single legislative committee to negate the state Budget Director’s work-project designations creates a “legislative committee veto” that unconstitutionally “interferes with the executive branch’s core function of executing the laws.”

Nessel said that under the Constitution, “when an appropriation is enacted, the Legislature’s role ends, and the executive branch’s duty to faithfully execute the law begins.” 

Nessel’s formal opinion – which comes in response to Senate Appropriations Chair Sarah ANTHONY (D-Lansing)’s request following a December vote from the House Appropriations Committee to “disapprove” nearly $645 million in state funding that had already been enacted into law – held that the “disapproval” mechanism allowing one legislative committee to unilaterally terminate funding previously appropriated by the full Legislature and the Governor is unconstitutional.

Gov. Gretchen WHITMER also arguably expressed concern in a letter about the committee’s “unilaterally stripping away previously authorized appropriations”.

Anthony called today’s opinion a “lifeline for the countless non-profit organizations and local governments that have been left in limbo for weeks.”

House Speaker Matt HALL (R-Richland Township) called the opinion a “rigged political decision” from the AG. He promised legal action, saying in a statement this afternoon that, “We are going to sue, because Michigan taxpayers need someone to fight for them and stop this absurd and incorrect interpretation of Michigan law. And we’ll win very easily, because Dana Nessel ALWAYS loses in court.” 

The law in question is MCL 18.1451a(3), contained in the Management and Budget Act (MBA)  The statute allows funding approved by the Legislature and the Governor for a prior fiscal year to continue to be used for its intended purpose for a new fiscal year. 

The state budget director, who oversees spending for the state on behalf of the executive branch, is allowed to approve this continued use of previously approved funding as “work projects.” The same statute also authorizes either the Senate or House appropriations committee, acting alone, to disapprove those work projects. 

The AG concluded that this disapproval mechanism violates the separation of powers, bicameralism and presentment requirements in the Michigan Constitution. The latter requirements reflect the constitutional mandate that laws must be debated and passed by both houses of the Legislature and presented to and signed by the governor. 

Nessel also concluded that the unconstitutional legislative committee veto disapproval mechanism is severable from the rest of MCL 18.1451a. Therefore, the remaining portions of the statute pertaining to work projects, including the Director’s authority to designate work projects, temporal limits, substantive criteria and reporting requirements, remain intact and enforceable. 

House Minority Leader Ranjeev PURI (D-Canton) described the House Republicans’ rejected work project denials as “another losing attempt by (Republicans’) washed-up Speaker to grab more power.” 

Puri added that this is “on brand for a man so self-obsessed he’d brag about naming a bill after himself while doing nothing to make groceries or health insurance more affordable.”

Senate Majority Leader Winnie BRINKS (D-Grand Rapids) reacted by saying she’s not surprised that Republicans’ “heinous” attempt to “steal money from the people of Michigan” was unconstitutional.

“When they can’t win in the Capitol, they try to bend the rules or break the law, hoping no one notices,” Brinks said. “But this time, people noticed.”

In his response, House Appropriations Committee Vice Chair Matt MADDOCK (R-Milford) said “Drunk Dana” is pretending the Legislature surrenders its authority the moment a budget is signed.

“It did not. The work-project statute is a conditional appropriation framework, not a legislative veto,” he said. “Under Nessel’s trashy zine, the Governor alone decides when taxpayer money stops being subject to legislative control. That is not separation of powers. It is a theft of appropriations and the process from the people’s elected representatives to the Governor.”

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The state of Michigan is pouring millions in opioid settlement funds to expand recovery housing across the state.

The Department of Health and Human Services plans to invest $37.5 million into housing to help residents recovering from substance abuse. The funds are part of the 2025-26 fiscal year budget, which includes $131.75 million for substance abuse disorder prevention, harm reduction, treatment and recovery.

“Ensuring someone has a safe place to live is one of the most powerful resources we can provide to prevent setbacks in recovery,” DHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel said in a statement. “These investments provide people in recovery with the security, structure and dignity they need to thrive. By directing opioid settlement funds to stable housing, we are creating meaningful, lasting change in communities across the state.”

More than 7,500 discharges from publicly funded substance abuse treatment resulted in people leaving the program without stable housing, a recent analysis by DHHS showed. To bridge the gap, the department aims to create 3,467 new recovery housing beds by 2028, increasing current levels by 40%.

Michigan is set to receive more than $1.8 billion from national opioid settlements by 2040. Of that, half will be distributed with the State of Michigan Opioid Healing and Recovery Fund, and the other half will be distributed directly to county, city and township governments. DHHS has distributed settlement funds to support prevent, harm reduction, treatment and recovery during the last several years. As part of that, the state has put $8 million toward creating more than 200 beds during the last two years.

“We know that the transition out of treatment is one of the most critical times for individuals with substance use disorder,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive and Michigan Opioids Task Force co-chair. “It’s a time when individuals face an increased risk of returning to substance use. Without safe and stable housing, the risk of overdose increases dramatically. Recovery housing is a medically informed, evidence-based solution that offers individuals the stability and support needed to maintain their recovery and rebuild their lives.”

Recovery housing helps people find and maintain employment, based on a Michigan Association of Recovery Residences Survey. Upon entering housing, about 17% of people need employment assistance, which drops to about 8% at the 90-day mark.

