November 2025 MDHHS Health Care Workforce Division Newsletter
Michigan Dept of Health & Human Services sent this bulletin at 11/21/2025 09:46 AM EST
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November 2025
Welcome to the November 2025 edition of the Health Care Workforce Division newsletter!
This month’s newsletter will focus on the student loan repayment programs managed by the Health Care Workforce Division, FY26 Free Clinic Funding Program, and recent ONP activities.
Provider Recruitment and Retention: Student Loan Repayment Programs
To address the challenges posed by Michigan’s critical shortage of health care professionals, the Department has implemented strategic initiatives, such as student loan repayment programs (LRPs), designed to help health care employers recruit and retain providers in identified areas of need. This is achieved by providing student loan repayment in exchange for two-year service obligations. By incentivizing qualified health care providers to practice in high-needs areas, these programs expand access to and availability of health care treatment throughout the State of Michigan.
LRPs are a valuable tool for borrowers working to pay down their student loan debt. By alleviating financial burdens and encouraging professionals to enter and remain in Michigan’s health care workforce in areas of need throughout the state, LRPs create a path for long term workforce stability. Details regarding student loan debt in Michigan are available in the table below:
Four LRPs are currently managed within the Health Care Workforce Division as part of the division’s focus on provider recruitment and retention. Details can be found in the table below and on the program websites (websites also linked on the Workforce/Access & Grants Management Section website):
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Program participants in the LRPs above are currently providing healthcare services in high-needs areas throughout Michigan. A representation of [FY25] MSLRP, BHLRP, and MIOTA LRP participating providers as well as [FY26] NLRP providers is available in the maps below:
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Application cycles are offered for each LRP based on funding availability. Both MSLRP and BHLRP will host application cycles in Spring 2026. To receive application cycle notices and program updates for MSLRP, click here to join the MSLRP mailing list. To receive application cycle notices and program updates for BHLRP click here to join the BHLRP mailing list.
MDHHS Free Clinic Funding Program FY26
The MDHHS Free Clinic Funding Program is a grant program for free clinic organizations providing health care services to the uninsured population of Michigan. MDHHS has received an appropriation of $400,000 to support free clinics operating in the state of Michigan for Fiscal Year 2026. Applications are due November 30, 2025. Grant funds may cover clinic expenses incurred from January 1st, 2026, through September 30th, 2026.
The application and the required attachments should be completed and submitted to MDHHS through the supplied link and supplemental documents emailed to rousseauj@michigan.gov on or before Sunday, November 30th, 2025. Upon approval and subject to the availability of funds, MDHHS will issue grant agreements. Grant recipients will be required to sign and return the grant agreement prior to issuance of any funds. Grantees will also be required to complete an expenditure verification form, to be provided by MDHHS once funds are disbursed.
For additional information, including eligibility criteria and other program details, please visit the MDHHS Free Clinic Funding Program Website or contact the program analyst, Juliette Rousseau, at rousseauj@michigan.gov.
ONP Activity
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The ONP has recently participated in several external partner meetings, reflecting its core mission to provide professional nursing leadership, expertise, and coordination in health policy development. These engagements included presentations by section manager Casey Klein, and analyst Sarah Jennings, at the Coalition of Michigan Organizations of Nursing’s annual in-person meeting. Sarah also served as a panelist for the Michigan Organization for Nursing Leadership’s (MONL) Nursing Innovator Panel (pictured to the right). Panel discussions explored emerging models of care, technological advancements, and innovative processes that propel the nursing profession forward. The ONP is deeply grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with health care partners and contribute to elevating the voice and impact of nursing. |
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Upcoming Opportunities & Other Updates
- MDHHS Free Clinic Funding Program applications due by Nov. 30, 2025. Click here to visit the online application form.
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Staff Spotlight:
Brittany Brookshire, MPH Departmental Specialist Workforce/Access and Grants Management Section |
Brittany Brookshire serves as a Departmental Specialist for the Workforce Access / Grants Management Section within the MDHHS Health Care Workforce Division. She is responsible for coordinating the Michigan State Loan Repayment Program, managing the daily operations of the program. Her responsibilities include preparing federal grants and reports, reviewing applications, verifying provider and practice site eligibility, reviewing MSLRP documents and awarding loan repayment agreements. She approves the payments of participants, works with participants to ensure |
compliance with program requirements and completion of service obligations, as well as recommend new policy and procedures to program management. Previously, Brittany served as a Departmental Analyst within the Workforce/Access & Grants Management Section. In that role, she worked with the Michigan State Loan Repayment Program, J1 Visa Waiver Program, Centralized Grants Management, and the National Health Service Corps. She holds a Master of Public Health degree from Michigan State University and has nine years of experience at MDHHS. |
Amber Myers, MPH- Division Director MyersA1@michigan.gov
Miguelina Carela Garcia, MPH- Workforce/Access & Grants Management Section Manager CarelaGarciaM@michigan.gov
Casey Klein, BS- ONP Section Manager kleinc7@michigan.gov
Brittany Brookshire, MPH- MSLRP Coordinator BrookshireB1@michigan.gov
Ninette Probyn- MSLRP ProbynN1@michigan.gov
Sophia Hubbell- NLRP, MSLRP HubbellS1@michigan.gov
Juliette Rousseau- Free Clinics & NLRP Program Coordinator RousseauJ@michigan.gov
Megan Linton, JD- MIOTA LRP Coordinator, NHSC Contact LintonM3@michigan.gov
Sarah Kleis, MA- Conrad 30/J1 Visa Program Coordinator KleisS1@michigan.gov
Reanna Kathawa- BHLRP Program Coordinator KathawaR@michigan.gov
Mattie Robinson, MS- BHLRP RobinsonM28@michigan.gov
Jilliann Betzer, LMSW- BHLRP, MI-BHISP BetzerJ@michigan.gov
Sharmin Salam, MSIA- Primary Care Workforce Analyst SalamS2@michigan.gov
Sarah Jennings, DNP, MPA, RN, NEA-BC- ONP Senior Nurse Advisor jenningss2@michigan.gov
Kaylen Brooks, BA, BSN, RN- ONP Departmental Analyst brooksk22@michigan.gov
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