The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) wants residents to Stay Home and Stay Well and have created or shared several mental health resources to help!  One exciting new crisis resource launched on May 1st is the RESTORE Crisis Text Line:

RESTORE Crisis Text Line – Getting crisis mental health support is now as simple as sending a text to this new service. Michiganders can simply text “RESTORE” to 741741 to have a confidential text conversation with a crisis counselor. Trained counselors will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to respond to texts from Michigan residents who are facing a mental health crisis — everything from anxiety and financial issues to suicide and domestic violence. While the text line is starting during the pandemic, MDHHS intends to continue offering the service in the future.  In addition, as part of Michigan’s partnership with Crisis Text Line, people who text RESTORE to 741741 will also receive referrals to local mental health resources and connections. Click here to learn more.

Other new or expanded mental health resources available to Michiganders as a parts of the Stay Home, Stay Well efforts include

• Headspace which provides free, evidence-based guided meditations. It includes at-home workouts that guide people through mindful exercise (a type of meditation in which participants focus on being intensely aware of what they are sensing and feeling in the moment), sleep assistance, and children’s content to help address rising stress and anxiety. The resource is free and available to the public. Go to www.HeadSpace.com/MI.
• The National Suicide Prevention hotline. People considering suicide are urged by MDHHS to contact the or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 24/7 at 800-273-8255.
• The Disaster Distress Helpline for anyone in distress pertaining to the COVID-19 crisis. It is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 800-985-5990.
• The statewide “Warmline” for Michiganders living with persistent mental health conditions connects people with certified peer support specialists who have lived experiences of behavioral health issues, trauma or personal crises, and are trained to support and empower the callers. The Warmline operates seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. at 888-PEER-753 (888-733-7753).
• Additional information about all of these resources can be found on the MDHHS Stay Home, Stay Well webpage, www.michigan.gov/StayWell.

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APRIL 28TH – Senator Debbie Stabenow secures $54,452,014 in New Funding for Michigan’s Behavioral Health Clinics Governor Whitmer Makes Statement on Senator Debbie Stabenow’s Excellence in Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Act

 Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer released the following statement after Senator Debbie Stabenow announced that 18 Michigan community mental health organizations have been selected as Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics. Michigan will receive $54,452,014 in new funding for the clinics. Senator Stabenow’s announcement is a result of the passage of the Excellence in Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Act by Senator Stabenow and Senator Roy Blunt.

“Michiganders have faced an unprecedented crisis over the past month, and in these uncertain times having access to mental health resources is crucial,” said Gov. Whitmer. “The work Senator Stabenow has done will ensure more Michiganders can access the behavioral health services they need while navigating this crisis. I’m eager to continue working with Senator Stabenow and everyone else who wants to help make sure Michiganders have access to these resources year round.” 

Senator Stabenow is a longtime advocate for Michiganders who need access to behavioral health services. To date, she has secured over $88 million in funding for Michigan community mental health centers. 

 

Governor Whitmer Extends Stay Home, Stay Safe Order and shares her Michigan Safe Start Plan.

The governor’s Stay Home, Stay Safe order will now remain in effect until May 28, 2020. Under this order, Michiganders still must not leave their homes except to run critical errands, to engage in safe outdoor activities, or to go to specified jobs which can now include manufacturing. 

 

– Friday, April 24th, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed executive order 2020-59, extending her “Stay Home, Stay Safe” order through May 15. The new order will require people to wear homemade face coverings when they enter enclosed public spaces. It will also lift some restrictions on outdoor activities such as lawn care, golfing, and boating, and allow some workers who perform previously suspended activities to go back to work.

Data shows that most Michiganders are doing their part by staying home and staying safe. That’s good, but we must keep it up. Social distancing is our best weapon to defeat this enemy,” said Governor Whitmer. “With new COVID-19 cases leveling off, however, we are lifting some of the restrictions put in place in the previous order. I want to be crystal clear: the overarching message today is still the same. We must all do our part by staying home and staying safe as much as possible.”

“The numbers we’ve seen in the past week have shown a plateau in positive cases, but Michiganders must continue doing their part to fight this virus and protect their families,” said MDHHS Chief Deputy for Health and Chief Medical Executive Dr. Joneigh Khaldun. “The governor has taken a number of critical steps to protect Michigan families, and this order today will allow that work to continue. We will keep monitoring the data closely and work with our partners across state government to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.”

The order will require people to wear homemade, non-medical grade face coverings when they enter enclosed public spaces. It will also require employers to provide at least cloth face coverings to their employees. People won’t have to wear face coverings when they’re taking a walk in the neighborhood, but when they go to the grocery store, they should be wearing one. Under the order, however, no one will be subject to criminal penalty for going without a mask.

The new executive order will also allow some workers who perform very previously suspended activities to go back on the job. Landscapers, lawn-service companies, and nurseries can return to work, subject to strict social distancing. Retailers to that do not sell necessary supplies may reopen for curbside pick-up and for delivery. Big box stores can reopen “closed areas,” like garden centers. And bike repair and maintenance can come back online.

