Unlike some diseases, measles is preventable. And if you’ve seen the news lately, you’ve noted that measles – a highly contagious disease – is spreading in some communities. As of this morning, Thursday, 8 cases have been reported in Chicago. This puts the 2024 estimate of infections in the United States at 58.

Measles was previously considered a nonissue in the United States because most Americans were vaccinated against the disease or had some level of immunity. As vaccination rates have fallen in recent years, pockets of outbreaks have begun. This year, measles infections have been reported in 17 states, including in Southeast Michigan. Currently, there are no reported cases of measles in Northwest Michigan.

If you have not been immunized, consider scheduling an appointment with your provider or call HDNW at 800-432-4121.

Let’s do our part in keeping measles out of Northwest Michigan.

Every March, we honor and celebrate the invaluable contributions of social workers who empower individuals and communities on a daily basis.

Marissa Luck, a mental health professional at Gaylord Middle School, says,

"Being able to work in a middle school and provide mental health supports in the school has been an awesome experience in not only supporting school staff but also supporting the youth. It has given me the ability to think outside of the box on how to connect with others and provide quality mental health skills to youth who might not have otherwise had the ability to connect with mental health services."

During National Radon Action Month in January, we received 324 nonperishable foods and gave out 132 radon kits! This is a 41% increase from last year when we distributed 87 kits. The food collected in each county was donated to a pantry in that county.

Antrim County – 35 food items and 23 kits

Charlevoix County – 1 food item and 10 kits

Otsego County – 178 food items and 37 kits

Emmet County – 110 food items and 62 kits

There was great community support and cash donations, which were used to purchase food for the pantries.

Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer, behind smoking. The average level of radon in Michigan is nearly twice the national average. This is due to our geology and how our homes are operated. Michigan homes are closed up or heated most of the year, which can result in higher levels of radon. In Michigan, one in four homes has a radon level that poses a significant health risk.

For more information or to test your home for radon, click here.

In 1974, the first Women, Infant & Children (WIC) site opened in Pineville, Kentucky, to improve the health of pregnant mothers, infants, and children through a supplemental food program. Since then, WIC has grown across the country and expanded its services to include educational and social services. This expansion has been crucial in its role of improving the country's birth outcomes. To learn more the history of WIC, watch the four-minute video above.

Learn more about the WIC of Northwest Michigan here.

HDNW Registered Nutritionist Judi Marlin speaks about healthy nutrition on 9&10 New’s lifestyle program, The Four. She explains that fruits and vegetables are essential to a healthy diet because they provide vitamins and minerals for our bodies.

Learn more about healthy eating patterns and watch the video here.

Once a month, HDNW celebrates by allowing employees to wear jeans for a $5 contribution to a fund that's used to help area nonprofits. At the end of each year, the total contributions are distributed to local charities in the four counties we serve: Antrim, Charlevoix, Emmet, and Otsego counties. A total of $5,795 was collected in 2023 and donated to these programs:

McLaren Prostate Cancer Patient Care Fund 

Breast Cervical Cancer Control Program

Food 4 Kids Backpacks 

Hospice of Northwest Michigan 

Click here to reveal the answer.

Need help finding health insurance? Call 1-800-432-4121