Michigan is facing a health care provider shortage, especially for underserved communities in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties.

The Detroit Tri-County Social Work Health Career Opportunity Academy, called “The Academy,” trains students with disadvantaged backgrounds to increase the number of people going into health care fields.

Bridget Weller, a professor of Social Work at Wayne State University, says the shortage was exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“When we think about the state of Michigan, 72 of the 83 counties do not have enough providers to meet the needs of people residing there, including the three counties that with around Detroit,” she said.

In Michigan, about 3.5 million people do not have a provider or services. She says the lack of services disproportionately impacts rural and urban settings. 

Weller says by 2032, 20% of jobs needed are in health care settings, including nurses, social workers, dental hygienists, physical therapists and others. 

Weller says the health care provider shortage affects underserved communities — people who are often experiencing poverty, with higher rates of disease burden and less access to medical care. 

“Almost anybody you talk to about trying to see a provider — either mental health or physical health — how often have you gone to see a provider and they weren’t available, or they left because of burnout and burden, followed by issues around [whether] they understand your culture or your language?” she said.

Weller says that also leads to higher mortality rates, higher likelihood of getting chronic conditions, and lower likelihood of getting diagnosed properly.

“These high-need areas in these underserved communities are disproportionately impacted when we don’t have health care providers to meet those needs,” she said.

Workforce development with a purpose 

The Academy was created nearly two years ago to work with universities and community colleges to provide supplemental educational instruction for people seeking careers in health care. 

“One of the things that my team and I are doing is we’ve been implementing workforce development programs where we receive funding that provides enhanced training for people who are pursuing degrees, particularly at community colleges and at university settings,” she said.

The program provides enhanced training, 180 hours of training with a $2,100 scholarship and a $2,100 stipend. 

Weller says student graduates, or ambassadors, are from educationally or economically disadvantaged backgrounds. 

“We have a number of tremendous needs, including homelessness. I think we had about 16% of the people in our program experiencing homelessness, as well as selling plasma and things like that.” 

Addressing the health care provider shortage 

The Academy says there is a 92% graduation rate. 

“Moreover, 89% of our students have gone on to the next level of their education, so either going from an associate’s degree to a bachelor’s degree, or bachelor’s degree to a master’s degree,” Weller said.

About 30% of those individuals are a part of the health care workforce. 

Weller says the program shows students need educational and financial support to pursue health care fields, which in turn may help reduce the health care provider shortage in Michigan. 

“I think if we do that, then we’ve got a chance at addressing a lot of the needs that are available,” she said.

Weller says students from underserved communities tend to go back and work in their communities. 

“And so the more efforts that we can do to supporting students with those experiences, I think long term, we will be in a much better position to help underserved communities, because we try to get students from the communities with the hopes, because we know data shows people go back to their communities.” 

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“DDOT Now,” Detroit Paratransit’s Same-Day Service

DDOT launches same-day paratransit service for Detroiters with disabilities

The Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT) launched a new same-day paratransit program called DDOT Now on Monday. The service allows residents with disabilities to schedule rides the day before or up to an hour in advance.

Robert Cramer, executive director of Transit, says the new program gives riders more flexibility. “The new service allows people to schedule transportation on short notice,” he said.

Paratransit services are guaranteed under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, which prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in accessing public accommodations — including transportation.

DDOT Now operates between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Riders can schedule a trip by calling 313-570-6845 between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. The fare is $2.50 per ride, and the program is supported by federal and local funding.

The city has recently made improvements to DDOT’s paratransit services, including better on-time performance and the hiring of additional staff

Download the PDF to learn more. 

Thousands rally in Metro Detroit as part of nationwide ‘No Kings’ protests

Tens of thousands of people rallied across Metro Detroit on Saturday as part of the national “No Kings” protests against authoritarianism.

Many demonstrators carried signs criticizing President Donald Trump’s immigration policies and his decision to deploy Marines and National Guard troops to protests in Los Angeles.

At a rally in Southwest Detroit, high school student Julio Henry gave an impassioned speech in support of immigrants.

“We are here in the United States to come together,” Henry said. “Our diversity is what makes the United States the United States.”

Henry added that young people are paying attention to national politics and they’re not pleased with what they see.

“We call him so many things, the fascist, the dictator, the white supremacist, but what we all agree on is he should not be our president,” Henry said.