At the same time, the order will ease up on some restrictions on members of the public. It will, for example, allow motorized boating and golf (but no golf carts), consistent with sound social distancing. It will also permit individuals to travel between their residences, though such travel during the epidemic is strongly discouraged. And it will clarify that state parks remain open, as they have been throughout the emergency.

The governor’s actions today are in close alignment with other Midwest states. On April 16, Governor Whitmer announced that she and Governors Mike DeWine (OH), Tony Evers (WI), Tim Walz (MN), JB Pritzker (IL), Eric Holcomb (IN), and Andy Beshear (KY) will work in close coordination to reopen the economy in the Midwest region. The governor is committed to continuing to work closely with other governors to protect families and mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

To view Executive Order 2020-59, Click the link below:
EO 2020-59

Previous order:

LANSING, Mich. — Today, Governor Whitmer signed executive order 2020-42, extending her prior “Stay Home, Stay Safe” order through the end of April. As with the prior order, Executive Order 2020-42 limits gatherings and travel and requires all workers who are not necessary to sustain or protect life to stay home. Executive Order 2020-42 also imposes more stringent limitations on stores to reduce foot traffic, slow the spread of the coronavirus, and save lives.

For video from today’s press conference, click here.

For a copy of the governor’s PowerPoint presentation, click the link below:

• PPT 4.9.20 Final.pdf

Wondering how the order may affect your child’s mental health services? The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has released some guidance and clarification about the provision of mental health services during the “Stay Home Stay Safe Order” which can be viewed below:

BH Communication Essential Services Stay Home Stay Safe signed
MDHHS Plan of Service and Due Process Concerns Memo 4.8.20

Information about original “Stay Home Stay Safe Order”

LANSING, Mich. — Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed the “Stay Home, Stay Safe” Executive Order (EO 2020-21), directing all Michigan businesses and operations to temporarily suspend in-person operations that are not necessary to sustain or protect life. The order also directs Michiganders to stay in their homes unless they’re a part of that critical infrastructure workforce, engaged in an outdoor activity, or performing tasks necessary to the health and safety of themselves or their family, like going to the hospital or grocery store.  

Effective at 12:01 am on March 24, 2020, for at least the next three weeks, individuals may only leave their home or place of residence under very limited circumstances, and they must adhere to social distancing measures recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention when they do so, including remaining at least six feet from people from outside the individual’s household to the extent feasible under the circumstances. 

For a summary of the order click here or check out the basics below.  Or to read the complete order click here.

To combat the spread of COVID-19 in Michigan, Governor Whitmer signed the “Stay Home, Stay Safe” executive order. For at least the next three weeks, all Michigan businesses and operations must temporarily suspend in-person operations that are not necessary to sustain or protect life, and all Michiganders must stay in their homes unless they’re a part of that critical infrastructure workforce, engaged in an outdoor activity, or performing tasks necessary to the health and safety of themselves or their family, like going to the hospital or grocery store.

YOU CAN:

• Go to the grocery store or pick up take-out food.

• Go to the pharmacy to pick up a needed prescription.

• Engage in outdoor activities like walking, hiking, running, biking.

• Go to the hospital or secure any care necessary to address a medical emergency or to preserve your health or the health of a loved one.

• Fill your car with gas.

• Return to Michigan to a home or place of residence from outside the State.

• Leave the State for a home or residence elsewhere.

• Walk your pets and take them to the veterinarian for needed medical care.

YOU MAY NOT:

• Leave the home to work unless your employer designates you as a critical infrastructure worker.

• Participate in any public gatherings.

• Visit someone in the hospital, nursing home, or other residential care facilities (with limited exceptions).

• Go to the mall or to restaurants.

BUSINESSES THAT REMAIN OPEN FOR IN-PERSON WORK MUST TAKE AGGRESSIVE STEPS TO MINIMIZE THE VIRUS’S SPREAD. THEY MUST:

• Promote remote work to the fullest extent possible.

• Restrict the number of workers present in-person on the job.

• Keep employees at least six feet from one another to the maximum extent possible and enabling social distancing for customers who are standing in line.

• Any other social distancing practices and mitigation measures recommended by the Centers for Disease Control.

Information around this outbreak is changing rapidly. The latest information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.

For those who have questions about the state’s actions to mitigate the spread of coronavirus, please call the COVID-19 Hotline at 1-888-535-6136 between 8AM – 5PM daily.

To find additional resources, information and ideas for keeping your family safe and supported during this crisis click here.

 

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We hope you enjoyed our Spring 2020 edition and  that you found some information that was useful to you. As always, all of the work of ACMH is targeted to support the needs of the youth, families and communities we serve and your voice drives what we do. So please be sure to share any feedback or ideas you may have as we get started on this new venture!