April 2026

Volume 5, Issue 4

Caring for Our Community Through Recovery and Renewal

Welcome to the April edition of Happenings!

As our communities work together to recover from recent flooding, we recognize the challenges many residents are facing.

Keeping our community safe and healthy remains our top priority, and part of that commitment includes providing clear, reliable information. We are here to help answer any questions that may arise following a flood, particularly regarding private well water and safety.

As we move through the spring season, we also encourage residents to care for themselves and their families by keeping yards clean and well-maintained to help prevent ticks from settling in. After spending time outdoors, be sure to perform a thorough tick check on yourself and your pets.

If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us for trusted, local guidance at 800-432-4121. We are always here to support our community and help residents lead healthy, safe, and happy lives.

Show Us Your Best & Brightest

If you're a shutterbug who would like to share one of your best photographs, please email it to Olivia at o.vanelslander@nwhealth.org for potential inclusion in the next edition of HDNW Happenings.

Spring Chickadee

If you have questions about HDNW and the programs we offer, please reach out to us through our socials, calling staff at 800-432-4121, or by emailing media@nwhealth.org.

Leadership in Public Health

Tell us about your role at HDNW

I am the Program Manager of Healthy Families Northern Michigan home visiting. This program serves families from pregnancy until their child turns four.

As the program manager, I oversee the administrative side, including reporting to state funders, collecting data, and monitoring compliance with our funders and models. I also serve as the coordinator for the Local Leadership Group (LLG) in Region 2, which is made up of Emmet, Antrim, Charlevoix, Benzie, Leelanau, Kalkaska, Grand Traverse, Wexford, Missaukee, and Manistee counties.

LLG is a group focused on home visiting system improvements, for example: How can we, as service providers, make home visiting equally accessible and appropriately fitting for each family? In doing so, we bring together all evidence-based home visiting programs in the region to work on continuous quality improvement efforts in home visiting policy, practice, and procedure.

What motivates you to do your best work?

It is empowering to me when I walk away from work at the end of the day and know that our communities have high quality services from the combined efforts of our team. It is important to me that our community has confidence in our team and feels safe and comfortable referring families to our organization.

What inspired you to pursue a career in public health?

I am a licensed clinical social worker and began my career as a mental health therapist in various settings. I started my career with HDNW as a mental health professional in an elementary school. This was my first professional experience in public health and quickly found that my passion lies in serving communities holistically. Public health is a great example of what it means to commit to the betterment of all people. I am continuously learning new things in public health and feel privileged to work alongside so many intelligent people that continuously motivate me to better serve the community.

Which personal experiences have shaped your understanding of health equity and access to care in this field?

Growing up and living in rural Northern Michigan has strongly shaped my perspective on health equity and access to care. It’s common here to wait months, or even over a year, for primary or dental care, and access to specialized services is often limited. Experiencing these challenges personally, while also working in public health, has given me a deeper understanding of the barriers families face within systems that are meant to support them.

When off work, what is your passion?

I am a mother to a beautiful two-year old boy and being with him is my passion! We have so much fun together; we love to be outside, be with friends and family, cook, craft, or just spend time together in the comfort of our home. He is a huge motivator for me to continue serving the public; to support a healthy and safe community for my son to grow in.

National Home Visiting Week

In celebration of National Home Visiting Week, occurring April 20-24, the Health Department of Northwest Michigan (HDNW) would like to recognize the important role home visiting programs play in supporting families and strengthening our communities.

Home visiting services are voluntary programs that provide in-home support to expectant parents and families with young children. HDNW nurses, early childhood specialists, and in some cases, a nutritionist work alongside families to offer guidance on child development, parenting skills, nutrition, and maternal health, which helps to keep mother and baby safe and healthy during the pregnancy, childbirth, and the post-partum periods. Home visiting helps bridge that gap by bringing trusted care, education, and resources directly to families.

Learn More About Home Visiting Programs

Home visiting programs aren’t just about parenting tips, they’re designed to reduce stress by building a supportive, trusting relationship with parents. When parents feel supported, it helps create stronger, healthier bonds with their children.

Flood Safety and Well Water Protection

Power outages and flooding—common during Michigan’s spring season—can put your private well water at risk of contamination.

When power is lost, your well system can lose pressure, allowing bacteria and other harmful organisms to enter your water without any visible signs. Flooding can also introduce contaminants like sewage, chemicals, and debris into your well.

To protect your health, avoid using water during outages if possible, and never drink water from a flooded well until it has been properly tested and confirmed safe. Use bottled or boiled water for drinking and cooking, and consider having your well inspected and tested after any disruption.

If you have concerns about your water quality, contact us locally at 800-432-4121 for guidance and testing resources.

