Health and Community Services Department

The Area Agency on Aging is a trusted community resource that provides leadership and advocacy on aging issues in Kalamazoo County, helping older adults and their caregivers maintain their health and independence in their homes and communities through a network of coordinated services. Target population is primarily persons 60+ and their caregivers.

• Information and Assistance: Unbiased information and referrals provided by degreed professionals who are knowledgeable about community resources and programs. Call 269-373-5173.
• Choices for Independence: Social Workers and Nurses work with persons 60+ and veterans of all ages who need assistance to remain in their home. An individual’s ability to share in the cost of services is explored and clients can choose the agency they prefer from our provider pool. Call 269-373-5173.
• Custom Care: Professional geriatric care manager provides assessment, resources, and options to determine needs and develop a plan of support. This private pay service is able to be customized to individual situations including visitation in the hospital or long-term care facility. Call 269-373-5173 for more information.
• Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program: Helps individuals advocate for their needs and rights in licensed facilities; helps them to understand the long-term care system. Call 269-373-5161 or 1-866-485-9393.
• Healthy Living Programs: Supports positive life changes through evidence based workshops that have been proven to -prevent falls, assist in managing chronic conditions and dementia care. Call 269-373-5147 to learn more about Personal Action Toward Health, chronic disease self-management programs; or Matter of Balance, a falls prevention program, and 269-373-5141 for Creating Confident Caregivers, for those caring for persons with dementia.

• Coordinates breast and cervical cancer screening and/or diagnostic services for eligible patients in an eight-county region in southwest Michigan
• Provides patient navigation to ensure screening, diagnostic and treatment services for eligible women with Healthy Michigan Plan or ACA Health Insurance
• Ensures adequate medical provider availability through contractual relationships
• Toll free number: 1-888-243-4087.

• Home assessment
• Case management
• Outreach and education
• One on one education
• Providing information on lead safe cleaning methods
• Providing lead safe cleaning supplies/equipment
• Lending HEPA vacuums
• Creating temporary barriers to possible lead hazards (e.g., window sills, areas of deteriorating paint)
• Providing help with application to the Lead Safe Home Program

• Provides payment for medical care and treatment, as well the cost of a diagnostic evaluation by a specialist to determine suspected medical conditions. Includes navigation, advocacy, care coordination, and RN respite and case management services when indicated. Referrals to other community providers are offered to families, as well as transition services for youth as they approach adulthood.
• Eligibility is determined by severity and chronicity of a medical diagnosis and includes children from birth to age 21. Services are provided to individuals of any age who have cystic fibrosis or blood clotting disorders like hemophilia. All income levels are eligible; families share in the cost of their child's specialty care unless there is Medicaid or MIChild coverage, in which case the coverage is free

• Investigates cases of Michigan Department of Community Health reportable communicable diseases, including tuberculosis, and food-borne illnesses
• Collects communicable disease data and conducts ongoing disease surveillance
• Provides follow-up to communicable disease cases, clusters, and outbreaks; including contact and control measures—education, testing, prophylaxis, and immunization; provides active tuberculosis case management
• Conducts OSHA blood borne pathogen training for County employees
• Provides consultation and education related to health care providers and the public concerning communicable diseases
• Provides health information, resources, and consultation for Kalamazoo County schools and preschools;
• Provides community education and referrals to community health resources

• The Emergency Preparedness Program is here to assist Kalamazoo County service groups and businesses in preparing for a potential natural disaster, terrorist attack or disease epidemic. The Emergency Preparedness Coordinator also maintains comprehensive plans for countywide emergency and disaster response.

• Child & Adult Care Facility Inspections: Facilities licensed by the Department of Health and Human Services Department for child and adult care are inspected by this agency. Inspections are conducted to determine compliance with minimum standards intended to provide and promote a safe and healthy environment. Call 269-373-5210.
• Public Swimming Pool Program: Public swimming pools and hot tubs licensed by the Department of Environmental Quality are inspected by this agency. Inspections are conducted at least twice yearly to determine compliance with minimum standards to provide a safe and healthy environment.
• Food Safety Program: Regulates fixed, mobile, and temporary food service establishments. The program focus is to prevent food borne illness disease, prolong life, and promote public health. This program strives to accomplish this by assessing food service establishments , and educating both the industry and the public through plan review, newsletters, workshops, one-on-one counseling, etc.
• Groundwater Protection Program: Maintains a database of water quality for drinking water wells in the County. Currently, there are over 50,000 records. Outreach activities include assistance to municipal water supplies in developing wellhead protection plans and monitoring of residential wells for contamination.
• Home Environment:Promote the seven principles of Healthy Homes which are to keep homes: clean, dry, pest-free, ventilated, safe, contamination-free, and maintained as supported by the National Center for Healthy Housing and the Alliance for Healthy Homes. Housing, nuisance, and garbage complaint investigations are also conducted.
• Household Hazardous Waste Center: Collects many types of household hazardous materials for safe disposal. Materials such as electronics, oil-based paints, paint thinner, gasoline, aerosols, and pesticides are accepted. Hours of operation: Tuesdays and Fridays 8 am-1pm; Wednesdays 12pm-6pm; and the 2nd Saturday of the month 8am-12pm (no Saturday in August or September) -Location: 1301 Lamont Avenue at the Kalamazoo County Fairgrounds. For more information, call the HHW Hotline at 269-373-5211.
• Land Water and Wastewater Programs: Responsible for issuing construction permits and performing inspections of on-site residential and commercial water wells and septic systems. May also perform an evaluation of the water supply and/or septic system for homes when required by a lending institution for a mortgage. Applications and information are available at 269-373-5337.
• Methamphetamine: Enforces clean-up of dwellings or buildings that have been contaminated with methamphetamine production or use. For more information, call 269-373-5337.
• Radon: Stocks both long-term and short-term EPA approved Radon monitoring devices for sale to the general public. Staff is available to answer questions dealing with monitoring.
• Surface Water Monitoring Program: Performs public beach water monitoring throughout the County. Surface water sampling services available.

