Welcome to the September edition of Happenings!

As summer winds down and September brings a change of season, it’s a great time to reconnect with our health, our families, and our community.

In this month’s newsletter, we’re highlighting the people, programs, and resources that help make our communities healthier and stronger. As we head into fall, it’s also a good time to check that you and your family are up to date on recommended vaccinations and taking steps to protect one another from preventable illness.

From celebrating the lasting impact of home visiting to sharing helpful health tips and community resources, we hope you’ll find something useful, encouraging, or inspiring. Thank you for staying connected with HDNW and for being part of a healthier community!

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.

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.

Hestia Women's Giving Circle Support

We are thrilled to share that the Hestia Women’s Giving Circle has selected our Family Health Division as one of its 19 grant recipients for 2026!

This generous investment will support our Reproductive Care Program, helping us strengthen our presence in Charlevoix and Emmet counties while expanding awareness and access to essential services.

Because of the Hestia Women’s Giving Circle, more women and girls in our communities can connect with the care and resources they need—making a meaningful, lasting difference in their health and well-being.

We are deeply grateful for this investment in our mission and in the health of our communities. Thank you, Hestia Women’s Giving Circle, for believing in our work and the people we serve!

We offer a variety of vaccines to help protect you and your family from serious illnesses, including the flu vaccine. For most people, September and October are good times to get a flu vaccine.

Ready to schedule or have questions? Call 800-432-4121.

Flu viruses change over time, which is why a flu vaccine is recommended every year.

When you use your SNAP/Michigan Bridge card benefits to buy fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables, Double Up Food Bucks at Grain Train matches those purchases dollar for dollar up to $50 per day.

This makes getting fresh produce for your family more accessible while helping support local agriculture and strengthening our community food system.

For more information on Double Up Food Bucks, or to sign up for the program, click on the link below!

At the September Board of Health meeting, Whitney shared her story with board members and attendees about how Healthy Families Northern Michigan, a home visiting program offered through HDNW, made a lifelong impact on her and her family.

Whitney shared that her home visitor took the time to truly get to know her and her family, not just the information she had provided on an application. While she was a mother, she was also a person with dreams and goals of her own, even if she wasn’t sure how to reach them at the time.

In Whitney’s own words:

“Somewhere along the way, I found something I didn’t even realize I had been missing. Community. Link by link. Person by person. My life changed.”

Today, Whitney is working toward her associate degree, with plans to continue her education even further. As her family nears the end of their journey with Healthy Families Northern Michigan, Whitney says she will never forget her experience with the program.

For Whitney, the support and connections she found through home visiting didn’t just help her in the moment; they changed the trajectory of her life.

Picture below are Whitney and her home visitor, Tracy.

After nearly 10 years of teaching nutrition education to students throughout our four-county service area through Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed), Ms. K is beginning a new chapter.

Over the years, Ms. K became much more than a visiting nutrition educator. She was a familiar face, a trusted partner, and an especially valued member of the Boyne Falls school community.

As she moves on to new opportunities, Ms. K shared the following reflection with Boyne Falls families and the community:

As I taught my final SNAP-Ed nutrition lesson, I couldn’t help but reflect on how incredibly special the past 10 years have been. Boyne Falls has been such an important part of that journey.

For a decade, you welcomed me into your classrooms, your school, and your community. You made me feel at home, and I will always be grateful for the relationships, laughter, lessons, and memories we shared.

This past year brought an especially meaningful full-circle moment. One of my very first SNAP-Ed students, Alice Loper, is now a teacher, and I had the incredible opportunity to work alongside her in the classroom. Watching a former student grow into an educator and then welcoming me back as a colleague is something I will treasure forever.

A heartfelt thank you to Mr. Mitchell, Mrs. Smith, Mrs. Wind, Ms. Pineda, and Nurse Tracy for your partnership, support, and willingness to work alongside me to make a difference for your students.

After nearly 10 years, I’m closing this chapter with a very full heart. I am proud of the work we accomplished together, but even more grateful for the people who made it meaningful.

Thank you, Boyne Falls, for welcoming me, trusting me, and allowing me to be a small part of your community for all these years. You will always hold a special place in my heart.

With gratitude,

Ms. K

We are grateful to Ms. K for her years of service and partnership with all 12 schools in our four-county service area, reaching 4,032 incredible students. Her contributions to nutrition education and the community will be remembered, and we wish her every success in the next chapter.

RISE: Otsego Substance Free Coalition (RISE), part of the Community Health Division of the Health Department of Northwest Michigan (HDNW), has been awarded a $625,000 federal grant over five years to help prevent substance use among youth in Otsego County.

The funding is provided through the Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy and is managed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“This funding gives RISE a chance to keep building on the great work already happening in Otsego County,” said Ellen Templeton, RISE Project Coordinator. “It will help us bring more people together, involve youth and families, and strengthen prevention efforts across the community.”

The DFC program supports community coalitions working to prevent and reduce youth substance use by addressing local conditions and strengthening factors that help young people make healthy choices.

If you are looking for an exciting opportunity to make a meaningful impact on public health and well-being, then look no further than the 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. Come join our team!

Answer: Staying up to date on recommended immunizations.

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