Ingham County Health Department

June is Gun Violence Awareness Month, and following secure storage laws is one important way to keep communities safer. In Michigan, guns must be stored unloaded and locked with a locking device or in a locked container when children may be present in a home or vehicle.

Find a free gun lock in Michigan using this map: bit.ly/gun-lock-distribution-map.

Kratom products can look harmless. Some are sold as gummies or beverages, and they may even be available at gas stations and convenience stores.

But kratom is linked to serious health risks, including confusion, seizures, liver damage, and substance use disorder.

Talk with your children and teens about the risks of kratom and other substances.

Need substance use resources for youth? Find support options from MDHHS: https://bit.ly/43A1Pdr
Los productos de kratom pueden parecer inofensivos. Algunos se venden como gomitas o bebidas e incluso pueden estar disponibles en gasolineras o tiendas.

Sin embargo, el kratom está relacionado con graves riesgo para la salud, entre ellos la confusión, las convulsiones, el daño hepático y el trastorno por consumo de sustancias.

Habla con tus niños y adolescentes sobre los riesgo de consumir kratom y otras sustancias.

¿Necesitas recursos relacionados al consumo de sustancias para los jóvenes? Encuentra opciones de apoyo en la página de MDHHS: https://bit.ly/43A1Pdr
قد تبدو منتجات الكراتوم للوهلة الأولى غير ضارة. فبعضها يُباع على هيئة حلوى هلامية (Gummies) أو مشروبات، بل قد تتوفر حتى في محطات الوقود والمتاجر الصغيرة. إلا أن الكراتوم يرتبط بمخاطر صحية خطيرة، بما في ذلك الارتباك الذهني، والنوبات التشنجية، وتلف الكبد، واضطراب تعاطي المواد. من الضروري أن يتحدث الآباء مع أبنائهم، خصوصًا الأطفال والمراهقين، بشأن مخاطر الكراتوم وغيرها من المواد. هل تحتاج إلى موارد تتعلق بتعاطي المواد للشباب؟ اطّلع على خيارات الدعم المتاحة من إدارة الصحة والخدمات الإنسانية في ميشيغان (MDHHS): https://bit.ly/43A1Pdr

Ingham County residents may receive phone calls asking for participation in the Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System survey or BRFSS. Advantage Research is conducting the survey on behalf of the Ingham County Health Department.

The BRFSS is the nation’s largest health-related telephone survey and is conducted locally every three years. Questions on the survey ask about health behaviors and conditions as well as healthcare practices. Ingham County residents ages 18 years and older are randomly chosen to participate. Information collected from the survey cannot be connected back to any participant.

If you receive a call, please contribute your valuable information!

Michigan Summer EBT is a program that helps families buy food for their school-aged children during the summer. Eligible families will receive $120 per child to purchase groceries while school is out.

Children who receive Michigan Summer EBT can still participate in other summer meal programs.

Some families will receive Summer EBT benefits automatically, while others will need to apply. Families must meet income and program eligibility requirements to qualify.

Applying for or receiving Summer EBT does not affect the immigration status of your children or family.

Learn more about eligibility and application requirements to see if your family qualifies.
https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/assistance-programs/food/summer-ebt

Need a vision or hearing screening for your child before the school year starts?

We're offering walk-in Vision and Hearing Screenings throughout the summer to help families prepare for back-to-school requirements. No appointment is needed during the scheduled walk-in dates and times listed on the flyer.

If none of the available dates work for your family, you can request a different day or time by booking online. Families are also welcome to call our office at 517-887-4322 with any questions. https://bit.ly/4e1eNp6

See the flyer for upcoming screening dates and locations.

Calling all Ryan White Clients! The Ryan White Team is creating space for those who are struggling. Join us at Forest Community Health Center for peer support groups.

Share and listen to peers who have walked similar paths are understand what you are going through. If interested reach out to Taylor at 517-887-4307 or email at [email protected].

Aren’t able to attend the groups but still interested in these topics? Reach out to Taylor via email at [email protected] or 517-887-4307.

Tick season is here in Michigan!

As you enjoy the outdoors this spring and summer, take steps to protect yourself and your family from tick bites and tick-borne illnesses like Lyme disease.

• Use EPA-registered insect repellent
• Wear long sleeves and pants in wooded or grassy areas
• Check yourself, children, and pets for ticks after being outside
• Shower soon after outdoor activities
• Remove ticks promptly with fine-tipped tweezers

Ticks can be very small, so be sure to check hidden areas like behind the knees, around the waist, under the arms, and along the hairline.

If you develop a rash, fever, fatigue, or flu-like symptoms after a tick bite, contact your healthcare provider.

For more information, visit: https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/safety-injury-prev/environmental-health/Topics/mitracking/ticks

The Ingham County Health Department is closed today, Monday, May 25, in observance of Memorial Day. Regular business hours will resume tomorrow.

Today, we honor and remember those from our community and across the country who served our nation. We wish everyone a safe and healthy Memorial Day.

{THIS STORM HAS MOVED EAST}

3PM TAKE SHELTER NOW IN LANSING AND THE NORTHERN/WESTERN part of Ingham County due to extreme winds expected in the next half hour.