The Fatherhood Initiative partners with Healthy Babies, Healthy Start, focusing on neighborhoods and zip codes in Kalamazoo County identified as "high-risk" for poor birth outcomes. The goal of the Fatherhood Initiative is to "empower fathers and promote healthy families".

• Community Outreach
• Parenting classes
• One on one counseling
• Home visitation
• Connections to community resources
  
• Case Management
• Men's health education & activities

• Medical research project examines incidents of infant deaths in Kalamazoo County.
• Identifies trends, reviews findings, and makes recommendations to reduce infant mortality.

• Healthy Babies Healthy Start is a home visiting program that offers support to pregnant women who reside in Kalamazoo County (49001, 49006, 49007, & 49048). The goal of the program is to reduce infant mortality rates and improve pregnancy birth outcomes; through education, community engagement, advocacy, and care coordination. The program aims to empower parents, improve women’s health, strengthen family resilience, and engage fathers.
• Services Provided: Case management is provided to pregnant women up to the 2nd birthday of their baby. Services include: Assessments, family centered goal planning, risk reduction education, child development monitoring & screening, home visits, and referrals.

• Healthy Families America is a voluntary service that connects overburdened expectant parents and parents of newborns with free child development assistance in their homes. Specifically targeting families at risk for child abuse and neglect based on an intensive assessment interview.
• Case Management Services
• Community Education

By Appointment Only

Monday - Friday 8:00 am-5:00 pm

• Free anonymous and confidential HIV testing
• Pre and post-test counseling and prevention planning
• Rapid HIV testing
• Educational programs; outreach services

• Educate the community on the importance of immunization
• Collaborate with health care professionals and community agencies to improve immunization rates in Kalamazoo County
• Coordinate Vaccines for Children program

By Appointment Only

Monday - Friday 8:00 am-5:00 pm

• Travel Immunizations - by appointment only - 269-373-5126.

• The Laboratory provides testing services for HCS programs including:
  • Drinking water, well water, and surface water (beaches, rivers, lakes, etc.) testing;
  • Clinical testing for HCS clinics.
• The Laboratory provides testing services for well water samples from homeowners and businesses with private wells for a fee.
• Emergency Preparedness Region 5 (SWMI) laboratory.

• To report a death: Contact your local police dispatch center
• To request a death certificate: Contact the County Clerk's office at 269-383-8840
• To request a copy of a Post Mortem Examination (Autopsy) Report: Contact the Office of the Medical Examiner at 269-337-6173 or by emailing pathology@med.wmich.edu. Please be sure to include the decedent's name, date of death and the mailing address where you would like the report to be sent.

• Statewide immunization registry including lead and newborn hearing results.
• Region 2 encompasses 15 counties in Southwest Michigan including Kalamazoo.
• Regional Help Desk 888-217-3901.

Nurse-Family Partnership is free and voluntary program for women having their first baby. Any woman is eligible who is  

• pregnant with her first child
• WIC or Medicaid eligible, and
• lives in Kalamazoo County

Enrolled first-time moms will have a nurse meet with them regularly through pregnancy and until their child is two years old.  Their nurse will partner with them to

• Have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby 
• Be the parent they want to be
• Make their home a safe place for their child 
• Connect with local resources for healthcare, childcare, job training and other support services
• Identify and set goals for the family's future

By Appointment Only

Monday - Friday: 8:00 am-5:00 pm

• Complete screening for STI's
• Pre- and post-counseling for HIV testing and rapid HIV testing
• Counseling for STI risk reduction

By Appointment Only

Monday - Friday: 8:00 am-5:00 pm

• TB medications are available to Kalamazoo County residents who have no physician or health insurance.
• TB Clinic - available to Kalamazoo County residents without a health care provider once a month, by appointment.

By Appointment Only

Monday - Friday 8:00 am-5:00 pm

• Assists veterans and dependents with claims to the Department of Veterans Affairs and assistance with state and local benefits.
• Veterans Trust Fund: This trust fund provides temporary assistance to eligible wartime veterans and their families experiencing hardship or emergency. Must reside in the State of Michigan and Kalamazoo County. Call 1-800-642-4838 to apply.

• Early identification of possible vision and/or hearing impairments
• Children are seen at school, preschool clinics, in-house clinics, and daycare centers
• Free to children 3 to 18 years of age

Call 269-373-5002 for an appointment, other WIC Locations and information.

• 3rd Tuesday of each month closed 8:00 am – 1:00 pm
• Supplemental food for pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women, infants, and children up to 5 years old
• Nutrition education, nutrition counseling
• Available to families with a limited income
• Medical/nutritional risk factors assessed
• Must apply in person
• Breastfeeding peer counselor