Last week, I visited Genesis House in Fowlerville to discuss access to mental health programs and hear success stories from residents who frequently visit. As the Legislature continues addressing mental health needs, I am grateful for opportunities to hear what is working and what still needs to be done. Thank you to Livingston County Community Mental Health Executive Director Connie Conklin, Genesis House Director Mike Leahy, and staff for meeting to discuss effective mental health programming options for local residents.

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Congratulations to Livingston County Commissioner Carol Griffith on being named 2018 Howell Area Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year! The announcement was made last Thursday night at the Howell Chamber’s 62^nd Annual Dinner, where she was presented a tribute signed by state Sen. Lana Theis, Rep. Ann Bollin, and myself. The honor is well deserved as Carol has been an integral part of the community for many years. Besides serving as a county commissioner, she has twice co-chaired the Livingston County United Way Campaign, helped bring about the Howell Main Street wall mural, and is a Tour de Livingston volunteer, amongst other acts of service. Congratulations again, Carol, and thank you for all you do for Livingston County!

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It’s an honor to chair the House Health Policy Committee again this term. This week, we held our first meeting with presentations from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services on state Medicaid programs. I look forward to hosting more presenters in the coming weeks and eventually deliberating on important policy changes related to health and health care in Michigan.

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If you have any ideas, comments or questions for my office, please do not hesitate to call us at 517-373-8835 or send an email to [email protected]. We are happy to hear from you!

PHOTO INFORMATION: State Rep. Hank Vaupel discusses mental health issues with Genesis House Director Mike Leahy.