Learn More

Earth Day

Every April 22 at HDNW, we recognize the incredible work of our Environmental Health team in protecting the place we call home. One of the most impactful ways they do this is through septic inspections. By conducting these inspections, our team helps ensure that our groundwater remains safe to drink and that our beautiful waterways are protected for everyone to enjoy.

Tick Prevention

As temperatures rise ticks and mosquitoes become more active, especially in wooded areas, tall grass, and along trails. Taking a few extra precautions can significantly reduce your risk of tick bites and tick-borne illnesses like Lyme disease.

When spending time outdoors:

Wear long sleeves, long pants, and closed-toe shoes
Light-colored clothing can help you spot ticks more easily
Tuck pants into socks and shirts into pants to limit exposed skin
Apply an EPA-approved insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus to exposed skin

After coming indoors:

Perform a full-body tick check as soon as possible
Pay close attention to common hiding spots
Behind the knees
Around the waist
Under the arms
In and around the ears
Along the hairline
Shower within two hours of coming inside to help wash away unattached ticks, it also helps to make checking your body easier.

Around your home:

Keep grass mowed
Remove leaf litter
Clear brush or woodpiles (where ticks thrive)

If you find a tick attached:

Remove it promptly using fine-tipped tweezers
Grasp close to the skin and pull straight out
Clean the area and monitor symptoms such as rash or fever

Taking these steps can help you and your family safely enjoy the outdoors all season long. If you have concerns, call us locally at 800-432-4121 for guidance and support, we are here for you.

Need Health Answers? Start Here:

Ask the Nurse

Did you know that HDNW has nurse practitioners on staff specializing in reproductive care? Our team provides personalized care for every stage, from period support to prenatal and post-partum guidance.

With both in-person and telehealth appointments available, it’s easy to access the care you need—on your schedule.

Whether you have questions about your reproductive care or need ongoing support, we’re here to help every step of the way.

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day

April 25 marks the Drug Enforcement Administration's Prescription Drug Take Back Day. HDNW recognizes this important initiative as an opportunity to provide community members with a safe, convenient, and responsible way to dispose of unused or expired medications.

Proper disposal helps prevent medication misuse, reduces the risk of accidental poisoning, and protects the environment by keeping medications out of water systems and landfills.

In addition to offering accessible drop-off locations, Take Back Day plays a vital role in raising awareness about the potential dangers of prescription drug misuse.

By encouraging safe disposal practices and promoting education, this initiative

supports healthier households and safer communities.

Residents are encouraged to take this opportunity to clean out their medicine cabinets and join in a community-wide commitment to prevention and health.

Please review the graphic below for information on drop-off events hosted throughout the year by McLaren.

Project Connect, A Day of Service

Join us and more than 70 local nonprofits at North Central Michigan College in Petoskey on April 22, from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, where we’ll be providing valuable resources and services to the community.

HDNW will offer a variety of resources at the event, including:

SAFE in Northern Michigan, empowering youth to lead substance-free lives in Antrim, Charlevoix, and Emmet counties.
Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), a program to support parents, foster families, and non-traditional caregivers for children under five years old, with monthly benefits to buy food, nutrition education counseling, breastfeeding support, and immunization services.
“Parent’s Pit Stop,” a private, welcoming space, provided by the Family Health team, for parents to feed and change their babies, and
Nurse practitioners who offer a full suite of family planning and reproductive care services.
Head and neck cancer screenings, oral assessments, and education on the importance of maintaining good oral health.

“Project Connect is about meeting families where they are and connecting them with the resources and services they need to stay healthy and thrive,” says Melissa Hahn, Director of Family Health at HDNW. “By bringing services directly into the community, we help reduce barriers and create meaningful opportunities for families to succeed.”

Virtual Behavioral Health Lunch & Learn Series

This series will provide opportunities to learn new skills, fill knowledge gaps, and expand your professional network. The Lunch & Learns highlight topics most relevant to emerging and new mental health professionals, though seasoned professionals are welcome as well.

April 28: How to Navigate the Mental Healthcare System

May 19: Surviving and Thriving in the Mental Health Profession

National Public Health Week

In recognition of National Public Health Week, observed April 6–12, HDNW reaffirms its commitment to protecting and serving the residents of Antrim, Charlevoix, Emmet, and Otsego counties. Our dedicated team—our greatest strength—works every day to promote health, prevent disease, and support the well-being of our communities.

We are proud to serve the places we call home and remain committed to making a meaningful, positive impact through public health services, partnerships, and community outreach.

Join the Team!

If you are looking for an exciting opportunity to make a meaningful impact on public health and well-being, then look no further than our Health Department of Northwest Michigan!

Whether you're an experienced healthcare professional, an aspiring public health advocate, or a dedicated support staff member, we offer a wide range of positions that cater to various skill sets and career aspirations.