Detroit health director presents $60.4 million FY27 budget; highlights Rx Kids, Rides to Care and $10.8M violence prevention line

The Detroit Health Department told the City Council on Tuesday that its fiscal 2027 budget request totals $60,400,000 and centers on maternal and child health, chronic disease prevention and expanded behavioral-health access.

“what you see here is a total budget of $60,400,000,” Chief Public Health Officer Ali Abazeed said as he outlined the department’s funding sources and staffing levels. He said about 42 percent of the request — approximately $26,000,000 — comes from the city’s general fund; state block grants account for roughly $20,000,000 and federal grants about $14,150,000. The department listed roughly 300 full‑time equivalent positions, with about $26,500,000 budgeted for staffing and $34,000,000 for non‑staff costs.

The administration also highlighted several programmatic priorities. Abazeed described a mayoral “health and all policies” approach that seeks to integrate health considerations into housing, transportation and economic development decisions. The request includes a one‑time $10,800,000 Community Violence Intervention Program line — the single largest one‑time item in the department’s request — and a $33,000 conversion to secure an ongoing rights‑to‑care position that supports the Rides to Care transportation program.

Deputy Director Christina Floyd described the department’s service infrastructure and performance numbers, including seven neighborhood wellness centers, a Samaritan Center satellite and the main administrative office. Floyd said Rides to Care, launched in November 2024, has grown from roughly 500 rides per month early on to about 1,900 rides per month by December 2025 and that the program had administered more than 25,000 rides to date.

On infectious‑disease prevention, Floyd said the department and its subrecipients distributed about 90,000 condoms citywide and had provided more than 20,000 Narcan kits; she also cited an 87 percent viral‑load suppression rate among clients in care for HIV services. The department said it manages roughly 20 subrecipient contracts for HIV/STI work and partners with Wayne County disease‑surveillance teams for hotspot analysis and outreach.

Councilmembers used the hearing to press staff on neighborhood access and program reach. Councilmember Calloway and others urged stronger communications and more visible lead‑prevention outreach; staff said they recently onboarded three additional lead advocates with state funding and plan stepped‑up field outreach and communications. Councilmember members also pressed Abazeed on how the department will expand behavioral‑health access at recreation centers; Abazeed and Floyd said the department is pursuing partners and mobile services while developing longer‑term plans for on‑site capacity.

Several councilmembers and staff emphasized connecting health services with poverty‑reduction strategies. Dr. Luke Schaefer, who the department yielded to on research and Rx Kids evaluation, said the city and philanthropic funding currently secures three years of Rx Kids payments (described in testimony as a $1,500 prenatal payment and $500 per month for six months for enrolled families) and said the program will be evaluated for health and economic impacts. Schaefer cited evidence from other places suggesting reductions in low birth weight and NICU admissions when similar cash‑transfer models are paired with wraparound services.

At the end of the presentation, councilmembers and department staff agreed to follow up on several items — neighborhood distribution of services, transportation barriers, and evaluation plans for Rx Kids and other pilots. Abazeed told the council the department will continue to pursue state and federal grants to sustain programming and is developing contingency plans for potential grant reductions.

The council took several procedural steps from the dais: members voted by voice to place specific topics into executive session for further discussion (including plans for mental and behavioral health services at rec centers, childhood lead prevention and a COVID impacts study). Several closing resolutions and motions were also introduced; those actions were handled by unanimous voice consent during the hearing.

The council will continue budget hearings and will hold a public hearing on the budget on March 30 at 5 p.m., the president announced.