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 373-5173.
Choices for Independence: Social Workers and Nurses assist individuals and/or their caregivers to connect with the services that best fit their needs. Programs are designed for 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 373-5173.
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 373-5161 or 1-866-485-9393.
Healthy Living Programs: Helps people make positive changes in their lives through evidence based workshops that have been proven to work well. The workshops support medical advice to safely stay active and better manage long term health conditions. Call 373-5382 to learn more about Matter of Balance and the Personal Action Toward Health programs.
The Center for Health Equity supports HCS programs to reflect equity in all HCS programs and services. The CHE is responsible for building community capacity to improve health by assisting the community in addressing barriers to health equity.
The Health Equity Training Center offers a cross-disciplinary collaborative model for education, awareness, community capacity building, policy influence and technical assistance.
Coordinates internal and external collaborations and initiatives to motivate both traditional and non-traditional public health partners, groups and individuals to take collective action in determining the barriers to health equity.
Researches and disseminates information about the fundamental causes of inequity and distribution of disease and illness in Kalamazoo County.
Coordinates, evaluates and monitors social determinants within the County.
Eligibility: Determined by severity and chronicity of a medical diagnosis.
Age: Children from birth to age 21. Service to people of any age with cystic fibrosis or blood clotting disorders like hemophilia.
Income: All income levels are eligible. All families must share in the cost of their child's specialty care unless there is Medicaid or MIChild coverage
Income: All income levels are eligible; families with income above certain limits must share in the cost of their child's specialty care (a payment agreement is signed by the parent).
Services: Payment for medical care and treatment, including advocacy, respite nursing, and support services for families. Referral for a Diagnostic Evaluation to a medical specialist to determine suspected medical conditions. Referrals to other community services.
Programs coordinated through the Community Action Agency are meant to assist people in becoming self-sufficient. Service areas include Head Start, Weatherization, and emergency needs assistance.
The emergency needs program helps individuals and families address utility and housing related concerns.
Eligibility for programs is based on participants meeting income eligibility requirements.
Volunteer opportunities include participating on the Community Action Advisory Board and the Walk for Warmth Committee.
The CAA office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Norma Ash, Julia Brown, Juanita Daniel, Linda Poveda
The Dental Clinic accepts Kalamazoo County residents with Medicaid (see below) or no dental insurance. We continue to provide all services to those with no dental insurance at a reduced rate based on household income. All fees are due at the time of service.
The Dental Clinic accepts Kalamazoo County residents with Medicaid (see below) or no dental insurance. We continue to provide all services to those with no dental insurance at a reduced rate based on household income. All fees are due at the time of service. Please call our office for estimates and to make an appointment.
Adults: Adults 21 and older with Medicaid are eligible for all covered services. A $3.00 co-pay is due at the time of service. Services include fillings, cleanings, x-rays, and periodontal disease treatment, as well as many other covered services.
Children: Children and young adults (through age 20) with Medicaid are eligible for all covered services at no charge (no co-pay). This includes exams, fillings, extractions, cleanings, x-rays, fluoride treatments, sealants, and other services.
Emergencies: If a patient is in pain or has infection, they may come to our walk-in emergency service Monday through Friday at 7:45 a.m. This service is provided on a first come first served basis and/or severity basis. Emergency patients receive their treatment between our scheduled patients, as time allows. Although our clinic makes every attempt to serve all emergency patients that present the same day, there is no guarantee that they will be seen. In the event we are unable to serve you the same day, we will explore other options with you.
Main Wing, Ground Floor, Room G-11
Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Child & Adult Care Facility Inspections: Facilities licensed by the Department of Human Services (formerly Family Independence Agency) for child and adult care are inspected by this agency. Such persons may not be able to care for themselves (the young, aged, mentally or physically challenged). Inspections are done to determine compliance with minimum standards intended to provide and promote a safe and healthy environment. Call 373-5210.
Food Service Sanitation Program: Regulates fixed, mobile, and temporary food service establishments, as well as vending machines, dispensing potentially hazardous food and beverages. The focus is to prevent disease, prolong life, and promote public health. This program strives to accomplish this by assessing food service establishments at least twice a year, and educating both the industry and the public through plan review, newsletters, workshops, one-on-one counseling, etc. Call 373-5210.
