Michigan receives CDC funding to help keep children safe

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) recently was selected to receive $1.25 million over a five year period from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. The funding will help address injury and violence prevention in Michigan.

The award is part of $30 million going to 23 states over the next five years as part of the Core State Violence and Injury Prevention Program (Core SVIPP). The funds support states in the implementation, evaluation and dissemination of strategies that address critical injury and violence issues such as child abuse and neglect; traumatic brain injury; motor vehicle crash-related injuries; and intimate partner/sexual violence.

"This award will strengthen Michigan's injury and violence prevention programs to help residents lead longer, healthier lives, both physically and emotionally," said Dr. Eden Wells, chief medical executive for MDHHS. "With these funds, we can better ensure that our initiatives are aimed at keeping our children and families safe and healthy."

MDHHS will use the funds to support and expand on infant safe sleep education, child passenger safety, and adolescent dating behavior initiatives. In collaboration with partners, Michigan will also update a statewide strategic plan for injury and violence prevention.

This grant will help implement evidence-based programs and policies to prevent injuries and violence, reduce injuries and deaths, and lower the considerable cost burden to society. To learn more about Michigan's injury and violence prevention activities, visit www.michigan.gov/injuryprevention.

Through a competitive application process, CDC selected 23 states to receive base funds through the program, including: Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.

To learn more about Core SVIPP, visit www.cdc.gov/injury/stateprograms.