School-Based Health Center Funding Opportunity, April in Brief, National Women's Health Week, and more

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

May 5, 2022

National Public Service Recognition Week

President Biden shaking hands with HRSA Deputy Administrator Diana Espinosa

"National Public Service Recognition Week is an opportunity to thank all of you who work every day to improve the health and well-being of people across our nation." - HRSA Administrator Carole Johnson

Deputy Administrator Diana Espinosa at the Presidential Rank Awards Celebration

On Monday, HRSA Deputy Administrator Diana Espinosa, winner of the 2021 PRA Distinguished Executive Award, spoke at a White House virtual celebration featuring President Biden and U.S. Office of Personnel Management Director Kiran Ahuja. The event recognized the federal workforce for their unique contributions and exceptional leadership (PDF - 129 KB) on behalf of the American people.

"I know I never imagined that I, a first generation American and the first generation in my family to go to college, would be sharing the stage with President Biden." - Deputy Administrator Espinosa

Suma Nair a Finalist for the 2022 Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal

Suma Nair, Director of the Office of Quality Improvement for HRSA's Bureau of Primary Health Care

Suma Nair of HRSA's Bureau of Primary Health Care has been named a finalist for a 2022 Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal by the Partnership for Public Service. The prize recognizes excellence in the federal workforce. A nearly 20-year veteran of the agency, Nair is the Director of the BPHC Office of Quality Improvement. She was instrumental in launching an entirely new program that funneled thousands of test kits, masks, and vaccine doses to the nation's most remote, exposed and vulnerable populations during the pandemic.

Please Vote for Suma Nair for the People's Choice Service to America Medal from now until July​ 1.


HRSA Awards Nearly $25 Million to Expand Access to School-Based Health Services

clipart of a girl with a doctor

May 3 - Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), awarded nearly $25 million to improve and strengthen access to school-based health services in communities across the country. Awards will support local partnerships between schools and health centers to provide children and youth the comprehensive physical and mental health care they need.

“When students are healthy, they are able to learn, grow, and thrive,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. “Our nation’s youth have endured many challenges navigating the COVID-19 pandemic, and we are committed to ensuring they have the support they need. Today we’re investing in school-based health care to meet families where they are and make sure children have easy access to care – including mental health support.”

Read the release.


April in Brief: Working to Strengthen and Expand Health Care Access

a woman helping another woman who is pregnant

In April, we announced investments to:

  • Support community-based doulas;
  • Strengthen home visiting supports for parents, infants, and children;
  • Expand our investments in state responses to the maternal mortality crisis;
  • Launch the largest investment we’ve ever made in Community Health Worker training; and
  • Build new data tools to reduce health disparities through health centers.

We also distributed $1.75 billion in Provider Relief Fund payments, released a Request for Information on ways to strengthen and improve the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network, and launched a new Health Equity Fellowship Program.

Read the April Roundup.


Job Opportunities at HRSA

A photo of a hand holding a magnifying glass over the letter b in the word jobs

Are you a recent graduate looking for a job in the federal government? We are announcing multiple positions within the HRSA Scholars Program, the HRSA Health Equity Fellowship Program, and Recent Graduate opportunities.

All three opportunities are one-year developmental programs for early-career professionals. Participants will grow, train, and prepare for a potential career in the federal government. All participants will receive 40 hours of formal training, an individual development plan, and a mentor.

Learn more and apply on USAJobs.gov by Friday, May 6.


One Week to help us Strengthen and Improve the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network

clipart image of several human organs in cartoon form

On April 8, we released a Request for Information (RFI) seeking input on ways to strengthen and improve the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) through the upcoming Fiscal Year 2023 Request for Proposal.

As valued stakeholders, we want to make sure you have an opportunity to share your feedback before the RFI closes on Monday, May 9, 1 p.m. ET.

Get details.


Find Out What's Happening @HRSAGov

Carole Johnson, HRSA Administrator, visiting a school

Follow us on all our social media platforms to stay up-to-date on our latest program and public health information. Don't forget to share our content and tag us using @HRSAgov.

See our Twitter post about HRSA Administrator Carole Johnson visiting Quincy Jones Elementary School earlier this week to talk about our funding to support school-based health services.

Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | YouTube


HRSA Telehealth Learning Series: Telementoring & Training for the Health Workforce

clipart of a telehealth medical appointment

Join our upcoming webinar on telementoring and health workforce training on Monday, May 9, 3 p.m. ET. We will:

  • Highlight the Community Health Workers-Opioid Use Disorder Project ECHO Program.
  • Describe how Oklahoma Dementia Care Network is using Project ECHO to train nursing homes in age-friendly and dementia-friendly care.
  • Demonstrate the community-based tele-dentistry pilot at New York University College of Dentistry.

This webinar is part of HRSA’s Telehealth Learning Webinar Series. The series’ goal is to highlight successful projects, best practices, and resources to promote and further the use of telehealth technologies for health care delivery, education, and health information services. 

Register for the webinar.


National Telehealth Conference May 16-17

photo of a doctor on a telehealth call

Trying to navigate the role of telehealth? Join health care professionals, policymakers, and industry stakeholders from around the country at the National Telehealth Conference on May 16-17 for the latest information on balancing telehealth solutions and vital in-person services. Register today to learn how others are integrating telehealth into the standard of care.


National Women’s Health Week 2022

HRSA-SAMHSA Women's Mental Health Webinar in Observance of National Women's Health Week

photo of four women outside

In observance of National Women’s Health Week (NWHW), our Office of Women’s Health (OWH) and Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs Region 9 are joining with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to host a webinar on women’s mental health.

This webinar is part of OWH’s Women’s Health Leadership Series, which highlights emerging issues and innovative women’s health practices by and for HRSA-supported and other safety net settings of care. Join us on Thursday, May 19, 3-4 p.m. ET to hear about resources and opportunities around women’s mental health and learn about national policy and stakeholder engagement around maternal mental health care from HRSA-supported settings.

Register here or join the webinar on Thursday, May 19, 3 p.m. ET.

A Message from the Director of the HRSA Office of Women’s Health.

May 8-14th is National Women’s Health Week (NWHW), an annual week-long health observance, led by the HHS Office on Women’s Health. NWHW encourages and reminds women and girls to reflect on their individual health needs and take steps to improve their overall health. The theme for 2022 is Forward Focus: Achieving Healthier Futures Together.

Women face unique challenges related to a variety of health issues including cardiovascular disease, cancer, opioid use disorder, and intimate partner violence among others. Furthermore, women can face barriers to health care as lack of access to preventive and treatment services contribute to disparities in women’s health. I encourage all women to make a plan and take health promotion steps like continuing to protect yourself against COVID-19, scheduling a well woman visit, getting up to date on breast and cervical cancer screenings and other preventive services, getting and staying active, practicing self-care, and incorporating safe behaviors into your daily routine.

In observance of NWHW, the HRSA Office of Women’s Health (OWH) is collaborating with the HRSA Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs Region 9 and SAMHSA to host the HRSA-SAMHSA Women's Mental Health Webinar on Thursday, May 19, 3-4 p.m. ET. You can register for the webinar here.

To learn more, visit the HHS Office of Women’s Health for more information on this health observance and upcoming events across the Department.


States Continue Efforts to Strengthen Community Health Worker (CHW) Workforce

photo of 3 health care workers looking at a chart

As the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted workforce challenges and longstanding health inequities within the health care and public health systems, interest in developing the CHW workforce has intensified across the country. This Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) blog post outlines how investments in the CHW workforce can help meet the health and social needs of marginalized communities.

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


Bringing the Benefits of Telehealth to Rural and Underserved Patients

photo of a mom and child on a telehealth call with a doctor

Telehealth is frequently touted as a key strategy for improving access to care, but data often show disparities in its use for certain rural and underserved populations. A recent federal report (PDF - 870 KB) found that, despite a 63-fold increase in Medicare telehealth utilization during the pandemic, Black and rural enrollees were less likely to use the service compared with white and urban enrollees, respectively. Other studies found low-income patients were less likely than high-income earners to turn to telehealth.

This National Conference of State Legislatures article highlights why some rural and underserved patients continue to have disparities in use and access to telehealth services.

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


Stay Informed about Telehealth

photo of a doctor on a telehealth call on his laptop

Stay informed about the latest telehealth updates, best practices, funding opportunities, research, and more.

Sign up now for email announcements from our Office for the Advancement of Telehealth. 

image of a calendar

May

  • Hepatitis Awareness Month
  • Mental Health Awareness Month
  • Older Americans Month
  • Children's Mental Health Awareness Week (1-5)
  • National Nurses Week (6-12)
  • National Women's Health Week (8-14)
  • Hepatitis Testing Day (19)
  • National Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (19)

Funding Opportunities

 

Health Centers


FY 2022 American Rescue Plan Uniform Data System Patient-Level Submission Funding (ARP-UDS+) - Apply by May 23

Health Workforce


National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program - apply by May 5

Nurse Corps Scholarship Program - apply by May 19

National Health Service Corps New Site Application - apply by June 7

Public Health Scholarship Program - apply by June 1

Community Health Worker Training Program (CHWTP) - apply by June 14

HIV/AIDS Bureau


Increasing Uptake of Long-Acting Injectable Antiretrovirals Among People with HIV - apply by June 21

Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Part B States/Territories Supplemental Grant Program - apply by May 9

Maternal and Child Health


Early Childhood Developmental Health Systems: Evidence to Impact - apply by May 10

Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT) Center - apply by May 17

Transforming Pediatrics for Early Childhood (TPEC) - apply by May 23

Healthy Start Supplement: Community-Based Doulas - apply by May 31

State Maternal Health Innovation & Data Capacity Program - apply by June 13

Maternal and Child Health Services - apply by August 12

Rural Health


Rural Behavioral Health Workforce Centers – Northern Border Region - apply by June 10

Delta Region Rural Health Workforce Training Program - apply by June 17


View All Funding Opportunities