Recent recovery housing was built in Southfield and Jackson, and the state has put $3.8 million toward buying or leasing homes across the state to support people in recovery.

“Our investment in recovery housing reflects a strategic, data-informed commitment to ensuring every Michigan resident has a real opportunity for sustained recovery,” DHHS senior advisor Tommy Stallworth said in a statement. “Additionally, these projects demonstrate how state and local governments can work together to advance Governor Whitmer’s goal of expanding access to affordable housing.”

The housing initiatives are supported by a collaboration with local governments, community-based organizations and peer-led programs.

It’s a move Republicans called the next step in weeding out “waste, fraud and abuse” from the state budget, which Democrats decried as Republicans play the role of Scrooge before Christmas, that will cost them at the ballot box in 2026.

This rarely taken step was passed along party lines (with Rep. Ron ROBINSON (R-Utica) the lone Republican no vote) and came after the State Budget Office recommended $2.7 billion in work projects that House Speaker Matt HALL (R-Richland Township) called a “slush fund” scheme that hid pork in the budget.

Had the House or Senate appropriations committee done nothing with the recommendation by the end of the week, they would have gone through per state statute. The 1984 law that House Republicans used – 451a of the Management and Budget Act – was recently used in 2020 when the Senate Republicans rejected four Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) projects totaling $18.2 million. At that time, however, the state was only holding on to more than $1.74 billion in work projects.

Today, the amount of money in work project accounts totaled $2.7 billion until the House Republicans cut nearly a quarter of that total.

House General Government Appropriations Committee Chair Tom KUHN (R-Troy) said Tuesday the amount the Gov. Gretchen WHITMER administration has been squirreling away on work projects has grown exponentially. However, much of that money was designed to shield federal dollars that came after COVID-19, when the state couldn’t spend its federal dollars fast enough.

“I don’t know who wrote this law, but it’s a great law and we utilized it,” Hall said at his press conference after the House Appropriations Committee, “We’re going to keep doing it. We’re going to keep standing up for Michigan taxpayers.”

In rejecting the work projects, the $644.9 million ($351.5 million General Fund) goes back into either the General Fund or various restricted funds within state government, unencumbered.

Hall said departments, the administration or Democrats could come back during the book closing supplemental process early next year, justify the work projects and get them back on the balance sheet through negotiations.

However, some projects – like the Michigan Climate Investment Fund and some Community Enhancement Grants – passed in 2024 under the Democratic trifecta, will be spiked Hall pledged.

House Democrats staggered out of a quick House Appropriations Committee meeting, stunned.

The State Budget Office presented its list of a few hundred existing and proposed work projects on Nov. 14. House Appropriations Committee Chair Ann BOLLIN (R-Brighton) asked her subcommittee chairs to flyspeck the list. She asked state departments to defend their spending over the Thanksgiving break since the law only gave her 30 days to deny any spending. But Bollin said she doesn’t think most departments truly took the situation seriously. While she and Hall spent time talking over several of their denials with department heads and several of their own members (who had no votes initially), Democrats didn’t have a full appreciation for what was in store for them.

“This is some corrupt bullshit,” said Rep. Jason MORGAN (D-Ann Arbor), “This is a completely non-transparent process. These things were thrown at us with zero notice and zero discussion.” Democrats hurriedly ran through the pages of denials for sexual assault kits, hair for cancer patients, the state’s Holocaust Museum, human trafficking, prenatal care for kids and cybersecurity, in what one member called the “House Republican Jobs Act.”

“The Speaker must hate being in the majority,” said Rep. Alabas FARHAT (D-Dearborn), “I feel bad for his members who have to explain this in their districts. Projects they fought so hard for. Gone.”

Rep. Will SNYDER (D-Muskegon) questioned the legality of some of the denials, given there are signed agreements attached to some of these dollars. He also found it hypocritical for a House Republican leadership team that coined the Hall Ethics Accountability and Transparency (HEAT) moniker this year to sneak through $644 million in cuts with no public comment or debate among appropriations members. “Where the HEAT in that? It’s not here,” Snyder said, “That’s not what this is. This is embarrassing and those folks ought to be ashamed of themselves.”

The Make It In Michigan Competitiveness Fund is out $159 million. About $102 million from the Legislature’s Community Enhancement Grants is gone. $50 million in Indigent Defense Commission grants were scratched. The Clean Michigan Initiative for Brownfields is losing $15 million. The Michigan Innovation Fund is out $11 million. The Talent Together Coalition is out $12.5 million. Around $11 million in Community Development Block Grants are gone.

“Today’s actions by Speaker Hall and House Republicans will have negative consequences for Michigan families, businesses and our state’s economy,” said state Budget Director Jen FLOOD, “At a time when Michiganders are already hurting from federal policies, the House just voted to cut even more jobs, raise the cost of housing and health care, cut food assistance for families, and defund the state’s ability to tackle the opioid crisis. Michiganders deserve better.”

The former lead of the Senate Democrats’ appropriations process, Democratic Party Chair Curtis HERTEL said, “Not even Scrooge himself would cut food programs, veterans services, and funding for mental health programs for child sexual assault victims two weeks before Christmas. This decision torpedoes jobs and key programs for countless working families. . .” “I personally can’t wait for the Ghost of Christmas Future to visit him and show him a Democratic majority next year,” he said.

