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Mid-Michigan District Health Department at 60: 1966-2026

Happy July! I would like to welcome you to our July edition of our newsletter. Now, this one is going to be a little different. Why, you ask? 2026 is a milestone year for not only the United States of America (Happy 250 years!), but also it marks the 60 year anniversary of the Mid-Michigan District Health Department!

So please, enjoy the walk down memory lane, and see the amazing history of the Mid-Michigan District Health Department!

-Brady Guilbault, MMDHD Public Information Officer

1960s

1966

April:

• The Mid Michigan District Health Department is formed, with Clinton, Gratiot, and Montcalm Counties.

August:

• Dr. Franklin W Smith, M.D. is appointed as the first Medical Director



• First immunization clinic is held at the Gratiot County Courthouse

September:

• The Sanitary Code is adopted, setting standards for water supply systems, sewage, and garbage disposals.

1967

February:

• The first hearing clinic is held in Montcalm County.

March:

• First food handlers permit is issued in Stanton.

1968

November:

• Vision screening starts for school children.

February:

• First food establishment permit is issued to a Greenville Restaurant.

1970s

1972

April:

• Began air sampling tests for airborne particulates.

1973

February:

• Began doing land evaluations.

July:

• The Early Periodic Screening Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT) Program started.

• Toxic flame retardant manufactured in St. Louis, MI was mistakenly sent to Michigan farmers as livestock feed, causing a health crisis known as "The PBB Disaster."

1974

• Women, Infants & Children (WIC) Program begins in Michigan.

1977

• MMDHD begins a WIC program.

1978

• The State Public Health code is adopted, which consolidates all related public health laws.

1979

• The agency develops the Healthy People Initiatives.



• Worksite Wellness Health Education and Lifestyle Program begins.

1980s

1984

• Established a child car seat loan program.

1986

• Began HIV Counseling and Testing.



• Maternal Support Services (MSS) Program was started.

1990s

1993

• Infant Support Services (ISS) Program started.

1995

March:

• Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program partnership began with Ingham County Health Department.

April:

• Medicaid Managed Care Program implemented.

1998

• Community Health and Health Education Divisions combined to form the Community Health and Education Division (CHED).

1999

• Implemented Citizens Environmental Health Workgroup.

• Strong Families Safe Children Immunization funding is secured through Multi-Purpose Collaborative Bodies.



• Blue Cross/Blue Shield foundation grant is secured to expand medical coverage to high risk families.

2000's

2000

• MSS/ISS programs in Clinton and Montcalm Counties comes to an end.

September:

• Stanton Dental Care Center Opens.

November:

• Michigan Food Law is passed.

2001

• Domain name "mmdhd.org" registered for MMDHD's website.

• Mobile clinic bus unveiled by Clinton County Office at Mint Festival.



• Bioterrorism training emerges as a public health focus.

2002

August:

• First documented case of West Nile Virus in Michigan.

2003

• WIC recognized for 25 years of service in the District.

• MMDHD Intranet goes "live."



• New Vision Action Team (VAT) chartered to enhance the Strategic Plan.

2004

• First hotline is developed for flu vaccine information.



• IT developed video conferencing capability between branch offices.

2006

• "Night at the Opera" fundraiser for the Montcalm Healthy Smiles Endowment Fund is held.

2007

• MMDHD is awarded over $600,000 worth of vaccine for uninsured residents.



• Advanced Food Training (AFT) begins and is offered to food managers in the district.

April:

• The newly constructed branch office opened its doors in St. Johns.

2008

• MMDHD receives grant funding to relocate and expand the Stanton Dental Center.

2009

• Health officials begin preparing for the emergence of Swine Flu.



• MMDHD receives H1N1 vaccine, and holds community vaccine clinics.

2010's

2010

• WIC Peer Counseling Program was started at MMDHD and provides counseling to WIC participants on the topic of breastfeeding

2012

April

• MMDHD Health Officer Kim Singh retires after 25 years of service.

June

• MMDHD appoints Marcus Cheatham as Health Officer.

2014

April:

• Residents in Flint, MI started complaining that the water from their taps looked, smelled, and tasted foul. Despite protests by residents lugging jugs of discolored water, officials maintained that the water was safe. Thus beginning the Flint Water Crisis. MMDHD staff assisted with the public health response.

2015

August:

• Dr. Jennifer Morse is appointed as MMDHD's Medical Director.

2016

April:

• The Michigan hepatitis A outbreak began. MMDHD began community outreach to encourage vaccination.

2017

March

• MDHHS rolls out the "IVaccinate" campaign.

2018

• PFAS investigation began at a site northwest of the village of Pierson in Montcalm County to determine groundwater contamination.



• The Community Health and Education Division provided services to 32,706 unduplicated clients.

2019

October

• State of Michigan begins aerial spraying of mosquito insecticide in Montcalm County where Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) cases impacted humans and animals.

December 12:

• A cluster of patients in China’s Hubei Province, in the city of Wuhan, begin to experience the symptoms of an atypical pneumonia-like illness that does not respond well to standard treatments.

Current: 2020's

2020

March:

• First case of COVID-19 in the MMDHD Jurisdiction, in Montcalm County.

August:

• The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) confirm two cases of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) in horses from Montcalm County.

December:

• MMDHD begins administering COVID-19 Vaccinations to healthcare personnel and emergency responders.

2021

January:

• MMDHD begins in-house COVID-19 Vaccination clinics.

March:

• MMDHD begins large-scale COVID-19 Vaccination clinics.

July:

• Mid-Michigan District Health Department’s (MMDHD) Board of Health has named Liz Braddock as its new Health Officer following the retirement of Dr. Marcus Cheatham.

2022

• MMDHD receives funding for the Kindergarten Oral Health Assessment Program (KOHA). This program grants Kindergarteners in Michigan free dental screenings provided by local health departments.

2023

• MMDHD begins offering free first aid kits containing Narcan to all public libraries in Montcalm County.



• Michigan began to see impacted Air Quality as a result of Canadian Wildfires. MMDHD added an air quality link on our website to track alerts.

2024

• The PBB Disaster at 50 Conference is held at Alma College.

April:

• MMDHD begins response of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) that affected the dairy and poultry industry.

• CDC Director Mandy Cohen visited the Clinton County Office in recognition of the HPAI efforts.

December:

• Mid-Michigan District Health Department offers free flu shots to those who work directly with dairy and/or poultry.

2025

April:

• Measles outbreak is confirmed in Montcalm County.

October:

• MMDHD purchased a mobile health van to expand school-based dental care across the district.

2026

• Today, we celebrate 60 Years of serving our community, as a leader in Public Health!

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