HRSA's Espinosa Receives Presidential Honor, American Rescue Plan Award to Expand Home Visiting Assistance for Families, and more

A Newsletter from the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA)

 December 16, 2021

Acting Administrator Diana Espinosa Receives Presidential Honor

diana espinosa

Acting HRSA Administrator and Miami native Diana Espinosa has been recognized by the White House for her extraordinary leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic -  and consistently high performance during a 30-year government career.

December 16 - For her exceptional leadership of the agency during the nation's worst public health crisis in a century, HRSA Acting Administrator Diana Espinosa last week received the Presidential Distinguished Executive Award.

The rank is received by no more than one percent of all senior federal leaders for “exceptional performance over an extended period of time," according to the Office of Personnel Management.

Read about Diana Espinosa's recognition.


HHS Is Releasing $9 Billion in Provider Relief Fund Payments to Support Health Care Providers Affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic

photo of several patients in a waiting room with a health care worker

December 14 - The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), announced the distribution of approximately $9 billion in Provider Relief Fund (PRF) Phase 4 payments to health care providers who have experienced revenue losses and expenses related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The average payment being announced today for small providers is $58,000, for medium providers is $289,000, and for large providers is $1.7 million. More than 69,000 providers in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and eight territories will receive Phase 4 payments. Payments will start to be made later this week.

Read the press release.


HHS Awards $82 Million in American Rescue Plan Funding to Expand Home Visiting Assistance for Families Affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic

visiting nurse checking in on mother and son

December 8 – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), today awarded approximately $82 million in American Rescue Plan (ARP) emergency home visiting funds to 56 states, jurisdictions, and nonprofit organizations to support children and families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This funding builds upon an initial investment of $40 million in ARP funds in May. The Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Program supports the delivery of high quality, voluntary, evidence-based home visiting services to children and families living in communities at risk for poor maternal and child health outcomes.

Read the press release.


New 2020 Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Annual Client-Level Data Report is Now Available

graphic card on 2020 Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Annual Client-Level Data Report

Our HIV/AIDS Bureau (HAB) has released the 2020 Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Annual Client-Level Data Report.

The report highlights that in 2020, 89.4% of Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) clients receiving HIV medical care were virally suppressed, which is an increase from 69.5% in 2010. The report features newly-available, national client-level RWHAP Services Report (RSR) data on all clients served by the RWHAP during calendar years 2016 through 2020. 

The publication provides an in-depth look at demographic and socioeconomic factors among clients served including:

  • Age
  • Race/ethnicity
  • Transmission category
  • Federal poverty level
  • Health care coverage
  • Housing status

In addition, retention in care and viral suppression data are presented for the overall RWHAP client population receiving medical care, as well as among key priority populations served by the RWHAP.

Access the new data report.


HIV/AIDS Bureau Ending the HIV Epidemic Data Report 2020 Available

2020 Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. Initiative (EHE) Data Report cover

December 15 - Our HIV/AIDS Bureau (HAB) announced the release of its inaugural 2020 Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. Initiative (EHE) Data Report.

HAB plays a critical role in the EHE initiative through the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP), which provides a comprehensive system of HIV care, support services, and medication delivery.

The publication features national-level aggregate data submitted to the EHE Triannual Module data system by HAB EHE recipients and subrecipients during the 2020 calendar year.

Access the report.


Surgeon General’s Advisory on Protecting Youth Mental Health

children collage

In a new Surgeon General’s Advisory (PDF), U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy is calling for immediate action to address the nation’s youth mental health crisis. 

Our country has long struggled to address the profound mental health challenges and illnesses that children, adolescents, and young adults face. As we work as a nation to rebuild from the pandemic, focusing on youth mental health now is critical.

No child should feel like they have to go through a battle alone. Students and families should feel supported, confident, and empowered. Everyone has a role to play in protecting and promoting the mental health of our nation’s youth

The Surgeon General’s Advisory on Protecting Youth Mental Health lays out a series of recommendation that individuals, families, community organizations, social media companies, governments, and others can take to improve mental health for children and young adults. 