The event in Detroit remained largely peaceful. However, a brief altercation broke out when members of a local biker gang arrived and began harassing protesters. Detroit police quickly intervened to defuse the situation.

Reporting by Russ McNamara, WDET

MDOT to extend life of I-75 Rouge River bridge with surface treatment

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is planning a two-year project to coat the surface of the I-75 Rouge River bridge in Detroit.

Crews previously rebuilt the bridge deck in 2017 and 2018. Project engineer Bill Erben says the structure is in good shape, but additional work will help preserve it.

“Sandblasting and smoothing the concrete will make it last longer,” Erben said.

MDOT plans to close the Rouge River bridge eight times this year and eight more times in 2026, each time affecting one direction of traffic at a time.

The first closure was scheduled to begin last Friday on northbound I-75 between Schaefer Road and I-96, but the threat of rain delayed the start.

Reported by Pat Batcheller, WDET

Republican-backed budget would slash funding for U-M and MSU, expand support for other public universities

The University of Michigan could lose a significant portion of its state funding under a higher education budget passed by the Michigan House of Representatives late last week.

The plan would also reduce funding for Michigan State University, while increasing support for most of the state’s other public universities.

Republican House Appropriations Committee Chair Ann Bollin said U-M and MSU rely less on state support than other schools. She and other GOP lawmakers say they hope the proposed cuts will reduce the number of out-of-state and international students at those institutions.

The education budget bill would also eliminate funding for free K-12 school meals across the state.

Reported by Collin Jackson, Michigan Public Radio Network

Taste of Dearborn returns with food tour of 20 local restaurants

The Dearborn Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting its annual Taste of Dearborn event this week, offering visitors a chance to sample dishes from local restaurants.

The event takes place Wednesday, June 18, from 6 to 9 p.m. Check-in begins at 5:30 p.m. at the Bryant Branch Library.

About 1,000 attendees are expected to tour 20 restaurants in Downtown West Dearborn.

General admission is $35, and a VIP experience is $50. Tickets are available at www.dearbornareachamber.org

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New travel ban takes effect

President Trump’s latest travel ban targeting 12 countries—many of them Muslim-majority or located in South America and Africa—went into effect today. The proclamation blocks travel to the U.S. for individuals without a valid visa from: Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.

Seven additional countries also face restrictions: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.

Last week, the Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR Michigan) issued a community alert urging individuals from the affected countries to return to the U.S. by today if possible.

CAIR Michigan staff attorney Amy Doukoure says the new restrictions could have immediate consequences.

“We might also see people who have a valid visa who don’t quite make it into the United States by June 9, unable to actually enter on the visa that they’re issued. And we will definitely see people who are here on a current valid visa, being unable to travel outside of the United States and then reenter once the travel ban takes effect.” 

Doukoure says the policy mirrors previous bans issued during Trump’s first term. She warns it will likely separate families and increase anxiety among communities from the affected countries.

Local ICE protests

About 50 protesters gathered near an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Detroit on Sunday, voicing opposition to the Trump administration’s mass deportation raids.

Russ McNamara reports from the protest.

Leah Checchini of Hazel Park attended the rally. She says her father immigrated from Argentina and believes everyone deserves the same opportunity.

“Just seeing everything that’s going on around me—I have a lot of friends who are in the process of getting their papers taken care of—so watching what’s happening to people like them is enraging, to say the least.”

More protests are planned in cities across the country.

Free clinic offers help with license restoration

The Michigan Department of State is hosting a free clinic to help residents restore their driver’s licenses. The Road to Restoration clinic will take place Tuesday, June 24 at the La SED Senior and Youth Center, located at 7150 Vernor Highway in Detroit. Department staff and pro bono attorneys will be on-site to assist with the process. The clinic runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with walk-ins welcome between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Register at michigan.gov/r2r.

New guidelines added to Michigan’s Eat Safe Fish Guide

About 300 new recommendations have been added to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services’ Eat Safe Fish Guide, with a renewed focus on reducing exposure to PFAS—commonly known as “forever chemicals.”

Officials say the chemicals are more harmful than previously thought. The updated guidelines outline which waterways are safe for fishing and how much of each species is safe to consume. For example, it’s considered safe to eat up to four servings of Bluegill per month from the Detroit River, but Bluegill from Belleville Lake should be completely avoided due to elevated PFAS levels.

