The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) 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.
In April 2015, the Department of Human Services (DHS) was merged with the Department of Community Health (DCH) to create the Department of Health and Human Services.[2]
Department of Human Services
Initially called the Department of Social Services, DHS was created in 1965 and went through several rounds of name changes until 2004, when it was renamed to the Department of Human Services.[4][5]
In August 2007, Governor
Jennifer Granholm named
Ismael Ahmed to replace Marianne Udow as department director effective September 10, 2007.[3]
100 employees were laid off due to budget cuts in January 2015.[6]
Department of Community Health
The Department of Community Health was created in 1996 through an executive order merging Department of Public Health (as Community Public Health Agency), 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.[1]
Merger
The merger of the Department of Human Services (DHS) and the Department of Community Health was announced by Governor
Rick Snyder during his 2015
State of the State address.[2]
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.[7] Past Chief Epidemiologists of Michigan include Professor Matthew Boulton of the University of Michigan.[8]
Bureau of Juvenile Justice
The Bureau of Juvenile Justice is responsible for the operation of juvenile correctional facilities.[9]