Read the press release.


COVID-19 Vaccines for Children

child getting vaccine

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, governors have been on the front lines, creating and executing policies to strengthen the nation’s COVID-19 response. The report by the National Governors Association includes considerations for Governors and state officials as they continue their COVID-19 pediatric vaccine rollout.

The considerations are broken out into common themes, including centering all aspects of COVID-19 vaccine response around equity; building COVID-19 vaccine confidence through partnerships and a focus on facts; leveraging existing vaccination infrastructure to meet children where they are; and establishing systems to increase capacity for storage and administration. Additionally, the report highlights state and local examples and links to a myriad of resources state officials can use to bolster their immunization programs.

HRSA’s National Organizations of State and Local Officials Cooperative Agreement provided support for this resource.


image of a calendar

December

  • World AIDS Day (1) 
  • National Influenza Vaccination Week (5-11) 

Funding Opportunities

 

Health Centers


Fiscal Year 2022 Health Center Controlled Networks - apply by February 1

Service Area Competition (HRSA-22-008) - apply by February 7

Service Area Competition-Additional Areas: Lexington, KY and Worcester, MA (HRSA-22-125) - apply by February 7

Health Workforce


Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program - apply by January 13

Nurse Faculty Loan Program (NFLP) - apply by January 13

Regional Public Health Training Centers (PHTC) Program - apply by January 24

Centers of Excellence (COE) - apply by January 31

Grants to States to Support Oral Health Workforce Activities - apply by January 31

National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Programs – apply by February 3

Predoctoral Training in General, Pediatric, and Public Health Dentistry and Dental Hygiene - apply by February 7

Dental Clinician Educator Career Development Program - apply by February 14

State Loan Repayment Program (SLRP) - apply by April 8

HIV/AIDS Bureau


Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) Access, Care, and Engagement Technical Assistance Center (ACE TA Center) - apply by January 21

Emerging Strategies to Improve Health Outcomes for People Aging with HIV: Capacity-Building Provider - apply by January 25

Emerging Strategies to Improve Health Outcomes for People Aging with HIV: Evaluation Provider - apply by January 25 

Emerging Strategies to Improve Health Outcomes for People Aging with HIV: Demonstration Sites - apply by January 25

Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Part D Coordinated HIV Services and Access to Research for Women, Infants, Children, and Youth (WICY) Existing Geographic Service Areas - apply by January 28

Integrating the National HIV Curriculum e-Learning Platform into Health Care Professions Programs - apply by February 7

National HIV Curriculum e-Learning Platform: Enhancements and Operations - apply by February 7

Supporting Replication (SURE) of Housing Interventions in the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program – Evaluation Provider - apply by February 23

Supporting Replication (SURE) of Housing Interventions in the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program – Implementation and Technical Assistance Provider - apply by February 23

Maternal and Child Health


Family-to-Family Health Information Centers - apply by January 5

Emergency Medical Services for Children Data Center - apply by January 18

Regional Hemophilia Network - apply by January 24

National Hemophilia Program Coordinating Center - apply by January 24

Maternal and Child Health Secondary Data Analysis Research (MCH SDAR) - apply by January 26

Leadership Education in Adolescent Health (LEAH) Program - apply by February 1

Sudden Unexpected Infant Death Prevention - apply by February 3

National Fetal, Infant, and Child Death Review Center - apply by February 16

Home Visiting Research and Development Platform - apply by February 22

Enhancing Systems of Care for Children with Medical Complexity (Coordinating Center) - apply by March 7

Federal Office of Rural Health Policy


Rural Residency Planning and Development Program - apply by December 21

Rural Communities Opioid Response Program-Implementation - apply by January 13

Delta Region Rural Health Workforce Training Program - apply by January 25

Rural Health Network Development Planning Program - apply by January 28

Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program- Emergency Medical Services Competing Supplement - apply by March 4

Rural Communities Opioid Response Program-Behavioral Health Care Technical Assistance - apply by March 9


View All Funding Opportunities