Because PFAS are found in the fish fillet, simply trimming fat won’t reduce exposure. However, poking holes in the skin and grilling or broiling the fish can help lower the risk.

You can find the full Eat Safe Fish Guide at michigan.gov.

Reporting by Emma George-Griffin

Fall prevention resources available for Michigan seniors

Several groups are coming together to offer fall prevention resources for seniors. Each year, about 30 percent of Michiganders 65 and older report falling in their homes.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services’ Bureau of Aging, Community Living and Supports Health Services, the Michigan Falls Prevention Coalition, and Oakland University have partnered to connect people with health care providers, community organizations, and fall prevention resources.

People can explore safety planning tools, physical wellness services, and daily life support online at mi211.org. You can also call 211 for help finding resources.

The website was made possible by a $408,000 grant from the Michigan Health Endowment Fund Healthy Aging initiative.

Learn more at mifallsprevention.org.

The Arbor Day Foundation has renewed Dearborn’s “Tree City USA” status for its efforts to maintain a healthy tree canopy. 

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Timothy Hawkins, Dearborn’s public works director, says the city has kept the title for 38 years. 

“We continually make the investment to be a Tree City, and we continually plant more than we remove to maintain our tree city status,” Hawkins said.

He says the city planted 1,200 trees in 2024 and removed about a 1,000 due to disease or construction.

To qualify for Tree City USA status, cities must adhere to the standards laid out by the Arbor Day Foundation, including maintaining a dedicated department for tree management, passing a tree care ordinance, and spending a minimum of $2 per capita annually on its forestry program.

“We’re proud of this designation and plan on keeping our status as a Tree City USA community for many years to come,” said Dearborn Mayor Abdullah H. Hammoud in a news release. “We understand the importance of trees not just to our neighborhoods, but to public health and air quality, which is why we’re intentional in our tree planting efforts.”

Other headlines for Thursday, June 5, 2025:

• The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) says there’s an increase in recreational nitrous oxide use, or laughing gas, leading to more emergency room visits.
• Detroit’s Kronk Gym is making its return to the city under new management and at a new location — the Brewster Wheeler Recreation Center.
• Smoke from Canadian wildfires will linger over metro Detroit through the first half of the day on Friday. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) has issued air quality alerts for the entire Lower Peninsula and the eastern Upper Peninsula.
• Outlier Media is hosting an audio recording training with Detroit Documenter and assistant producer for WDET’s The Metro, Jack Filbrandt. The training will take place from 5 to 7:30 p.m. June 12 at Tech Town.

Do you have a community story we should tell? Let us know in an email at detroiteveningreport@wdet.org.

On this episode of Detroit Evening Report Weekends, we listen to the last story in WDET reporter Nargis Rahman’s series Shustho. 

The four-part series explores the barriers Bangladeshi women face in accessing high-quality health care, and efforts to bridge those gaps. 

Michigan is home to the third largest population of Bangladeshis in the U.S., most living in the metro Detroit area. 

In this story, we discuss how Bangladeshi mental health care workers are working toward breaking the stigma and filling the gap for more counselors in the Bangladeshi community. 

Listen to the episode using the media player above. 

Subscribe to the Detroit Evening Report on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts. 

The Embassy of Bangladesh returns to Michigan for another mobile consular services pop-up. Plus, the City of Detroit is hosting the Detroit Senior Olympics. Read on to learn more. 

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Embassy of Bangladesh pop-up

The Embassy of Bangladesh is returning to Michigan for another mobile consular services pop-up. The next one will be held May 31 through June 1 at the Al Ihsan Islamic Center in Warren. The event will include walk-in services on a first-come, first-served basis. Residents from surrounding states are also welcome to attend. 

The following services will be provided in the consular pop-up:

• Issuance of No Visa Required (NVR) Seal
• Biometric Enrollment of E-Passport Application
• Power of Attorney/Attestation

For more information about each service, check the mobile consular camp notice.

Detroit Senior Olympics

The City of Detroit is hosting an event for seniors next month. The Detroit Senior Olympics takes place June 9–14. Participants must be 49 or older and can compete in categories like arts and crafts, baking, and sports. The event takes place at multiple locations.  An awards dinner for competitors will take place in July. Register by Thursday, May 15 at tinyurl.com/detroitsenolympics. 

