December 2025 MDHHS Health Care Workforce Division Newsletter

December 2025

Welcome to the December 2025 edition of the Health Care Workforce Division newsletter! This month’s newsletter will focus on division activities and accomplishments from 2025.

Health Care Workforce Division Recap: 2025

The Health Care Workforce Division accomplished many goals as a newly formed division in the department in 2025. As part the of Policy and Planning Bureau, the division contributed to the development of the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) grant proposal. Michigan’s proposal was developed in collaboration with colleagues across the department and with recommendations from Michigan partners. The goal of this program is to increase access to rural health providers while improving outcomes for individuals living in rural communities. A decision regarding the submitted grant proposal will be provided by the end of 2025. Please visit the RHTP website for more information regarding this grant opportunity. Additionally, those interested in updates regarding the RHTP grant can sign up for the RHT listserv here. The division looks forward to following through with this opportunity as well as accomplishing other new goals in the new year.

Workforce/Access & Grants Management Section Activities, Accomplishments, and 2026 Goals

The Workforce/Access & Grants Management Section of the Health Care Workforce Division was busy throughout 2025 with its numerous recruitment and retention programs, shortage designation coordination efforts, and various other initiatives such as the MDHHS Free Clinics Fund Program. The section had great success in facilitating multiple program application cycles and working on the completion of the 2025 National Shortage Designation Update (NSDU), amongst other section activities such as the launch of the newly formed Nurse Loan Repayment Program (NLRP). Please see below for a visual representation of 2025 Recruitment and Retention Program Highlights from the section:

¹Highlights are 2025 totals from the following Workforce/Access & Grants Management Section recruitment and retention programs: Michigan State LRP (MSLRP); Behavioral Health LRP (BHLRP); MI Opioid Treatment Access LRP; Nurse LRP; and MI Behavioral Health Internship Stipend Program (BHISP).

Looking forward to 2026: The section will continue efforts to simplify the application process for its programs by moving the application to an online portal. The MIOTA LRP implemented this process in 2025, and use of the online portal for application has been shown to not only streamline the application process for applicants but also reduce the amount of time needed for application processing by program staff. Among other efforts, the section will also look to further improve existing programs/initiatives via continued collaboration on best practices and implementation.

The section looks forward to managing new funding opportunities to promote and fulfill departmental and divisional goals throughout 2026, including the provision of substantial support in managing any potential RHTP award funding.          

 

Office of Nursing Programs Section Activities, Accomplishments, and 2026 Goals

Throughout 2025, the Office of Nursing Programs continued to manage key ongoing initiatives, including the Michigan Nurse Mapping tracking process and the annual Michigan Nurse Licensure Survey (MNLS). The annual MNLS partner meeting, held on October 7, 2025, provided an opportunity to review the previous year’s data and discuss proposed updates. The ONP also managed exciting new opportunities during 2025, such as the Clinical Placement Incentive Program. A recap regarding some of these initiatives and opportunities is below: