State of Health

Dental aid helps cancer patients regain health and dignity

HNC Living Foundation provides dental care, nutrition, and support to head and neck cancer patients facing financial and treatment challenges.

Bryan-Wazbinski
Cherry Health’s Belknap Commons Dental Center eases dental emergency burden

Cherry Health’s Grand Rapids Belknap clinic offers urgent dental care in the evenings, reducing ER visits and improving access for underserved and working patients.

Jessica Rickert
Breaking Barriers: Dr. Jessica Rickert inspires native dentists

Jessica Rickert, DDS, the first American Indian female dentist, advocates for oral health equity and inspires Native youth through mentorship and representation.

How an unused dental chair sparked an inclusive clinic at a Cleveland juvenile detention center

MedWish Medworks turned an unused dental chair into inclusive dentistry for youth at Cuyahoga Juvenile Detention Center, providing critical care for long-neglected health needs.

Inclusive dentistry: Transforming access for patients with disabilities

Three Centers for Inclusive Dentistry in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio use specialized training, sensory-friendly tools, and tailored approaches to provide accessible dental care for all patients.

New series explores efforts to address oral health inequities

A new State of Health series highlights innovative approaches and partnerships tackling systemic barriers to oral health care for underserved populations.

A gathering for Michigan State University's Generations Connect program, which matches MSU undergraduate students with elders in the community, at the East Lansing Public Library.
Michigan universities join global “age-friendly” movement, making campuses more welcoming to elders

As Michigan prepares for rapid growth in its population of older adults, three Michigan universities have joined a global movement to make higher education institutions more "age-friendly."

Care Model Training recipients Dinora Quintanilla (far left) and Kim Poplaski (far right) with Care Model Training facilitator Vanessa Jimenez (center).
New training helps Kent County providers better connect residents in need to resources

Health Net of West Michigan's new Care Model Training provides frontline navigators with tools and tactics to better help residents access health care and social services.

K-Connect's data dashboard for Kent County.
Local health statistics are a click away as community health dashboards proliferate in Michigan

Community health dashboards are readily available online resources that compile various health data for different regions.

Jae Gerhart, manager of farm programs for Trinity Health Ann Arbor, at The Farm at Trinity Health in Ypsilanti. The Farm offers a produce prescription program for those who struggle to afford healthy food.
Medicaid funding could expand and sustain Michigan’s produce prescription programs

Michigan is seeking approval for a new funding structure that could use Medicaid dollars to pay for programs that offer "prescriptions" for free fresh fruits and vegetables.

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