Generational wealth workshop

Outlier Media is hosting a workshop this week on generational wealth. The workshop goes over how to build generational wealth for you and your family. Participants will also learn how to build credit, buy a home and become financially responsible. The workshop takes place this Thursday, May 15 from 5–7 p.m. at TechTown Detroit, 440 Burroughs Street. Visit outliermedia.org for more information. 

Rising Voices meeting

The nonprofit Rising Voices is hosting monthly meetings. The next meeting will deal with issues of importance for Asian Americans, and will take place at TechTown Detroit on Thursday, May 15 from 6–7:30 p.m. Meetings are held the third Thursday of each month. Register at bit.ly/RVMonthlyMeeting. 

Foster parents needed

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is raising awareness for Foster Care Month. About 10,000 kids are in the foster care system in Michigan — 200 of whom need permanent placements. MDHHS is looking for people to become foster care parents. For more information, visit Michigan.gov/HopeForAHome. 

Elder care workshop

The Institute for Social Policy and Understanding is hosting a workshop to share results of a new report on elders and housing. The webinar will go over Muslim family life and the responsibilities of caring for elders. Organizers will discuss integrating the intergenerational care framework into schooling and housing, and increasing culturally competent services. The webinar takes place on Zoom on Thursday, May 22 at 1 p.m. 

Do you have a community story we should tell? Let us know in an email at detroiteveningreport@wdet.org.

Michigan has now moved to universal blood lead testing for children under six years old through universal testing. 

Lead is a naturally occurring toxin that harms children, impacting their health and development.  

Angela Medina, care coordination section manager at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), said children can get assistance if they have elevated blood lead levels.

“Previous to universal testing, Michigan was considered a targeted testing state, meaning all children that are enrolled in Medicaid should be tested for lead at ages one and two, and all other children not enrolled in Medicaid should have a conversation, their parents should have a conversation with health care providers about certain risk factors to determine if they’re at risk for lead exposure, and if they are, then they should be tested,” she said.

However, now with universal testing, the requirement is now that physicians test all children at ages one and two, regardless of their insurance.

Children with elevated blood lead levels, at 3.5 micrograms per deciliter or higher, are eligible for MDHHS services and through other local health departments to lower the blood lead level.

That includes in-home nursing case management to educate families about nutrition and safe cleaning, and connecting with the lead Safe Home Program for an environmental investigation to identify the source of exposure to remove it, she explained.

The new changes expand the coverage for all children under 6 years old to get tested, including those on all insurance plans.

“The only way to know if you have an exposure to lead is to have your blood tested, and the only way to treat is to remove that exposure source. If a child is being exposed to lead, it’s very important that we go through these processes to identify and remove that exposure so they can continue to grow and develop in a healthy way,” she said.

She said children should get tested at 12 months, and then again at 24 months.

“This is typically when exposure levels peak for most children. So both of those testing intervals are very important to make sure the child continues not to be exposed to lead,” she expanded.

Medina says the new expansion of coverage will allow more kids to get tested.  She said this is preventative health service under the federal Affordable Care Act.

“It must be covered without any additional co-payments or co-insurance charges,” she said. “Most private insurance is covered by the Affordable Care Act, and Medicaid also covers blood lead testing, so insurance companies should cover the cost of the blood lead test the children are receiving.”

She said if you have a child who’s never been tested for lead and they are under the age of six, talk to your health care provider about getting tested.  

For more information, visit michigan.gov/mileadsafe. 

The Michigan Global Talent Initiative released a report saying Michigan is on track to add 125,000 college-educated immigrants to the state’s job market as part of the state’s Sixty by 30 goal.

The goal aims to have 60% of Michigan’s workforce to obtain a post-secondary degree or professional credential by 2030.

Steve Tobocman, executive director at Global Detroit, says the state has added nearly 55,000 new college educated foreign born individuals, or immigrants, to the job market since 2019.

“We created an ambitious plan with business and state government and local Chambers of Commerce to almost double that and raise the number of high-skilled immigrants joining the Michigan economy to 120,000 to 125,000 by the year 2030,” he said.

Tobocman says Michigan is also the first state to develop a comprehensive immigrant inclusion strategy to help the group reach its goals.

