Frequently Asked Questions - Michigan (.gov)

Michigan's Women, Infants & Children program, providing supplemental nutrition, breastfeeding information, and other resources for healthy mothers & babies.
Information on the Family Independence Program, State Disability Assistance, SSI, Refugee, and other cash assistance.
If you cannot afford child care, payment assistance is available.
Children's Special Health Care Services information and FAQ's.
Information on assistance with home repairs, heat and utility bills, relocation, home ownership, burials, home energy, and eligibility requirements.
Information on the Food Assistance Program, eligibility requirements, and other food resources.
Health Care Coverage information and resources.
Help from Other Programs
Information about the health care programs available through Medicaid and how to qualify.
Our migrant program works with a number of organizations to provide services for Michigan’s migrant and seasonal farmworkers.
Housing and Homeless Services
Low-income Households Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP)
A federal program which helps persons admitted into the U.S. as refugees to become self-sufficient after their arrival.
Universal caseload, or task-based processing, is a different way of handling public assistance cases.
Information on the Children's Protective Services Program, child abuse reporting procedures, and help for parents in caring for their children.
Information on adoption programs, adoption resources, locating birth parents and obtaining information from adoption records.
Information on Adult Protective Services, Independent Living Services, Adult Community Placement Services, and HIV/AIDS Support Services.
Child Fatality Registry
Information on child support services for participants and partners.
Programs for healthy children & families, including immunization, lead poisoning prevention, prenatal smoking cessation, and many others.
Information on the Children's Foster Care program and becoming a Foster Parent.
Hope For A Home
Information about the Michigan law that requires certain information be made available to a woman who is seeking an abortion at least 24 hours prior to the abortion procedure.
Information on treatment and services for juvenile offenders, success stories, and more.
Information on American Indian Services, Employment and Training.
Child Welfare Medical and Behavioral Health Resources
Prevention Services

The Michigan Domestic & Sexual Violence Prevention and Treatment Board administers state and federal funding for domestic violence shelters and advocacy services, develops and recommends policy, and develops and provides technical assistance and training.
Information about injury and violence prevention programs in Michigan
information about the Department's public safety programs.
Information on the Safe Delivery Program, laws, and publications.
Information on Safe Sleep for your baby, how to protect your baby's life.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services' (MDHHS) Division of Environmental Health (DEH) uses the best available science to reduce, eliminate, or prevent harm from environmental, chemical, and physical hazards.
Resources and information to assist in assuring firearm safety for families in the state of Michigan.
Child Welfare Medical Resources
Adult Behavioral Health & Developmental Disability Services
Prevention of diseases & conditions such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes and many others.
Information on communicable & chronic diseases.

Home to an array of public health programs, initiatives and interventions aimed at improving the health and well-being of women, infants, families and communities.
Primary Care & Public Health.
Birth, Death, Marriage and Divorce Records
Boards and Commissions
Bridge Card Participation Information on Electronic Benefits for clients and businesses, lists of participating retailers and ATMs, and QUEST.
Provider Payments Information on the direct deposit of State of Michigan payments into a provider's bank account.
Child Care Fund
Child Welfare Resources
Information on How to Bid, Requests for Proposals, forms and publications, contractor rates, and manuals.
Information & resources for Community and Faith-Based partners
Information on DHS Applications and Forms grouped by category.
MIBridges Partners
State Health Assessment
Health Care Providers
Licensing information for Adult Foster Care and Homes for the Aged, Child Day Care Facilities, Child Caring Institutions, Children's Foster Care Homes, Child Placing Agencies, Juvenile Court Operated Facilities and Children's or Adult Foster Care Camps.
Michigan's Trauma Care System
Information on the grant awarded for the State Innovation Model Proposal
Migrant Affairs
MiSACWIS Training
Pathways to Potential site
Protect MiFamily -Title IV-E Waiver
Offers resources for agencies who operate the Weatherization Assistance Program in the state of Michigan

Office of Inspector General
to follow
Information on resources in your community and volunteer recruitment and training, and services provided at local DHS offices.
Locate your County Office

Information is collected to monitor the general health and well-being of Michigan citizens.
Helpful phone numbers to MDHHS services.
Equal Opportunity, Legal Base, Laws and Reporting Welfare Fraud information.
Information about audits conducted by the Office of Audit.
MDHHS News, Press Releases, Media toolkit, and Media Inquiries.
Legislation policy and planning information.
A variety of reports & statistics for programs and services.
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Q. If a client already has a MI Bridges account, can they use the same account in the new MI Bridges?
A. Yes, as long as the client has used their MI Bridges account within the previous 18 months, MDHHS will transfer their account to the new MI Bridges. The only exception is if the client’s username is already being used in the new MI Bridges. In this instance, clients should create a new account.
Q. Can clients reset their password on their own in the new MI Bridges?
A. Yes! There are many tools available to clients to reset their password without having to visit an MDHHS office. Clients will visit MI Bridges and click on the Forgot Password link to reset their password. Clients can reset their password by answering their security questions or requesting a PIN be sent to them through email or text message.
Q. Does a client have to have a current MDHHS case to use the new MI Bridges?
A. No, all Michigan residents are encouraged to use the new MI Bridges, not just MDHHS clients. Because users will be able to search for and connect with local resources/agencies the new MI Bridges can be helpful to any Michigander!

