MDHHS Offers Free Air Purifiers for Schools and Childcare Providers via MI Safe School Program

Michigan K-12 schools and early childcare facilities are encouraged to obtain free air purifiers through the MI Safe School Indoor Air Ventilation program. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) launched the program last year to improve indoor air quality in schools by providing clean air and safe, healthy environments.

The program works with partners to provide air purifiers at no cost to Michigan schools and other childcare providers. Since the launch of the program in December 2022, MDHHS has provided 25,587 air purification machines to 332 school districts.

Air purifiers are provided by Epidemiology Laboratory Capacity Reopening Schools grant funds. All public and private K-12 schools, licensed early childhood education centers and licensed child caring entities can obtain portable air purifiers through July or while supplies last. Schools will have the opportunity to receive a number of air purifiers that may be used in classrooms and other communal areas to reduce the number of harmful microbes and allergens in the atmosphere.

“Staying healthy leads to better academic outcomes as well as social and emotional well-being,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, MDHHS chief medical executive. “MDHHS is excited to offer the air ventilation and purification program to our schools. Using air purifiers is another tool in our toolbox to help prevent the spread of illness.”

Throughout the challenges created by the pandemic, MDHHS supported numerous school-based activities aimed to protect the health of staff and students including:

• MI Safe School Testing: Providing antigen point-of-care testing and multiplex COVID-19 and flu test kits to all K-12 schools.
• MI Backpack Home Test: Providing at-home COVID-19 test kits for students, staff and families.
• MI Health and Resource Advocate (HRA) program: Providing school or local health department personnel to assist with COVID-19 testing.

All K-12 schools are eligible to use resources offered by MDHHS programs.

For more information submit your K-12 school, licensed early childhood education centers, and licensed child caring center information to the MI Safe Schools Indoor Air Ventilation Program Interest.

For more information on MI Safe School programs email- MDHHS-COVIDTestingSupport@michigan.gov.

About Post Author

Andrea Plaid

Andrea Plaid’s work on race, gender, sex, and sexuality has appeared at Newsweek.com, Vogue.com, The Guardian, In These Times, MadameNoire, HelloBeautiful and Rewire. Her commentary has appeared on MSNBC, Chicago Tribune, and Washington Post. She is writing the forthcoming stylebook, Penning with the People, for The Feminist Wire/University of Arizona Press’ book series. Originally from Toledo, Ohio, Andrea now lives in Corktown.

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