Starting January 7^th, 2025, 9:00-10:30 am CT NIATx Change Leader Academy (CLA): Process Improvement Tools to Achieve Your CQI Goals

We’re excited to announce a new evolution in the NIATx Change Leader Academy (CLA) that now includes a dynamic, self-paced eLearning course along with 6 hours of live virtual sessions with one of our NIATx experts! The enhanced NIATx CLA combines interactive guided learning and 12 short eLearning modules to give you the tools and support needed to successfully lead change and implement the NIATx model in your organization.

What to Expect

1.5 hours of self-paced eLearning modules (videos) that you can watch at your own pace between the live, virtual sessions.

6 hours of live learning sessions via Zoom, which includes expert-led interactive dialogue, hands-on activities, and peer learning to deepen your understanding and application of the NIATx model.

Optional: Free 1-on-1 technical assistance with a NIATx expert after successfully completing the NIATx CLA. This individualized support will be tailored to your specific change project and implementation needs.

Series Schedule:

Session 1: Jan 7, 2026 @ 9:00-10:30 AM CT

Session 2: Jan 14, 2026 @ 9:00-10:30 AM CT

Session 3: Jan 21, 2026 @ 9:00-10:30 AM CT

Session 4: Jan 28, 2026 @ 9:00-10:30 AM CT

Starting January 14^th, 2025 11:00-12:30 pm CT Implementation Support for Community and Person-Centered Mental Health Services (registration link forthcoming: check website: CMHIS Events)

This three-part series helps behavioral health leaders strengthen implementation practices that truly reflect the people and communities they serve. Each 1.5-hour session focuses on practical approaches to understanding community context, turning insight into intentional action, and partnering with leaders to build sustainable systems of care. Participants will leave with tools from the NIATx Model for Advanced Performance Strategies (MAPS) framework that connect improvement strategies to meaningful community impact and person-centered outcomes.

Session 1: January 14^th, 2025: Knowing Your Community and Customer

Session 2: January 21^st , 2025: From Intuition to Intention- Building Community- Responsive Systems

Session 3: January 28^th, 2025: Partnering with Community Leadership for Sustainable Implementation

January 22, 2026 9:30-11:00 am CT De-Implementation and Beyond: Creating Space for Evidence-Based Practices Amid Workforce Burnout

Sometimes implementation fails because the behavioral health workforce is already exhausted and overwhelmed. Asking practitioners to add “one more thing” can feel like adding bricks onto an already maxed-out structure. Organizational change and the implementation of evidence-based practices (EBPs) require a system-level effort and an understanding that these efforts can create a psychological component for staff. This session will demonstrate how leadership can help staff focus on fidelity, implementation, and sustainability using trauma-informed principles as their organization works towards implementing effective change.

Starting February 10, 2025 10:00-11:30 am CT Evidence-Based Practice Implementation Support

When we think about starting a new evidence-based practice (EBP) in our organization, we usually focus on the training needed. Training is, of course, necessary to commence a new practice. But training alone is not sufficient to ensure implementation and sustainment. Too often organizations fail to sustain EBPs after having spent a high level of resources learning how to do them. Research has shown that implementation tools are critical to ensuring the new EBP is implemented with fidelity and in a manner that will ensure sustainability. EBP success requires dual fidelity to both the EBP practice standards, and implementation standards.

This 6-part series consists of four 90-minute learning sessions & two individualized organizational coaching sessions that will provide the framework, tools, and guidance needed for your organization’s implementation efforts. The series is structured to provide individualized technical assistance that will support your team’s movement beyond the “what” of EBP to the “how” of sustainable implementation strategy.

Series Schedule:

*Participants only need to attend ONE of the individualized organizational coaching sessions–either Feb. 24 -or- Mar. 17.

Feb. 10, 10–11:30 AM CT        Virtual Learning Session

Feb. 17, 10–11:30 AM CT        Virtual Learning Session

Feb. 24, 10–11:30 AM CT        Individualized Organizational Coaching Session

Mar. 3, 10–11:30 AM CT          Virtual Learning Session

Mar. 10, 10–11:30 AM CT        Virtual Learning Session

Mar. 17, 10–11:30 AM CT        Individualized Organizational Coaching Session

Get to know our hub here and our grab-and-go resources. AND as always, we are available for individual technical assistance requests: Request Support.

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This story, along with the growing list of solutions journalism stories centered around the work of Michigan’s public mental health system, can be found at: https://cmham.org/newsroom/

This partnership, with the Issue Media Group (IMG), is built around the concept of “solutions journalism” – providing news about innovative and concrete ways that communities, across Michigan, are addressing the needs of their residents along a number of dimensions – healthcare, economic development, education, the arts, to name a few. Solutions journalism investigates and explains, in a critical and clear-eyed way, how people try to solve widely shared problems. While news sources and many of us typically define news as “what’s gone wrong,” solutions journalism runs counter to that definition by covering the innovative responses to identified needs and problems.

This partnership ensures that the work of Michigan’s public mental health system is highlighted in IMG’s large suite of solutions journalism-focused publications.

