HRSA Expands Support for Pediatric Mental Health Care, Strengthens the Community and Public Health Workforce, and more

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October 6, 2022

September in Brief: Integrating Behavorial Health into Primary Care, Expanding Treatment for Substance Use Disorders in Rural Communities, Improving Access to Cancer Care, and Advancing the Health of Tribal Communities

group image with mobilize recovery bus

In September 2022, we took action to integrate behavioral health into primary care, address substance use disorder in rural communities, improve access to cancer screening services, and advance support for the health needs of tribal communities.

Read the release.


HRSA Invests Nearly $27 Million to Expand Support for Pediatric Mental Health Care

photo of seven children

Funding from President Biden’s Bipartisan Safer Communities Act and American Rescue Plan will help pediatricians meet children’s mental health needs, strengthen children’s mental health services in emergency departments and schools

October 3 - The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), is announcing awards of nearly $27 million to improve and expand mental health care for children. This funding will offer timely mental health support to children and adolescents by training pediatricians and other children’s health care providers in treating mental health conditions and by providing tele-consultation to bring mental health expert support directly to pediatric primary care providers. 

Read the release.


With New American Rescue Plan Funding, HRSA Expands and Strengthens the Community and Public Health Workforce

photo of four health care workers having a discussion

HHS invests $225.5 million in community health workers, $40.7 million in public health scholarships.

September 30 - The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), awarded more than $266 million in American Rescue Plan funding to grow the community and public health workforce.

Read the release.


HRSA Invests over $104 Million to Expand Substance Use Treatment and Prevention in Rural Communities to Combat the Overdose Epidemic

photo of a hospital sign on a rural road

September 23 - In support of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Overdose Prevention Strategy, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) announced investments of over $104 million to expand treatment and prevention services for substance use in rural communities nationwide as part of the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP), a multi-year initiative aimed at reducing the morbidity and mortality of rural Americans from substance use. Today’s funding also supports the President’s National Drug Control Strategy and delivers on his Unity Agenda priority of beating the overdose epidemic.

Read the release.


HHS Announces Health Resources and Services Administration-Funded Health Centers Partnering With National Cancer Institute-Designated Cancer Centers to Improve Equity in Cancer Screening

illustration health centers

September 23 - The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), awarded over $5 million to 11 HRSA-funded community health centers to facilitate access to life-saving cancer screenings and early detection services for underserved populations.  These first-of-their-kind partnerships are bringing health centers together with National Cancer Institute (NCI)-Designated Cancer Centers. Today’s announcement advances President Biden’s Cancer Moonshot goals, which aim to close the cancer screening gap, decrease the impact of preventable cancers, and support patients and caregivers.

Read the release


HRSA Awards $5 Million to Fund Health Workforce Research

physicians chatting

We recently awarded $5 million in funding to nine Health Workforce Research Centers (HWRCs) through our Bureau of Health Workforce’s National Center for Health Workforce Analysis (NCHWA) to perform research that helps decision-makers at the federal, state, and local levels understand health workforce needs. 

In collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), two of the nine centers have been awarded specifically to expand research into public health and behavioral health areas.

View the current Health Workforce Research Centers.


HRSA Makes $25 Million Available to Reduce Health Disparities in Maternal Health Care

mother and child

HRSA recently made available up to $25 million for HRSA-funded health centers to increase equitable access to maternal health care in underserved communities. Award recipients will develop and pilot innovative models of care delivery to improve health outcomes and address clinical and health-related social needs for patients at the highest risk of maternal morbidity and mortality. This funding will advance the Biden-Harris Administration’s Blueprint for Addressing the Maternal Health Crisis by ensuring better access to comprehensive, coordinated health care, regardless of a patient’s ability to pay. Read more in a bulletin published yesterday by HRSA’s Bureau of Primary Health Care.


HRSA National Survey of Children’s Health Dataset Released on Child Health Day 2022

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The health and well-being of our children will determine the future of our nation.  As we celebrated Child Health Day on Monday October 3, Dr. Reem Ghandour, Director of our Maternal and Child Health Bureau’s (MCHB) National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH), spoke with Lieutenant Commander Leticia Manning of our MCHB’s Division of Services for Children with Special Health Needs about this critical dataset, what’s new this year, how the dataset can be used to advance health equity work, and the new indicators currently being gathered.

View the message, access the data, and get the new data brief providing key findings.


MCHB Nutrition Training Program included in the White House’s National Strategy

kids eating healthy food

The Biden-Harris Administration released their National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health in parallel with the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health on Wednesday, September 28.

The strategy calls out actions the federal government will take to drive solutions to end hunger, improve nutrition and physical activity, and decrease diet-related chronic disease disparities. MCHB's Maternal and Child (MCH) Nutrition Training Program is included in the National Strategy under Pillar 2 to strengthen and diversify the nutrition workforce.

The MCH Nutrition Training Program provides training for future and current MCH nutrition professionals, supporting graduate, and post-graduate training as well as continuing education and technical assistance to state Title V and other MCH programs.

Over the next 5 years, the program will train over 4,500 future nutrition professionals and over 30,000 practicing professionals on key topics such as pediatric obesity prevention, household food security, and nutrition during pregnancy. In 2023, partnerships with Minority-Serving Institutions and Historically Black Colleges and Universities will also begin to recruit and train more students from underrepresented populations.


Announcing Phase 1 Winners of HRSA’s Building Bridges to Better Health: A Primary Health Care Challenge

building bridges to better health logo

We are excited to announce the Phase 1 winners of the Building Bridges to Better Health: A Primary Health Care Challenge.

