Dear Friend,
The past couple of years have made it difficult for many to focus on their personal health beyond trying to avoid the COVID-19 virus. Fortunately, there are several resources and medical professionals who can assist with personal health concerns, too — especially for women and children.
Affordable, accessible health care is something we all should have. In that spirit, I’ve put together this newsletter to hopefully make it easier to navigate the various options Michigan has to offer when it comes to family planning, health screenings, reproductive health care, mental health care, and childcare. In addition, please know that I am working and advocating for more accessible, affordable, and supportive health care policies for women so there is no question as to whether they feel supported by their providers.
Every letter, email, and call to our office has helped me to better represent you, and I hope to continue hearing from you. If you would like to share your ideas or need assistance, you can contact my office by calling me toll-free at (855) DIST007 (855-347-8007), or (517) 373-7350. You can also email me at SenDPolehanki@senate.michigan.gov.
Working for you,
Dayna Polehanki
State Senator
7th District
Website: SenatorPolehanki.com
Email: SenDPolehanki@senate.michigan.gov
Toll-Free: (855) DIST007 (855-347-8007)
Protecting Reproductive Health
High-quality reproductive health resources should be available and accessible to Michiganders who need them. I believe those who can become pregnant have a right to make their own decisions about what is best for them and their families.
If you, a friend, or a family member is planning to start a family, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services provides Family Planning resources for women, men, and teens for little to no cost on their website, Michigan.gov/MDHHS.
Among these resources are:
- Information on birth control and sexual health
- Assistance choosing a birth control method best for you
- Help planning a healthy pregnancy
- Pregnancy testing and counseling
- Testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
- Preventive health exams to screen for cancer or other health issues
Late last year, I was proud to support the Reproductive Health Act (RHA), which would protect every Michigander’s right to accessible and quality reproductive health care, including having an abortion, and that would remove unnecessary barriers people currently face when seeking personal medical procedures in Michigan. I look forward to continuing work on this legislation so we can proudly continue to protect your constitutional right to choose.
Better Minds During Hard Times
During these extraordinary times, it is normal for Michiganders of all ages to feel a wide range of emotions. Given the uncertainty of an ongoing public health crisis, a rapidly changing climate, and the fraught nature of our current political reality, feelings of loneliness, depression, and anxiety can have enduring effects on our personal well-being and mental health.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) provides a variety of resources that can help, and that are available in your area or remotely via phone call, text messaging, and video.
The Stay Well program was created in April 2020 through a partnership between MDHHS and the Michigan Public Health Institute as a way for Michigan residents to connect with mental health professionals, confidentially and with trained crisis counselors, who are available 24/7.
The services that are offered include:
- Psychoeducational and emotional support.
• Virtual support groups for Michigan teachers, seniors, teens, health care workers and others.
• Access to community-based organizations, faith-based groups, nonprofits, and professional associations who partner with the Stay Well program.
Expanding Postpartum Care
The traditional two months of postpartum care provided to those who give birth to a child is
increasingly falling short. This is why I am working to shift our perspective of pregnancy to include a fourth trimester and enact legislation to help better support those who are trying to balance raising a newborn while healing from the physical and mental effects of giving birth.
I co-sponsored Senate Bill 252, which would expand temporary, pregnancy-related Medicaid coverage to one year after childbirth to improve maternal health outcomes and decrease postpartum mortality rates. Experts agree the ongoing physical and behavioral health of the birthing parent is a major concern during and after pregnancy, especially among communities of color and low-income families. This legislation would expand health care options in a manner that is consistent with reality — which is that most birthing parents are not getting care beyond the archaic, bare minimum standards. These disparities and shortcomings in our health care system are unacceptable and harmful.
In addition, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is exploring the authority granted under a State Plan Amendment to reduce postpartum morbidity and mortality in Michigan through the “Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies” program. Upon the implementation of this program, Michigan would extend the eligibility period of postpartum coverage from 60 days to 365 days, increasing access to health care coverage and ensuring continuity of care during this important period.
I look forward to continuing to advocate for these pieces of legislation so we can get Michigan
on track to better supporting our mothers!
A Great Start for Affordable Childcare
Access to quality childcare is fundamental for working people in Michigan. Good childcare shouldn’t require a full-time job to afford, but costs have been increasing nonetheless, making quality care unattainable for many. Over the course of my term in the state Senate, we have made fundamental changes to the childcare system in Michigan to make it more affordable and to provide a safe learning environment for your child(ren).
Over the past four years, we have:
- Expanded access to free or low-cost childcare to 1 in 3 Michigan kids aged 0 to 12.
• Delivered $1,000 bonuses to nearly 25,000 full-time childcare professionals, which also has the added benefit of boosting local economies.
• Ensured that 100% of eligible 4-year-olds could attend a high-quality preschool under the Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP).
• Invested $565 million to support 7,000 childcare providers with financial relief during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
If you’re not familiar with it already, the Great Start Readiness Program is the state-funded preschool program for more than 35,000 4-year-olds across Michigan and that helps parents who meet income eligibility requirements. Just last year, we passed the largest education investment in our state’s history, which included an additional $168.5 million for Great Start — setting the program on a historical plan whereby the state will seek to ensure access to another 22,000 additional income-eligible children within the next three years.