Appropriations Requests for : MiSide

1. Cosponsoring legislators:

No Cosponsors

Recipient Information

2. Intended legislatively directed spending item recipient:

MiSide

3. Physical address of legislatively directed spending item recipient and the intended location of the project or activity:

5716 Michigan Ave, Suite 3000, Detroit, MI 48210 Funding will support location at 24424 W. McNichols Road, Detroit, MI 48219

4. The recipient's employer identification number:

382672000

Funding Details

5. Requested amount of the legislatively directed spending item:

$1,200,000.00

6. What is the purpose and how does the legislatively directed spending item provide a public benefit that is an appropriate use of taxpayer money?

MiSide seeks a State of Michigan appropriation in the amount of $1,200,000 to support critical capital infrastructure improvements and interior renovations at their primary service location in northwest Detroit. This investment is needed to preserve and modernize a high-volume community facility that serves nearly 3,000 clients annually and to ensure that this essential access point for behavioral health and economic stability services remains safe, modern, and welcoming. MiSide West, located at 24424 W. McNichols Road, Detroit, MI 48219 is the only Behavioral Health Urgent Care site serving northwest Detroit, a densely populated area with significant behavioral health and economic need. For many residents, this facility is the first and only point of access for crisis stabilization, outpatient therapy, substance use treatment, and family-centered supports. Without this site, individuals and families would face substantial barriers to care, including transportation challenges and long wait times elsewhere, often resulting in avoidable emergency room visits, law enforcement involvement, or untreated behavioral health conditions. Its location along West McNichols Road backs directly into residential neighborhoods placing services within walking distance for many families in a community that has experienced long-standing disinvestment. Protecting and upgrading this facility ensures that northwest Detroit does not lose its only behavioral health urgent care access point. As a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC), MiSide is leading the implementation of the Two-Generation (2Gen) approach to family well-being, a model that simultaneously addresses the needs of children and their caregivers to break intergenerational cycles of poverty and trauma. The 2Gen framework is both transformative and practical. Operational processes are being modified at every level, revising intake processes to reduce access barriers, redesigning program materials to better engage clients such as fathers and male caregivers, and incorporating meaningful family voice into the way MiSide engages with the community. To fully realize this model, MiSide’s physical space must align with clinical and generational programming commitments. The current building is a two-story, 23,800-square-foot structure constructed in the 1960s. It has been heavily utilized for decades and now requires comprehensive reinvestment. The facility operates with 13 roof-mounted HVAC units. While two units were replaced in 2018, the remaining 11 are between 19 and 23 years old and at or beyond their expected service life. Failure of these systems would significantly disrupt care for thousands of residents. In addition, the original electrical system distributes power through outdated subpanels and requires modernization to ensure safety, reliability, and compliance with current codes and technology demands. These infrastructure needs are directly connected to the interior improvements we are proposing. A modernized HVAC and electrical system is foundational to creating a safe, trauma-informed, and energy-efficient environment. As we invest in replacing aging mechanical systems and upgrading electrical capacity, it is both fiscally responsible and operationally strategic to redesign the building’s entry, foyer, and intake areas at the same time. Addressing these needs together reduces long-term costs, minimizes service disruption, and ensures that all improvements are integrated into a cohesive modernization plan rather than piecemeal repairs. The first floor of the building houses an American Jobs Center, reflecting MiSide’s commitment to integrating economic mobility with behavioral health services under one roof. This co-location embodies the core principle of the 2Gen approach as families achieve stability when health and employment supports are accessible together. However, the integration of workforce and behavioral health services also makes intentional design critical. Behavioral health clients, particularly individuals in crisis, require a clearly defined, secure, and welcoming entrance that ensures privacy, dignity, and appropriate client flow. A redesigned entry will provide improved confidentiality, enhanced safety measures, and child-friendly spaces that better accommodate the growing number of families and children seeking services. It will also allow for appropriate separation between those seeking economic stability and those with clinical services needs while preserving opportunities that exist through co-located supports. Currently, the intake and waiting areas were not designed with children or trauma-informed care in mind. Renovations will create designated intake areas for families, improve supervision and safety for children, and provide spatial configurations that promote comfort and dignity. These enhancements are not cosmetic; they are essential to delivering care consistent with CCBHC standards and MiSide’s commitment to the 2Gen model. This $1.2 million appropriation represents a prudent and high-impact investment. As a Michigan taxpayer, it preserves and modernizes a critical community asset, enhances the human services field emphasizing whole family and intergenerational supports in behavioral health and economic stability, and supports the long-term sustainability of a significant southeast Michigan nonprofit that has served the community for over 50 years.

7. Has the legislatively directed spending item previously received or been awarded any of the following types of funding in the past 5 years?

No previous funding received

8. Estimated time frame for completion of the legislatively directed spending item project:

18-24 Months

Additional Information For Nonprofit Corporations

9. Is the recipient a nonprofit corporation?

Yes

4. Officers and active members on the board of directors:

Cheryl Munday, Elizabeth Brock, Kevin Outland, Laura Tomassi-Miller, Sharon Smith, Aleks Miziolek, Al Fields, Doris Patrick, Joe Tasse, Stephanie Miller, Mark Lezotte, Ron Rose, Angela Baldwin, Nicholas DuBose, Phillip Fisher, Chris Uhl, Adam Hollier, John Edwards, Avec O’Brien, Vanessa Johnson, Laura Appel, Daicia Price, Stephen Vivitsky

Certification By Sponsoring Legislator

• "I certify that my immediate family members, legislative staff members, and I have no direct or indirect pecuniary interest in the requested legislatively directed spending item."
• "I certify that the intended recipient of this legislatively directed spending item is not a for-profit entity."
• "I certify that the information in this form is true to the best of my knowledge."

Senator Mary Cavanagh