October in Brief: Growing and Strengthening the Nursing Workforce, Expanding Support for Childrens Mental Health Care, Reducing Health Disparities in Maternal Health Care, Releasing the National Survey of Childrens Health, and more

In October 2022, HRSA took action to bolster nursing education and training, improve and expand mental health care for kids, increase access to maternal health care, and enhance understanding of childrens health needs.

Recent HRSA Highlights

Administrator Johnson, Senators Murphy and Blumenthal, and Congresswoman Hayes Visit Wheeler Health in Connecticut to Highlight Expansion of Childrens Mental Health Through the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act

On Monday, October 24, HRSA Administrator Carole Johnson, U.S. Senators Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal, and U.S. Representative Jahana Hayes visited the Wheeler Family Health & Wellness Center in Connecticut to highlight the expansion of HRSAs Pediatric Mental Health Care Access Program through the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act(PDF - 161 KB). The program helps pediatricians and family medicine providers get direct support from mental health experts by providing behavioral health consultation and other assistance needed to address children and adolescents mental health needs. The roundtable featured state and local partners, pediatricians, and others sharing their experiences with the program and the way it helps them support communities and families address mental health needs.

HRSA Invests $13 Million To Grow and Strengthen the Nursing Workforce

HRSAawarded $13 million to bolster nursing education and training to grow the nursing workforce and improve access to nursing education. This funding will increase the number of nursing faculty as well as the number of clinicians who can supervise nursing students during their clinical rotations, which will help increase the capacity of programs to train more nurses. The awards are part of aseries of Biden-Harris Administration investmentsto support pathways into quality nursing jobs.

Maternal and Child Health Bureau Associate Administrator Dr. Michael Warren Joins Vice President Kamala Harris and Admiral Dr. Rachel Levine to Discuss Womens Health and Reproductive Rights

Maternal and Child Health Bureau Associate Administrator Dr. Michael Warren joined Vice President Kamala Harris and Admiral Dr. Rachel Levine at the Metro State University in St. Paul, Minnesota for a roundtable discussion on womens health and reproductive rights. HRSA is committed to supporting and ensuring women have access to high-quality and equitable health services.

HRSA Administrator Johnson Joins HHS Leaders on the #VaxUpAmerica Family Vaccine Tour

Administrator Johnson and other HHS leaders participated in a #VaxUpAmerica Family Vaccine Tour webinar to encourage Americans to get vaccinated before the winter and holiday gatherings. During the webinar, our grantees highlighted their terrific work engaging with the communities they serve and hosting vaccination events.

Associate Administrator Dr. Laura Cheever Joins Hundreds of HIV Clinicians from Across the Country for 2022 Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Clinical Conference

HIV/AIDS Bureau Associate Administrator Dr. Laura Cheever joined approximately 400 HIV clinicians from across the country for the 2022 Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Clinical Conference in San Diego, CA. The annual event supported by HRSA provided state-of-the-art updates on research, care, and treatment in the medical management of HIV for experienced HIV clinical decision makers, including medical directors, HIV physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants.

For the First Time, HRSA Awards $8 Million Directly to Historically Black Colleges and Universities to Address the HIV Epidemic in Africa

HRSA announced $8 million in funding to Meharry Medical College, a Historically Black College and University, and its partner schools to improve and expand HIV care and treatment in some U.S. Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)-supported countries. It marks the first time that HRSAs PEPFAR funding has been directly awarded to Historically Black College and Universities. Meharry Medical College is partnering with Howard University College of Medicine, Morehouse School of Medicine, and Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science to work in Malawi, Zambia, and other PEPFAR-supported countries to connect adolescent girls and young women with HIV to care and sustained treatment.

HRSA National Survey of Childrens Health Dataset Released on Child Health Day 2022

On Monday, October 3, Child Health Day 2022, Dr. Reem Ghandour, Director of HRSAs Maternal and Child Health Bureaus (MCHB) National Survey of Childrens Health (NSCH), spoke about this critical dataset, whats new this year, how the dataset can be used to advance the health equity work of the Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs Blueprint for Change, and the new indicators, such as COVID and young childrens nutrition behaviors. Some of the new indicators include whether children missed preventative visits due to COVID, new data on young childrens nutrition behaviors, and whether children experienced discrimination based on a disability or a health condition.

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

HRSA recently made available up to $25 million for HRSA-funded health centers to develop and pilot innovative models of care delivery. The funding seeks 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 supports the White House Blueprint for Addressing the Maternal Health Crisis by ensuring better access to comprehensive, coordinated health care, regardless of a patients ability to pay.

Announcing Phase 1 Winners of HRSAs Building Bridges to Better Health: A Primary Health Care Challenge

The Phase 1 winners, spanning 19 states, submitted innovative ideas to enhance access to care, improve care coordination, and address social determinants of health among HRSA-funded health centers. HRSA awarded $300,000 across 27 winners that now move on to Phase 2 to develop and test their proposed solutions.

News from the Regions

U.S. Surgeon General's Launch of Framework for Workplace Mental Health and Well-Being

HRSA IEA Regional Administrator Leah Suter (4th from right) joined U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy and Region 3 federal colleagues at the launch of the Surgeon General's Framework for Mental Health and Well-Being in the Workplace in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The framework outlines the foundational role that workplaces play in promoting the health and well-being of workers and our communities.

#VaxUpAmerica Family Vaccine Tour: New York Vaccine Fair

HRSA Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs (IEA) Deputy Regional Administrator CAPT Chandak Ghosh attended a COVID-19, Flu, and Monkeypox Vaccine Fair at HRSA-funded Greenburgh Health Center in White Plains, New York. Over 300 community members were vaccinated at the event.

National Governors Association Workforce Learning Collaborative

Bureau of Health Workforce Deputy Associate Administrator CAPT Shelia Pradia-Williams and HRSA IEAs CAPT Nidhi Jain spoke at an event for the National Governors Associations Next Generation of the Healthcare Workforce Learning Collaborative. States shared strategies to grow and retain the next generation of the healthcare workforce. This Learning Collaborative is supported by HRSAs National Organizations of State and Local Officials program.

Virginia Neonatal Perinatal Collaborative 6th Annual Summit

HRSA Region 3 staff member Kara Pilote joined maternal health and neonatal leaders from across the state at the Virginia Neonatal Perinatal Collaborative 6th Annual Summit in Fredericksburg, Virginia.