Addressing Michigan’s primary care shortage, improving adult foster care, and more

I am honored to be the recipient of the 2026 William G. Milliken Award from Safe and Just Michigan. This award was presented at Safe and Just Michigan’s Signature Event, Five Years of Fresh Starts, which celebrated the anniversary of Michigan’s Clean Slate expungement reform.

Since this legislation was enacted, over 1 million Michiganders have had convictions expunged from their records. I am proud to have supported this and other reforms to increase access to opportunity and improve quality of life for justice-involved adults and youths in our state.

Last week, I co-sponsored bipartisan legislation to improve primary healthcare in Michigan. The Primary Care Transformation Package would double the state’s investment in primary care over the next eight years, expand access to care, and increase our healthcare workforce (House Bills 6289–6295).

Seventy-five of Michigan’s 83 counties face a shortage of primary care services, and one in three Michiganders do not have consistent access to primary care.  Not having access to this type of care can result in emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and negative health outcomes.

Last week, I co-sponsored legislation to increase accountability, transparency, and training standards for Adult Foster Care facilities in Michigan (HBs 6320–6322).

This legislation is named “Theresa’s Law” in honor of Theresa Skrabis, a Michigan resident who died in 2021 after experiencing abuse and neglect in an adult foster care facility in Michigan. This legislation would reform our state’s adult foster care standard to improve care, safety, and quality of life for vulnerable adults in Michigan.

Legislation was introduced last week to codify the 19th Amendment in Michigan. The 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified in 1920, guaranteeing that the right to vote cannot be denied or limited based on sex.

HB 6318 would ensure that this right continues to be protected in Michigan. As we see more attempts from the federal government to restrict our right to vote, I believe it’s more important than ever to implement state-level protections. I proudly co-sponsored this legislation.

The Ingham County Health Department will host a free mobile health unit event on Wednesday, Sept. 9, from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., at the Allen Neighborhood Center Farmers Market, 1611 E. Kalamazoo St., in Lansing. More information about this and other upcoming mobile health unit events can be found under the Upcoming Events section of Ingham County Health Department website.

The Greater Lansing Food Bank’s mobile food pantry will be at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 549 E. Mt. Hope, in Lansing on Wednesday, Sept. 9, from 1 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. This event is open to the public and identification is not required. The distribution may end early if food runs out. Organizers ask that participants do not line up more than 30 minutes before the scheduled start time. For more information, call the Greater Lansing Food Bank at (517) 853-7800.

Follow my official Facebook account for the most up-to-date information. E-news contains a lot of good information, but it takes several days — up to a week — to get approved and sent.

Sincerely,

Kara Hope
State Representative

Michigan’s Senior Project Fresh program offers $25 in free benefits to use on fresh fruits, vegetables, and honey at participating farmers’ markets and roadside stands. Eligible participants must be Michigan residents and either:

• Age 60 or older with a total household income of $28,952.50 or less for an individual, or $39,127.50 for a couple
• Age 55 and older and belong to a Michigan federally recognized tribe or urban tribal group.

The program will be open though Oct. 31. Apply online, or contact the Tri-County Office on Aging at 1-888-224-3030 option 5 to find out more information. Learn more about Senior Project Fresh here.