You can subscribe, at no cost, to these publications, on the websites of each of these publications. The list of partner publications and their websites are provided below:

Second Wave – Michigan

Capital Gains – Lansing

Catalyst Midland

Concentrate – Ann Arbor/Ypsi

Epicenter – Mount Pleasant

Flintside

Metromode – Metro Detroit

Model D

Route Bay City

Rural Innovation Exchange

Second Wave -Southwest Michigan

The Keel – Port Huron

The Lakeshore

Upword – UP

We are pleased to share that the Michigan Health Endowment Fund (MHEF) Board of Directors has approved a $400,000 grant to the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity – Workforce Development (LEO-WD) for the 2025 Special Projects and Emerging Ideas initiative. This funding will support the Social Work Career Pathway with Registered Apprenticeship (SWCPRA) program. The grant period is January 2026 to December 2027.

Below are key components of the LEO-WD SWCPRA program:

Career Navigator

The SWCPRA program is designed to help current social service support staff – who only have a high school diploma – advance their careers and become licensed social workers. A central feature of the program is the National Association of Social Work-Michigan’s Social Work Career Advancement Navigator, who will serve as a mentor and collaborate with a network of career advisors — from secondary and post-secondary institutions to Michigan Works! agencies — to create personalized career pathways for each participant. The goal is to guide apprentices through the process of earning their Social Work Technician Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree, ultimately leading to full licensure.

Research and Analysis

In alignment with the Michigan Health Endowment Fund’s mission, the Michigan Health Council (MHC) will lead a data and research component to evaluate the program’s impact. LEO is excited to partner with MHC, and the insights gained will help shape future workforce development strategies to strengthen Michigan’s social work talent pipeline.

Employer Reimbursement  

To support employers, the program will offer up to $6,600 in reimbursement per apprentice to help cover costs related to tuition, on-the-job learning, and supportive services.

Apprenticeship Goals

Under the SWCPRA grant, 20 Michigan individuals who only have a high school diploma and are currently working for employers in social services, will be placed in Registered Apprenticeships within their organizations. Twelve employers who are members of the Community Mental Health Association of Michigan (CMHAM) provided letters of commitment for 66 registered apprentices. 

Partner Program Orientation in November

A virtual orientation meeting will be held in late November. Please watch for an invitation with details.

We’re deeply grateful to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, our grantees, and community partners for helping make this impact possible.

Over that time, we’ve learned that creating lasting change takes more than funding — it requires consistent effort, strong partnerships, and a commitment to shared learning. It means addressing knowledge gaps, supporting collaboration between communities and providers, and understanding where systems fall short — and how to fix them together.

Since launching our last strategic plan in 2021, our board and staff have worked toward a healthier, more equitable Michigan in all these ways. We’ve seen encouraging progress, even as too many still lack access to care and as the systems that influence health in our state are shifting in dramatic and uncertain ways.

Our mission keeps us focused on two populations at the heart of every community: children and older adults. As we look to 2026 and beyond, we’re doubling down on supporting these groups, advancing health equity, deepening our ties to communities, and increasing our statewide impact.

Our new Strategic Framework for 2026–2031 reflects these priorities. We’re excited to share it with you and look forward to unfolding it further in the years ahead.

Our 2026-2031 Strategic Framework

RESOURCES & WEBINAR

To learn more about the thinking and learning behind our Strategic Framework, read our reflection here.

To hear from our team and ask questions about our Strategic Framework, register here for our webinar at 10:00 a.m. (ET) on Dec. 3rd.

Note that, at the request of a number of CMHA members, MDHHS has indicated that this policy pertains only to providers providing services on contract with the private Medicaid Health Plans (MHPs) – as part of the Mental Health Framework – and not those providing services through the PIHPs. The Department indicated that this policy does not change to MichiCANS/LOCUS provider qualifications at CMHSPs nor their provider networks.

Relevant section of Bulletin 2545-BH:

Questions can be directed to MDHHS-MentalHlthFramework@michigan.gov as they come up.

At the tip of Michigan’s Thumb in Huron County, Dr. Ross Ramsey fears the state’s rural hospital system is “reaching a brink of collapse.” 

The reasons are varied, the hospital executive explained to Bridge Michigan, including a declining and aging population and increasing costs across the board.

But Ramsey, who leads Scheurer Health in Pigeon, said the major health care cuts outlined in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed by President Donald Trump this July will contribute greatly to the decline.

“We tend to have higher Medicare and Medicaid rates than our urban counterparts… over two-thirds of our revenue stems from government programs, ” said Ramsey. “When they’re cutting back their funding on those … you really take a hit.”

The state’s hospitals are projected to lose $6 billion over the next 10 years due to federal budget cuts outlined in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, according to the Michigan Health & Hospital Association.

Congress carved out some relief in the legislation — a $50 billion grant opportunity to fund rural health improvements. The federal government is expected to award money for its Rural Health Transformation Program by the end of the year.

Michigan recently unveiled its pitch to the Trump administration to secure money from the program, as much as $200 million annually over five years. Under the plan, the state would administer its own grant program to allocate the federal funds to rural providers, creating advisory councils and other positions to oversee their use.

But Michigan hospital leaders are not convinced the state’s program will do enough to stop the financial squeeze.

“There is nothing here,” Michigan Health & Hospital Association executive vice president Laura Appel said. “There was an opportunity to direct as much as 10% of Michigan’s funding towards health care services delivered in hospitals and none of that happened.”

Devastating’ impact

The state’s rural hospital executives are doubtful the available federal funding will do enough to stabilize their systems.

