Findings Show Number of Children Diagnosed with Anxiety or Depression Grew by Nearly 30%,
Underscoring Importance of Administrations Efforts to Strengthen Mental Health.

March 14 - A new U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) study published in the American Medical Associations journalJAMA Pediatricsreports significant increases in the number of children diagnosed with mental health conditions. The study, conducted by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), finds that between 2016 and 2020, the number of children ages 3-17 years diagnosed with anxiety grew by 29 percent and those with depression by 27 percent. The findings also suggest concerning changes in child and family well-being after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Read the press release.

With the American Rescue Plan funding, HRSA has led efforts to:

• Provide access to COVID-19 testing, treatment, and vaccine administration to underserved populations across the country
• Support health centers on the front lines
• Strengthen and expand support for families and children, from essential supplies such as diapers, wipes and hand sanitizers to integrating mental health services into pediatric care
• Expand and support the health care workforce

Read the HRSA American Rescue Plan fact sheet.

On March 10, we recognized National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NWGHAAD) an opportunity to raise awareness about the impact of HIV on women and girls, and encourage discussions about HIV prevention, testing, care, and treatment.

The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) is committed to helping women diagnosed with HIV get the care, treatment, medication, and support services they need.

In 2020, 89.4% of women receiving RWHAP HIV medical care were virally suppressed. Viral suppression among women in the RWHAP has increased significantly over the last 10 yearsin 2010, 66.3% of women receiving RWHAP medical care were virally suppressed.

Our HIV/AIDS Bureau recognizes that more work still needs to be done, especially to support Black women and transgender women with HIV. However, we are proud of this progress, which we could not achieve without the dedication of RWHAP recipients, subrecipients, and stakeholders.

Access interventions and technical assistance tools.

Please join us for our next HAB You Heard webinar on Tuesday, March 22, 2-3 p.m. ET. For the March monthly update from our HIV/AIDS Bureau, we will be joined by a special guest our new Administrator, Carole Johnson.

The webinar will include important updates about the 2022 National Ryan White Conference, highlight the third anniversary of the Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. initiative, and highlight progress and innovation in HIV care and treatment as we enter year three of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This webinar is open to all Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program recipients, subrecipients, stakeholders, and federal staff.

Register.

The Provider Relief Fund (PRF) Reporting Portal will close on Thursday, March 31 for Reporting Period 2. Providers who received one or more PRF payments exceeding $10,000, in the aggregate, during the second Payment Received Period must report on their use of funds no later than Thursday, March 31. To get started, they must register in the Portal (if not yet completed). More information and resources can be found on the PRF Reporting webpage.

Technical Assistance Session: Tuesday, March 22, 3 p.m. ET. Register.

Join our Bureau of Health Workforces (BHW) first ever virtual all grantee and stakeholder meeting April 5-6, noon-4:45 pm ET. The meeting brings together HRSA health workforce grant recipients, stakeholders, and federal staff to collaborate and discuss ways we can work together to effectively implement health workforce priorities and use innovative approaches to address community health needs.

Register.

Our 2022 Scholarship Program application cycle is open through Thursday, May 5, to eligible medical, dental, nursing, and physician assistant students. With additional funds available, the program expects to award a significant number of scholars in 2022.

Medical, dental, and nursing students interested in practicing in high-need communities are eligible to receive payment for tuition, fees, and other educational costs, as well as a stipend for living costs. After completion of their health professions program and any approved postgraduate training, providers serve at least two years at NHSC-approved sites in underserved rural, urban, and tribal communities.

Funding is available for up to four years.

Due Date: Thursday, May 5, 7:30 p.m. ET.

Eligible health care facilities can now apply for approval as a National Health Service Corps (NHSC) site. NHSC-approved sites with an inactive status may also apply to recertify their approved status during the open cycle. Eligibility includes health care sites that provide outpatient, ambulatory, and primary health care services (medical, dental, and behavioral health) to populations residing in high-need urban, tribal, and rural areas. Additional, eligible site types include facilities providing general substance use disorder (SUD) treatment, a medication-assisted treatment (MAT) program, or an opioid treatment program (OTP).

Due Date: Tuesday,May 10, 11:59 p.m. ET.

Our HIV/AIDS Bureau (HAB) is excited to share the 2022 National Ryan White Conference on HIV Care & Treatment (NRWC) is going virtual!

Due to the constantly evolving COVID-19 pandemic, HAB has decided to transition from a hybrid model format and will host the 2022 NRWC virtually.

The conference dates will remain August 23-26, 2022. The health, well-being, and safety of all of our attendees is the top priority for our leadership. The virtual format will allow for unlimited conference registration.

This means all Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program recipients, subrecipients, providers, stakeholders, federal partners and staff, planning council members, and people with HIV will have an opportunity to participate. Conference registration will open in late March.

Learn more about the 2022 National Ryan White Conference.