Twenty-seven winners spanning 19 states received a total of $300,000 and will have until early March 2023 to develop and test their proposed solutions during the second round of the contest.

Read more about the winners and their innovative proposals which included workforce development strategies, community and youth engagement, and technology-based solutions on Challenge.gov.


Health Professional Students’ Loan Repayment Application Open Now

nhsc graphic with graduation cap

Our 2023 National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Students to Service (S2S) Loan Repayment Program (LRP) application cycle is open.

Final-year students studying to become a physician assistant (PA), nurse practitioner (NP), certified nurse midwife (CNM), medical doctor (MD/DO) or dentist (DDS/DMD) can apply for awards of up to $120,000 in exchange for a three-year commitment providing primary care services at NHSC-approved sites in high-need underserved areas. 

The NHSC S2S LRP application cycle closes at 7:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, December 1.


Domestic Violence Awareness Month

domestic violence awareness graphic

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM). Domestic violence can have lasting impacts on an individual’s long-term health including depression, increased substance use, and decreased access to health care services.

According to a survey of contacts with the National Domestic Violence Hotline, 53% of respondents reported that an abusive partner had also controlled and/or restricted access to healthcare. Many more people experiencing domestic violence do not feel safe asking, or do not know who to contact, for help.

Help is available from the National Domestic Violence Hotline and 1.800.799.7233. Learn more about our intimate partner violence work and efforts to address violence at the community level.


Border Health and the COVID-19 Pandemic

photo of a woman on her laptop

Join our Office of Global Health in collaboration with our Border Health Workgroup for a webinar on Wednesday, October 26, 11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. ET

The webinar, Border Health and the COVID-19 Pandemic: Lessons Learned to Improve Health Outcomes and Achieve Health Equity, will discuss firsthand the importance of improved health care outcomes in the border region and emphasize the importance of a skilled and diverse workforce. 


Special Maternal and Child Health Journal Issue Released

group of people preparing meal

The Maternal and Child Health Journal, in collaboration with MCHB and the National MCH Workforce Development Center, released a special issue in September 2022.

This special issue highlights original research, commentaries, innovations, and policy and program evaluations for state public health agencies, academic institutions, and community-based organizations.

It includes articles about undergraduate career pathways and graduate training as well as advancing equity and building capacity in the current workforce.

Use these 25 open-access publications to advance workforce development for current and future MCH professionals.


New ASTHO Report on Hiring Practices That Support State Integration of Community Health Workers

Hiring Practices That Support State Integration of Community Health Workers report cover

Community Health Workers (CHWs) are defined by the APHA  as frontline public health workers who are trusted members of and/or have an unusually close understanding of the community served.

This trusting relationship enables CHWs to serve as a liaison or community link between health care and social services and the community to increase access to services, improve the quality and cultural competency of the delivered services, and increase health outcomes within the community served.

In addition to this formal definition, CHWs are also classified as health professionals under the Affordable Care Act and have a separate Standard Occupational Classification from the U.S. Department of Labor.

Read about hiring practices that support state integration in ASTHO’s report.

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


Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality is Asking for Your Input

physician drawing on transparent whiteboard

On Friday, September 16, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) published a Request for Information (RFI) in the Federal Register seeking public comment on the current state of comprehensive, longitudinal, person-centered care planning for people at risk for or living with multiple chronic conditions (MCC) across settings of care (e.g., health systems, primary care, home, and other ambulatory practices), including innovative models and promising solutions.

We encourage you to review the RFI, share with others in your network, and submit comments by Tuesday, November 15. Please contact Poonam Pardasaney with any questions.


Seeking Nominations for Advisory Commission on Childhood Vaccines Members

staff meeting

We are seeking nominations for members to serve on the Advisory Commission on Childhood Vaccines (ACCV). The HHS Secretary appoints nine voting members, consisting of three health professionals, three attorneys, and three members of the general public.

Read the Federal Register Notice and ACCV Frequently Asked Questions for more information and instructions to submit a nomination.

Contact Pita Gomez, Principal Staff Liaison, with any questions.


image of a calendar

October

  • Bullying Prevention Month 
  • National Breast Cancer Awareness Month 
  • National Domestic Violence Awareness Month 
  • National Hispanic Heritage Month (Sep. 15 - Oct. 15) 
  • Child Health Day (3) 

Funding Opportunities

 

Health Workforce


Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education (THCGME) Program apply by October 18

Geriatrics Academic Career Awards - apply by November 3

Preventive Medicine Residency -apply by November 21

Health Centers


Service Area Competition (HRSA-23-022) - apply by October 11

National Training and Technical Assistance Partners (NTTAP) - apply by October 14

Service Area Competition (HRSA-23-023) - apply by November 14

Quality Improvement Fund – Maternal Health - apply by December 5

Federal Office of Rural Health Policy


Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program Evaluation Cooperative Agreement - apply by October 31

Small Rural Hospital Improvement Program (SHIP) - apply by November 8

Rural Health Network Development Program - apply by November 22

HIV/AIDS Bureau


AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) Emergency Relief Funds (ERF) - apply by October 11

Maternal and Child Health


Healthy Tomorrows Partnership for Children Program (HTPCP) - apply by October 12

Emergency Medical Services for Children State Partnership - apply by November 7

National Maternal and Child Health Data Resource Center - apply by November 16

Infant, Child, and Adolescent Preventive Services (ICAPS) Program with Additional Funding for Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Activities -  apply by December 14

Family Engagement and Leadership in Systems of Care - apply by January 3


View All Funding Opportunities