Q. How can I prepare my organization to serve as a MI Bridges Community Partner?
A. There are three levels of engagement: Navigation, Referral, and Access. You will need to decide which of these levels would be appropriate for your organization. Remember your organization can engage in more than one level! You can visit the Become a Partner page to learn more about these partner roles and the registration process.
Q. Is there a limit to how many locations an organization can add?
A. No, there is no limit to how many locations an organization can add.
Q. Today my entire organization shares one partner number, will the same number be used with the new MI Bridges?
A. No, in the new MI Bridges every partner receives a unique identification (ID) number. This number is not the same number that is used in the old MI Bridges.
Q.  If a Community Partner makes changes to their profile, are they required to go through ID Proofing again?
A. No, if you make changes to your Community Partner profile, you will not have to go through ID Proofing again.
Q. Are community partners encouraged to have clients apply for benefits online?
A. Absolutely, this is still a great option for applying for benefits. Currently 75% of applications are received online. The new paper application is also an option for clients.

Q. What action do I need to take so my organization appears as a resource in MI Bridges?
A. All organizations that are registered with Michigan 2-1-1 may display as a resource in MI Bridges. If you have not already done so, register with 2-1-1 today!
Q. Where do I report resource information that is out of date or wrong?
A. When possible, please call the resource’s phone number to inform them of the error. The resource information shown in MI Bridges comes from the Michigan 2-1-1 database and must be changed through 2-1-1. If you see any incorrect information in the new MI Bridges, please email

MD********************@mi******.gov

and MDHHS will work with Michigan 2-1-1 to get it corrected.
Q. Can clients look for resources more than once?
A. Yes. Clients can revisit Help Me Find Resources as often as they wish, as their circumstances may change or they may want to explore new topics.
Q. Is there a maximum amount of resources clients can choose?
A. No, clients can add as many resources as they wish to their profile.

Q. Who can I call if I have questions or experience technical issues in the new MI Bridges?
A. A dedicated Help Desk is available via phone to community partners and clients 8am – 5pm Monday – Friday. You can call 1-844-799-9876 to contact the Help Desk.

Q. What is ID proofing?
A. ID proofing, short for identity proofing, is an additional layer of security that ensures that we are granting access to the correct person and not someone else. If you make changes to your Community Partner profile, you will not have to go through ID Proofing again.

Q. Will the changes to the new 1171 Assistance Application also be made in MI Bridges?
A. Yes, the new 1171 Assistance Application has undergone significant improvements. The simplified questions seen on the paper application will match the application questions in the new MI Bridges.

Q. What is a referral partner?
A. A referral partner is an organization who has elected to receive electronic referrals directly in MI Bridges. Clients can send their contact information to participating organizations and resources who receive the referrals on a Referral Management Dashboard.
Q. Do referral partners need to register with Michigan 2-1-1 and MI Bridges?
A. Yes, in order to register as a referral partner, organizations must first be registered with Michigan 2-1-1.

Q. Can my organization serve as a Navigation, Referral, and Access partner?
A. Absolutely! Organizations can choose to engage with MDHHS in multiple ways. Agencies can choose to be a Navigation, Referral, or Access – or any combination of the three!
Q. Can a client have more than one navigator?
A. No, currently clients can only have on navigator. Navigators provided one-on-one assistance to clients and help connect them to resources on an ongoing basis.
Q. Is there a limit to the amount of people you can be a navigator for?
A. No, there is currently no limit to how many people you can be a navigator for.
Q. After a client enters your Community Partner ID number, how long does it take to connect as a navigator?
A. After a client has submitted your Community Partner ID number and given you consent, you will instantly become their navigator.
Q. How does a client connect with a Navigator? How does a Navigator connect with a client?
A. Please review this Job Aid with instructions on how to connect with a client or have the client connect with you as their navigator.
Q. If I am a navigator, can I look at my client’s case when they are not with me?
A. Yes, if the client has provided consent you can view their letters, benefits, and resources from your client directory at any time. Remember if a client changes their preferences, their information will be removed automatically from your client directory.
Q. Are navigators taking the place of caseworkers?
A. No, there has been increased functionality to allow navigators to support clients and give general case management. For example, navigators can help report changes, respond to documentation verification requests, and answer basic benefit questions, but they are not taking the place of caseworkers.
Q. If a navigator is temporarily out of the office, is it possible to move that navigator’s client to another navigator?
A. Yes! Individuals in your organization who have the manage organization permission can reassign clients to another navigator in the agency. The navigator can also reassign the client to another navigator before they leave the office.
Q. Can a navigator be removed from an organization?
A. Yes! A navigator can be removed from an organization. Anyone with manage organization permission can delete or add additional users.
Q. Will there be any tools for partners to help track the clients they assist?
A. Yes, clients can elect to connect to their Navigation Partner in MI Bridges, and can also consent to sharing contact details and case information with their Navigator. Navigation Partners can view these clients on a Client Directory in MI Bridges, and if the client consents, can view the same case information as the client – from detailed benefit information to organizations the client has sent electronic referrals too.

Q. What kinds of letters can a client see in MI Bridges?
A. Any benefit letters that would typically be mailed to a client now display electronically on the View Letters tab of the My Resources page in MI Bridges.
Q. What case information is available to clients in MI Bridges?
A. Clients can view more benefit information than ever before in the new MI Bridges. For active cases, clients can view benefit amounts, renewal dates, the date benefits are added to their Bridge card, and much more!

Q. What training is planned for Community Partners?
A. Training options for partners vary depending on whether the organization registers to be a Navigation, Referral, or Access Partner. Navigation Partners will attend a 2-hour virtual training. Referral and Access Partners will complete a web-based training.
Q. How can I start preparing my organization to serve as a MI Bridges Partner?
A. Great question! It’s a good idea to start preparing now by documenting the information needed to register your organization as a partner. Some helpful things you can do to prepare for registration are: