HRSA and White House Test to Treat Webinar, Special Town Hall on COVID-19 vaccine for young children, and more

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

June 2, 2022

TODAY: HRSA and White House Test to Treat Webinar

Carole Johnson and Dr. Ashish Jha

We invite you to join us for a discussion on the role of HRSA and HRSA-supported organizations in reducing COVID-19’s impact on communities nationwide. It includes the opportunity to hear directly from the White House on the importance of the Test to Treat strategy to mitigate the impact of COVID-19.

The session will feature HRSA Administrator Carole Johnson, White House COVID-19 Coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha, and Chief Medical Advisor for the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response Dr. Meg Sullivan. We’ll also have a panel with HRSA-supported health centers, rural health clinics, and participants from HRSA’s Community Based-Workforce for COVID-19 Outreach program. Panelists will share their best practices on community outreach, education, testing, and treatment.

Join us on Zoom Thursday, June 2, 2-3 p.m. ET
You can also join by phone: (833) 568-8864
Webinar ID: 161 896 3980


HHS Issues Recommendations to Improve Care for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs

group photo of kids

An updated national framework recommends systemic improvements in access, equity, quality of life, and finances for nearly 1 in 5 children in the U.S.

June 1 - The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), released The Blueprint for Change: A National Framework for a System of Services for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs exit disclaimer icon through a special supplement in the journal, Pediatrics. The Blueprint for Change is a national framework to improve care for the nearly 1 in 5 children in the U.S. who currently has a special health care need.

Read the release.


May in Brief: HRSA Increases Equitable Access to Health Care

Photo of a doctor and a nurse with a patient

In May, we awarded nearly $25 million to improve and strengthen access to school-based health services, launched a maternal mental health hotline, announced the availability of $5 million to advance equity in cancer screening at health centers, urged states to strengthen support for children’s mental health, and hosted a national telehealth conference.

Additionally, key HRSA leaders were recognized for their service to the nation. HRSA Deputy Administrator Diana Espinosa, winner of the 2021 Distinguished Executive Award, spoke at a White House celebration, and Suma Nair was named a Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals Award finalist.

Read the May roundup.


HHS Leaders Urge States to Maximize Efforts to Support Children’s Mental Health

Building on Secretary Becerra’s National Tour to Strengthen Mental Health, HRSA, CMS, SAMHSA, CDC, ACF, and ACL commit to working with states, tribes, and jurisdictions to best leverage federal resources.

National Tour to Strengthen Mental Health map graphic

May 25 - Agencies across the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a joint letter to states, tribes, and jurisdictions encouraging them to prioritize and maximize their efforts to strengthen children’s mental health and well-being. The letter, signed by leaders of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), and the Administration for Community Living (ACL), outlines HHS’ plans to support and facilitate state-level coordination across federal funding streams to advance and expand mental health services for children.

Read the press release and the Joint letter from HRSA, CMS, SAMHSA, CDC, ACF, and ACL leadership

Health and Human Services Leaders on Strengthening Children’s Mental Health

On Wednesday, May 25, as part of the National Tour to Strengthen Mental Health, HRSA Administrator Carole Johnson joined other HHS leaders to host a roundtable discussion to support President Biden’s whole-of-government strategy and take up the Secretary’s charge to strengthen mental health. Watch the remarks from HHS leaders.


Pediatric Behavioral Health Webinar

photo of four children

Join our upcoming webinar on enhancing access to pediatric behavioral health on Tuesday, June 7 at noon ET. The webinar will highlight strategies to enhance access to pediatric behavioral health services by building frontline provider competency and provider training supports, especially in rural and medically underserved areas. The webinar is hosted by HRSA’s Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs in collaboration with the Northeast Telehealth Resource Center.

Register for the webinar.


Building a Village: Community Linkages for COVID-19 Vaccines and Beyond

Health Centered on COVID-19 Pediatric Vaccines graphic

Next month, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will consider issuing an Emergency Use Authorization for a COVID-19 vaccine for young children. Please join us for a special town hall event on Thursday, June 9, 3-4:30 p.m. ET

The event will identify partnership opportunities and provide a more comprehensive system of services and care for childhood COVID-19 vaccines and beyond. The event will feature panelists from the CDC, our Maternal and Child Health Bureau, our Bureau of Primary Health Care, and our Health Systems Bureau.


Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Loan Repayment Program Open

group of people sitting in circle

We recognize the importance of all members of integrated substance use disorder (SUD) treatment teams.

Our Bureau of Health Workforce’s SUD Treatment and Recovery Loan Repayment Program (STAR LRP) expands access to SUD treatment by extending loan repayment opportunities to providers such as bachelor’s-level SUD counselors, behavioral health paraprofessionals, and clinical support staff.

The STAR LRP provides up to $250,000 to eligible health professionals in exchange for a six-year, full-time service commitment.

Find out if you’re eligible and apply by 7:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, July 7.


New Rural Health Workforce Report Released

rural health workforce report cover

Our Council on Graduate Medical Education (COGME) recently published “Strengthening the Rural Health Workforce to Improve Health Outcomes in Rural Communities” to address the crisis in access to care for rural populations and develop a health professional education system that increases rural health workforce capacity.

In the report, COGME developed a series of three issue briefs on the rural health workforce, each with its own set of recommendations. They include recommendations to increase rural health workforce training and improve access to health care through evidence-based, patient- and community-centered health workforce investments spanning education, training, and practice.


Celebrate National Health Service Corps 50th Anniversary

national health service corps anniversary graphic

We’ve been busy with the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) anniversary activities! Dozens of NHSC members, alumni, sites, and supporters have shared their stories, images, and congratulatory messages. Now it's your turn!

Our anniversary webpages have new content for you to explore:

  • NHSC anniversary messages from HRSA Administrator Carole Johnson, HRSA BHW’s Associate Administrator, and NHSC alumnus Dr. Luis Padilla
  • Info on how you can join in showing your support, or celebrating your own service or support for the NHSC using #NHSC50 on our social media platforms!
  • Ways you can share NHSC stories, images, and videos.

Don’t miss this opportunity to join in celebrating 50 years of NHSC commitment, compassion, and community!


As Opioid Overdoses Surge, States Expand Treatment

graph of opioid overdoses

More than 100,000 Americans died from a drug overdose in the 12 months starting April 2020, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It marked the first year on record that overdose deaths exceeded 100,000, pushing the total since 1999 to 841,000.

The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) published a blog that provides examples of how states are expanding access to SUD treatment to prevent further drug overdose deaths.

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


How Medicaid Programs Serve Children and Youth in Foster Care

state medicaid delivery programs serving children and youth map

State Medicaid programs vary in their approaches to serving children and youth in foster care (CYFC), with states increasingly implementing specialized health care delivery models and enhanced services.

The National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP) developed two maps, an issue brief, and an accompanying chart to highlight key characteristics of states’ Medicaid programs serving CYFC.

HRSA’s National Organizations of State and Local Officials Cooperative Agreement provided support for these NASHP resources.


National Telehealth Conference Is Ready for Viewing

national telehealth conference graphic

Miss last month’s National Telehealth Conference? No problem! Learn how virtual care is shaping the future of health care—and how others are successfully integrating telehealth into the standard of care. 

Watch our video Telehealth and the Underserved.


image of a calendar

June

  • Men's Health Month 
  • Men's Health Week (13-19) 
  • National HIV Testing Day (27)

Funding Opportunities

 

Health Centers


Fiscal Year 2022 Accelerating Cancer Screening - apply by June 15

Service Area Competition (HRSA-23-018) - apply by July 5

Service Area Competition (HRSA-23-019) - apply by July 18

Health Workforce


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

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

Faculty Loan Repayment Program - apply by June 30

HIV/AIDS Bureau


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

Maternal and Child Health


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

Maternal and Child Health Services - apply by August 12

State Systems Development Initiative - apply by August 24

Rural Health


Rural Public Health Workforce Training Network Technical Assistance Program - June 8

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

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

Rural Northern Border Region Healthcare Support Program - July 1


View All Funding Opportunities