Tonya Darner, CEO of UP Health System based in Marquette, said her hospital is bracing for increases in uncompensated care next year as more patients drop health insurance coverage due to the expiration of the enhanced premium tax credit for many Affordable Care Act plans and forthcoming Medicaid work requirements.

“Reducing the funding doesn’t erase the need,” Darner told Bridge, explaining that financial concerns are more acute among smaller providers in the Upper Peninsula. “I need all of those hospitals across the UP to stay open and be successful because I don’t have the capacity to care for all of the patients.”

JJ Hodshire led a taskforce of rural hospital executives to advise on the state’s grant application for the Rural Health Transformation Program. The president and CEO of Hillsdale Hospital said the fallout from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act will be “devastating.” 

JJ Hodshire, president and CEO of Hillsdale Hospital, talks to colleague Kyrsten Newlon on Tuesday, July 1, 2025. Medicaid cuts will force smaller, rural hospitals to close down critical units, like birthing centers or psychiatric units, or even shutter altogether. (Josh Boland/Bridge Michigan)

The law reduces the ability to use provider taxes to fund Medicaid, which is supported by both states and the federal government. Michigan has been able to claim a federal match on taxes it receives from providers like hospitals to finance its share of the program, in effect lowering the Medicaid cost burden on the state’s general fund.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s capping of provider taxes has pushed hospitals to “clawback” at any available federal funds as systems brace for “significant losses,” Hodshire said. Michigan lawmakers made some efforts to reduce the tax blow during recent budget talks. 

Even as the state seeks to alleviate some of those financial burdens by applying to the Trump administration’s rural health grant program, Hodshire said working with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services on an application was a “frustrating process.” 

Its final bid, he said, did little to allocate funding directly to the hospitals who need it the most, with officials settling for a “broad approach” with a lot of “bureaucracy.”

What’s in the application?

In a 60-page narrative filed with the federal government, state officials describe the stark chronic health challenges facing Michigan’s 75 rural counties, where 20% of the state’s population lives: high rates of diabetes, obesity and heart disease, as well as transportation problems, low educational attainment and high food insecurity.

“These counties typically lag in health infrastructure, provider availability, and socioeconomic resources, making them prime candidates for transformative interventions,” the application says of its target population.

Services have been “eroding,” the health department explains, with maternal care access being particularly affected and workforce shortages extending to mental health care. More than 1 in 4 rural hospitals are said to be operating in negative margins.

“Overall, 1.7 million of Michigan’s rural residents live in a primary care shortage county,” officials write.

The state landed on four main initiatives to channel the funds, which are expected to be allocated every fiscal year:

• Transforming Rural Health through Partnership — $26 million for developing regional hubs to foster interdisciplinary coordination
• Workforce for Wellness — $44.7 million for educational pipelines, stipends and scholarships to recruit and retain health care professionals 
• Interoperability in Action — $53 million for technological upgrades and pilot programs 
• Care Closer to Home — $73 million to address transportation and care delivery deficiencies

Michigan health officials want to allocate 12 full time employees to oversee the state’s Rural Health Transformation Program to administer grants, monitor outcomes and coordinate engagement opportunities.

MDHHS did not provide Bridge with its full application for rural health funds, aside from its project narrative document. The state was required to submit additional budget documents to the federal government and an endorsement letter from the governor as part of its application.

Federal officials describe the grant opportunity as an investment in “innovative system-wide change” to “make rural America healthy again.” Robert F. Kennedy Jr., secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services, said the agency was seeking “bold, audacious proposal ideas” from governors to create a “structural shift.”

All states applied for the grant program, according to the US Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Dr. Mehmet Oz, the head of the agency, called it an opportunity to “reimagine the future of rural health.” States approved for the funding are set to receive the money through 2030.

‘Trying to boil the ocean’ 

Hodshire was frank in his disappointment with the state’s final application, saying it lacks the designated hospital funding his taskforce advocated for. 

“I’m not assured that the federal government’s even going to accept this application,” Hodshire told Bridge. “It is the furthest from our recommendations.”

For Darner, who also participated in the hospital advisory group, MDHHS is “throwing out a very large net” to solve a bevy of problems facing systems today.

“They’re trying to boil the ocean,” she said. “If everything’s important — nothing’s important.”

Rural hospital executives also point to the administrative burden of having to apply for state funding. Many providers say they do not have designated staff to draft grant applications.

MDHHS said the department is “exploring options to streamline the process for grants” once it receives approval from CMS.

“Despite the limited time MDHHS had to respond to this grant opportunity, the department took several opportunities to gather input from numerous partners across the state on how to prioritize the funding,” spokesperson Lynn Sutfin said in an email. “It was not feasible to hold a review of the application before it was submitted nor was it possible to incorporate every recommendation.”

The funding is meant to “transform the full spectrum of rural health care facilities,” Sutfin said, including rural health centers, federally qualified health centers, emergency medical services, community mental health providers, private practice providers and hospitals.

The Michigan Primary Care Association, which represents dozens of community health clinics across the state, also assisted in writing the state’s application. Phillip Bergquist, chief executive officer of the association, said he was “broadly” in alignment with the state health department’s goals, but stressed the importance to “not get lost in the structure of the funding” when providing the actual health care should be prioritized.

While hospitals sought more direct financial support from the program, Bergquist notes the federal funding was not presented as a “revenue replacement opportunity” but rather an “innovation approach” to improve the status quo.

“I think we have to take a more balanced perspective about what impacts people’s health day-to-day,” he said. “Hospitals play an incredibly important role in care delivery, but when we think about …. what is going to be a prevention opportunity, what’s going to reshape the nature of health in a rural community, other providers play really important roles.”

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed SB 596 , now PA 33, which sets requirements for Michigan lawmakers to follow when directing state money to specific local projects or organizations. The bill requires the Legislature to post the request online, post updates on how the money is being used and adds oversight for the funding.

She also signed HB 4420 , now PA 32, which requires earmarks to include who sponsored the request, the intended grant recipient, the amount requested and the public purpose.

“Since I took office, I’ve been committed to increasing transparency in our government, so Michiganders know exactly where their hard-earned dollars are going,” Whitmer said in a statement. “That’s why I made a promise to increase transparency on legislative earmarks in my most recent State of the State. Less than a year later, I’m proud to sign these two bills that require lawmakers to put their names on any projects they propose.”

Bill sponsors Sen. Sarah Anthony, D-Lansing, and Rep. Tom Kunse, R-Clare, celebrated the signing in statements Tuesday afternoon.

“Budgets are moral documents – a clear statement of our values and priorities,” Anthony said. “In my first budget as Appropriations chair, we require every lawmaker to clearly put their name behind the investments they championed for their communities. Now, with this legislation, we’re taking another important step in ensuring government officials remain accountable to the people they serve.”

Kunse called the legislation an example of good governance.

“Good governance begins with honesty, and honesty begins with transparency – no matter which party holds the gavel,” he said.

The earmark transparency legislation was part of the deal negotiated by the House and the Senate during this year’s prolonged budget process.

“For far too long, politicians and Lansing insiders have abused the system to stuff the budget full of anonymous pork projects they can’t defend. That abuse ends today,” House Speaker Matt Hall, R-Richland Township, said in a statement. “When negotiating this budget, it was very clear what the priorities were of everyone at the table. House Republicans and I fought for ethics, accountability and transparency in the budget process.”

Whitmer also signed HB 5055 , now PA 35, which expands the jurisdiction of House and Senate sergeants at arms to locations outside the Capitol and legislative buildings when legislators are present. It also allows sergeants to investigate credible threats against the safety of lawmakers. She also signed HB 5092 , now PA 34, which amends the state’s rules for breeding large carnivores to be more consistent with federal standards, ensuring zoos can continue conservation work without unnecessary red tape.

Judge Sima Patel in Macomb Intermediate School District et. al. v. Michigan (COC Docket No. 25-000175-MZ) wrote in a scheduling order Tuesday that the Department of Education agreed to extend the deadline to 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 4. It was originally scheduled for Nov. 30.

As part of the 2025-26 fiscal year budget, to receive funds from a $321 million pot of money for school safety and mental health, schools would have to agree “to be subject to a comprehensive investigation, to waive any privilege that may otherwise protect information from disclosure in the event of a mass casualty event and to comply with a comprehensive investigation.”

School districts are suing over the condition to receive the funds and are seeking a preliminary injunction in the Court of Claims.

Patel will hear oral arguments on the injunction at 10 a.m. on Dec. 1 in Detroit. Briefs from the state are due on Nov. 21 with additional replies from the school districts due on Nov. 24.

The budget bill outlines the investigation would be conducted by a person or entity selected by the governor and would “assess the circumstances surrounding the mass casualty event,” including but not limited to emergency response effectiveness, compliance with safety protocols, communication procedures and “any factors contributing to the incident.” There is no further elaboration in the section.

School districts are arguing that the funding condition is unconstitutional and would seemingly include waiving attorney-client privilege rights, along with other privacy rights between schools and their students, after a mass casualty event.

The purpose of this program is to provide increased behavioral health crisis service provisions across the state for all Michigan residents, regardless of location, diagnosis or insurance status. The intention of this grant opportunity is to allow agencies to implement new community-based crisis response initiatives and for existing programs to increase capacity. 

This opportunity is open to any applicable local public entity, including federally recognized tribal governments and local health departments. 

The maximum total award for the full grant period, March 1, 2026, through Sept. 30, 2027, shall not exceed $1 million per applicant. A total of approximately $9.5 million in funding is available, and MDHHS anticipates issuing up to nine awards. 

Grant applications must be submitted electronically through EGrAMS by 3 p.m., Friday, Dec. 5.  

For more information or to apply, visit the EGrAMS website and select “About EGrAMS” link in the left panel to access the “Competitive Application Instructions” training manual. The complete GFO can be accessed under the ‘Current Grants’ section under the “Specialty Behavioral Health Services” link and selecting the “MCCRC-2026” grant program. 

A new method for assessing indicators of aggression in behavioral health patients has already begun to show positive results in reducing injuries in state psychiatric hospitals, state officials said this week.

The Department of Health and Human Services, in a Tuesday press release, said since it began implementing the Dynamic Appraisal of Situational Aggression, or DASA, assessment system at its four hospitals since mid-2024, the practice has resulted in a 47% reduction in patient injuries and a 27% decrease in serious patient-related staff injuries.