“If we had done nothing, had no strategy around immigrant talent, we probably would have added 65,000 college-educated immigrant workers to the workforce by 2030, which would roughly mean about 12% of the overall goal,” he said,

Tobocman says Michigan has over 38,000 international students who account for 70% of the graduate school students in advanced STEM fields. However, students need support to integrate into jobs and stay in Michigan post-graduation.

“While the nation is having its own debates about border security and the right frame of immigration, this kind of talent initiative is one that has received bipartisan support, that the first appropriations happened under the Republican legislature,” he said.

Still, he says, the initiative is seeking funding to continue these programs.

From May 20-22, Global Detroit and the city of Detroit will co-host “Welcoming Interactive,” gathering leaders to welcome immigrants and provide resources.

Tobocman’s conversation with WDET’s Nargis Rahman was featured on The Metro this week. Take a listen below.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

More stories from The Metro

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has expanded its support for Missing and Murdered Indigenous People. 

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The National Institute of Justice reports that four in five American Indian and Alaska Native women have experienced domestic violence.  

Lorna Elliott-Egan is the director of tribal government services and policy at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. She says there are about 4,000 open cases in Michigan of MMIPs. 

“When we look at Native American data, we generally know that the impact is much more than the data reflects, because it’s not always easy to collect those numbers,” she said. “You can’t look at your neighbor and know whether they’re Native American or not, unless they tell you and are they enrolled in a tribe.”

Elliott-Egan says there is grant funding for domestic violence and crime victim programs for members of the 12 federally recognized tribes in Michigan. 

“They have their own domestic violence programs, human services programs, health clinics, their own tribal police, and so each one of those tribes is working sort of off of a federal template to create a murdered and missing indigenous persons plan for When these things occur,” she said.

Elliot-Egan says the state is working on a resource hub for Native American residents to find information in one place. 

Other headlines for Thursday, May 8, 2025:

• The TRUE Community Credit Union is providing $75,000 over five years to the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS) to set up a recovery center for substance use disorders.   
• The Hamtramck Drug Free Community Coalition is hosting its 16th Annual Hamtramck Health Hike from 9:30 a.m. to noon on Saturday, May 17. The first 400 people will receive freebies. Register at tinyurl.com/HealthHike. 
• The city of Warren is hosting its second annual Asian American & Pacific Islander Celebration from 12-3 p.m. on Saturday, May 17, at the Warren Community Center, 5460 Arden Ave. The event will feature music, food and vendors.
• The supermarket La Jalisciense is expanding to Taylor, Michigan. The supermarket offers Mexican cafeteria style foods and groceries. The new store, La Jali, is an expansion of its Southwest Detroit store that’s been family run for over a decade. The new store is located at 9411 Telegraph Rd.  

Do you have a community story we should tell? Let us know in an email at detroiteveningreport@wdet.org.

University of Michigan President Santa Ono says he’s leaving Ann Arbor to take the same job at the University of Florida this summer.

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Ono announced the move in an email to the U-M community Sunday night. He said it’s been an honor to lead the school, which hired him away from the University of Cincinnati in 2022. 

Ono faces a lawsuit from eight former U-M workers accusing the school of firing them over their support for Palestinians.

The Detroit News reports the plaintiffs are also suing the Board of Regents and other administrators, alleging the university violated their First Amendment right to protest.

Three of the former employees took part in a sit-in at the president’s office. The other five demonstrated outside the U-M art museum. A spokesperson had no comment on the case. 

–Reporting by Pat Batcheller, WDET News

More headlines for Monday, May 5, 2025:

• The Michigan Global Talent Initiative wants 60% of the state’s workforce to get a post-secondary education or professional certificate by 2030.
• The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is joining efforts to raise awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Awareness Day on May 5.
• The Division of Victim Services provides grant funding to federally recognized tribes for domestic violence through the StrongHearts Native Helpline, an anonymous confidential hotline for Native Americans and Alaska Natives. To contact the helpline, call 1-844-7Native or visit strongheartshelpline.org to chat.
• The city of Detroit is launching a Summer Youth Arts Employment Training Initiative to train and hire teens for summer jobs.
• Dearborn’s Economic Development Department and the American Arab Chamber of Commerce is hosting a resource fair from 4-8 p.m Wednesday, May 14, at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center.

Do you have a community story we should tell? Let us know in an email at detroiteveningreport@wdet.org.