Groundwater Protection Program: Maintains a database of water quality for drinking water wells in the County. Currently, there are over 45,000 records. Outreach activities include assistance to municipal water supplies in developing wellhead protection plans and monitoring of residential wells for contamination.
Healthy Homes for Kalamazoo (H2K): Coordination of community services and coalition collaboration advocating for 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. Additionally, we respond to elevated blood lead levels in children less than 6 years of age, perform home lead assessments, and provide education on general environmental health topics such as radon, mold, and pest infestations. For further information, contact the Public Health Nurse at 269-373-5116, or Senior Environmental Health Specialist at 269-373-5337.
Household Hazardous Waste Center: Collects all types of household materials for safe disposal. Materials such as electronics, oil-based paints, paint thinner, gasoline, aerosols, and pesticides are collected three days per week at the HHW Center located at 1301 Lamont Avenue at the Kalamazoo County Fairgrounds. For more information, call the HHW Hotline at 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 373-5337.
Methamphetamine: Enforces clean-up of dwellings or buildings that have been contaminated with methamphetamine production or use. For more information, call 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. For further information, call an Environmental Health Specialist at 373-5337.
Surface Water Monitoring Program: Performs public beach water monitoring throughout the County. Surface water sampling services available.
Head Start provides comprehensive child development services including education, health, nutrition, and parent involvement services to economically disadvantaged children of all abilities and their families. The program has a special focus on helping preschoolers develop the early reading and math skills they need to succeed in school.
Norma Ash, Julia Brown, Juanita Daniel, Linda Poveda
Healthy Start is a community collaboration reducing fetal and infant mortality in Kalamazoo County, specifically focused on the 49007, 49001, and 49048 zip codes.
Main Wing, 1st Floor
General Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
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.
Emergency Preparedness Region 5 (SWMI) laboratory.
MEDICAL EXAMINER
See Below
1st Wing, 2nd Floor, Room 219
To report a death: Please contact your local police dispatch center.
To request a death certificate: Please contact the County Clerk's office at 269-383-8840.
To request an autopsy report from 2010 to present: Please call the Medical Examiner's office at Sparrow Hospital between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at 517-364-2561.
To request an autopsy report from 2009 and earlier: Please contact Stacie Bytwork, Administrative Coordinator via email at smbytw@kalcounty.com or by phone at 269-373-5797.
For cremation permits: Please fax request to 517-372-0581.
The Medical Examiner's office investigates all cases of sudden, unexpected, accidental, and violent deaths as specified in the State Medical Examiner Law. Medical Examiner investigations are carried out by ME investigators with the assistance of a number of public service agencies. Based on information provided by the ME Investigator, as well as autopsy and toxicology findings, it is the responsibility of the Medical Examiner to establish both the manner and cause of death.
The Medical Examiner has the authority to order an autopsy at any time it is deemed necessary to determine or confirm the cause and manner of death as specified in the Michigan Medical Examiner Law.
If final disposition is by cremation, State law requires the Medical Examiner to review the death certificate prior to authorization to ensure the death occurred within Kalamazoo County and an investigation has been carried out when appropriate.
Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) is an evidence-based, nurse home visiting program that improves the health, well-being, and self-sufficiency of low-income, first time parents and their children.
Registered nurses begin services early in pregnancy and continue visitation through the child's second year. Nurses provide support, education, and counseling on health, behavioral, self-sufficiency, and parenting issues.
Services such as adding insulation, weather stripping windows, checking the condition of the furnace and/or water heater, and other energy conservation measures are performed on homes to ultimately reduce energy costs that could be used for other more immediate needs.
Any low-income homeowner or renter may be eligible for services provided income eligibility guidelines are met. Those receiving FIP, SSI, or SDA are automatically eligible for services.
Walk-in Hours at Portage Community Center: 1st Tuesday of each month 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. 4th Tuesday of each month 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Supplemental food for pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women, infants, and children up to 5 yrs old.
Nutrition Education, Nutrition Counseling.
Available to families with a limited income.
Medical/nutritional risk factors assessed.
Must apply in person.
Kelly and Ana
Kalamazoo County Health & Community Services is committed to providing equitable, culturally competent care to all individuals served, regardless of race, age, sex, color, national origin, religion, height, weight, marital status, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability.
Links to external sites do not constitute endorsements by Kalamazoo County.