“We take the health and safety of our staff and patients seriously and continually strive to improve the care our patients receive as well as working conditions for our staff,” DHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel said. “Patient-to-staff aggression is the leading cause of workplace injury among our staff. Implementing this risk assessment tool has helped us make great strides in reducing incidents and injuries as well as improving staff retention.”

DHHS has fielded complaints from patients, families and staff alike in recent years related to a high volume of injuries at its facilities, particularly those which serve youth with severe mental or behavioral health conditions. In response to state audits and critiques from lawmakers and affected parties, the department has undertaken various efforts to improve conditions and decrease rates of staff turnover at its facilities, including implementing the DASA system.

DASA is a seven-item risk assessment rating which DHHS said can be used to evaluate the likelihood of aggression in behavioral health inpatients within 24 hours. Patients are rated daily by direct care nursing staff on categories including irritability, impulsiveness, unwillingness to follow directions, sensitivity to perceived provocation, negative attitudes and verbal threats.

Researchers who developed DASA at Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne, Australia said DHHS is exhibiting very positive early outcomes using the tool.

“Early outcomes (at DHHS) are already highly impressive, including significant reductions in staff injuries and turnover,” Swinburne University Institute for Mental Health Policy Research psychiatrist Roland Jones said in a statement. “This initiative highlights the value of coordinated, evidence-based practices in promoting safety, reducing risk and enhancing quality of care across psychiatric services, leading to safer environments for both patients and staff.”

Based on the score a patient is given on their daily DASA assessment, nurses and other hospital staff can respond with interventions to help prevent aggressive behavior. Those strategies can include modifications to a medication regimen, one-to-one nursing, reassurance and distraction techniques or increased observation.

“Patients in our state hospitals are dealing with some of the most serious behavioral health illnesses and sometimes these conditions prompt them to act out, causing injury to themselves, staff or other patients,” State Hospital Administration Deputy Director George Mellos said in a statement. “This tool helps our staff stop these incidents of aggression before they start and puts the management of patients where it belongs, in the hands of the direct care staff who know them best.”

In Michigan, rural communities are the backbone of our state, and this annual observance is a chance to shine a light on the people, providers, and organizations dedicated to improving health and well-being across rural areas. NRHD highlights the essential role of Michigan’s rural healthcare providers and the innovative approaches they use to care for their communities.

Next Thursday, let’s honor the resilience, resourcefulness, and strength that define rural Michigan. We invite rural health organizations and teams across the state to join us in celebrating NRHD – whether through events, stories, or recognition of your own staff and communities.

Together, we can amplify the #PowerOfRural and showcase the impact of rural healthcare in Michigan. Below are resources and tools to help you prepare!

Celebrate NRHD with Michigan-Themed Signage

Bring the celebration to your community! Download our Michigan-specific National Rural Health Day sign, add your logo, and display it proudly in your clinic, hospital, or office.

Download the Poster

Each module features expert-led panels including clinicians, court professionals, law enforcement, and peer specialists who share their insights and real-world experiences. Participants will gain a better understanding of how to navigate the complexities of AOT and collaborate effectively across systems to support an individual’s success and reduce risk.

 This training is relevant to all systems of care that work with assisted outpatient treatment, including: CMH staff, mental health providers, psychiatrists, psychologists, law enforcement, Judges, and attorneys.

Facilitator: Julia Stewart

Presenters: 

• Part one:Jenny Kimmel, Judge Milt Mack; Debra A. Pinals, MD; Jessica Martin; Hailey Macvicar, and Kevin Fischer
• Part two:Curtis Cummins, MD; Jordan Byington; Sojourner Jones; Tonya Leonard; and Candace Betke
• Part three: Curtis Cummins, MD; Christy Granger, Clarissa Winters, Bruce Morningstar 

More information and registration here.

We are now at the point where we are ready to pilot credentialing tests, which requires your expertise and help. Please consider joining DCWs all across the state by participating in this critical phase. And forward this email to as many DCWs as possible. It is an opportunity for all DCWs to work together to shape the future of direct care work.

Every DCW who completes this very brief Interest Form by November 14 and qualifies to pilot a credentialing test will be entered into a random drawing for a chance to receive one of fifty $100 gift cards. Click here to complete the Interest Form.

Please note that all responses will be kept confidential and stored securely following academic research standards.

SNAP recipients who normally receive their benefits on the ninth of the month should receive their full SNAP allotment within 48 hours. All other SNAP recipients should receive full benefit payments on their normally scheduled date. Those who receive monthly benefits on the third, fifth and seventh of the month previously received their benefits last week.

“We are glad to be able to provide assistance to Michigan families to help them put food on the table,” said DHHS Director Elizabeth HERTEL. “The uncertainty, confusion, and frustration caused by the USDA’s request to block SNAP payments for the more than one million Michigan residents who rely on food assistance has been unfair, and in Michigan, we will continue to do everything we can to help those affected.”

The move comes after the U.S. Senate voted this week to authorize the federal government to continue previous spending limits, which ends the federal government shutdown, and put SNAP payments in question.

In response to the reduction in SNAP benefits, Gov. Gretchen WHITMER recently announced the State of Michigan would provide $4.5 million to the Food Bank Council of Michigan as a backup.

Whitmer also recently led a group of governors in a letter calling on the Trump Administration to prevent disruptions to SNAP during the federal government shutdown.

In Fiscal Year 2024, the average SNAP household in Michigan received $335.03 in SNAP benefits per month, which is about $173 per person per month or $5.68 per person per day. Households with very low incomes receive more SNAP benefits than households closer to the poverty line because they need more help affording nutritious food.

The Michigan Special Education Finance Reform Blueprint, shortened to MI Blueprint, is the product of a year of work done by two committees within the larger group of stakeholders led by the Clinton County RESA, Autism Alliance of Michigan and Public Sector Consultants. It was formally submitted to the Legislature at the end of October, which organizers said represents the first coordinated, statewide effort to modernize Michigan’s special education funding system.

The funding tiers MI Blueprint recommends range from approximately $11,000 per student for those with lower-intensity needs, like limited speech or occupational therapy, to about $39,000 per student for those requiring full-time or intensive daily support. To accommodate and safeguard districts which serve students with exceptionally high or complex needs, the model also proposes a High-Cost Fund that would reimburse 80% of expenses exceeding $57,615 per student.

“Michigan has long promised opportunity for all students, but for hundreds of thousands of students with disabilities, those promises remain unfulfilled,” Autism Alliance Statewide Education Director Heather Eckner said in a statement. “This Blueprint turns those promises into action by creating a system that finally funds services based on student needs, not ZIP codes.”

Clinton RESA Superintendent Scott Koenigsknecht said the plan the advisory group came up with gives lawmakers a clear path to follow to address many of the challenges Michigan’s special education system has been facing in recent years – challenges which have manifested in the form of parent and family complaints of inequity their students face at school, ISDs and RESAs struggling to hire enough teachers and staff to properly serve students and reports of high-need students receiving inadequate or sometimes harmful treatment in the school setting.

“Educators across Michigan have done everything possible to meet student needs with the

resources they have,” Koenigsknecht said in a statement. “But for too long, schools have been forced to backfill special education costs with general fund dollars. This Blueprint gives lawmakers a clear, credible roadmap to fix an inequitable system and give every student with a disability a fair chance to succeed.”

The proposal also includes inflationary adjustments and plans for review on a cyclical basis to maintain funding levels aligned with the costs of student care and needs.

Two options for funding the tiered model were offered in the blueprint: a state-funded model, in which the state assumes full cost responsibility to eliminate inequities tied to local property wealth; and a shared model, which maintains a local control cost-sharing structure.

Both approaches are suggested to be implemented over six years, with full implementation costs estimated at $4.5 billion. The advisory group emphasized that the model is “both technically sound and usable” based on data modeling done over a yearlong process with multiple approaches and continuous feedback from stakeholders.

“This is more than a report – it’s a roadmap to fairness,” former Lt. Gov. and Autism Alliance Board member Brian Calley said in a statement. “For families across the state, this work represents real progress. It’s a step toward a funding system that finally meets students where they are and gives every child a fair chance to succeed.”

The bill would extend current funding levels for most federal agencies and programs through Jan. 30, 2026. You can find a summary of the CR and the full text. Congress will need to pass additional legislation before Jan. 30 to prevent another shutdown from occurring.

The funding package includes three full-year appropriations bills that will fully fund the Department of Agriculture, Food and Drug Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, military construction projects and operations of Congress through Sept. 30, 2026.

The bill guarantees backpay for furloughed workers, requires the administration to rehire federal workers who were laid off through reduction in force (RIF) efforts since Oct. 1, and prevents future RIFs during the CR (through Jan. 30, 2026). Notably, this bill progressed despite lacking any extension of the Affordable Care Act premium tax subsidies (though Republican leadership has promised a December vote). These subsidies will expire on Dec. 31, 2025, absent further congressional action prior to that date. Members of both chambers are continuing active negotiations over a possible extension of the subsidies.

Also included in the funding package is an extension of Medicare telehealth flexibilities through Jan. 30, 2026. This includes delaying the requirement that patients receiving mental health services via telehealth must have at least one in-person visit in the six months preceding their first telehealth appointment. We anticipate that telehealth claims that have been on hold may be paid retroactive to Oct. 1. However, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will likely need to issue guidance clarifying that these claims can now be paid, or if a provider rendered a service on or after Oct.1 that held a claim, that it can now be submitted for reimbursement. We will keep you updated on any guidance issued by CMS over the coming days.

SURVEY RESULTS

Relatedly, on Oct. 27, the National Council for Mental Wellbeing circulated a survey to collect data on the federal government shutdown and its impact on our members.

The survey is now closed, and we have prepared a summary of the results. Members voiced concerns regarding the financial impact of the shutdown on their organizations, as well as the effects on their clients (including those caused by the pause of SNAP benefits).

As you’ll see, the results also highlight issues extending beyond the direct impact of the shutdown. Members also expressed concerns over the potential expiration of the Affordable Care Act premium tax credits and policy changes affecting Medicaid. These policy changes include the Medicaid provisions of H.R.1, legislation signed into law in July which introduces new work requirements, more frequent eligibility redeterminations, and cost-sharing requirements, among others.

We’re grateful to those of you who completed the survey for taking the time to provide your valuable feedback. We will use these survey results to inform lawmakers of the risks presented by potential future shutdowns and broader policy changes affecting the field, which impact mental health and substance use care providers and the millions of people they serve across the country.

11-13-25 Shutdown Survey Summary for WEB.pdf