HRSA eNews July 6, 2017

HHS announces the availability of $195 million to expand substance abuse and mental health services at health centers nationwide

June 26 - HHS announced the availability of $195 million in a new funding opportunity for community health centers to expand access to mental health and substance abuse services focusing on the treatment, prevention and awareness of opioid abuse in all U.S. states, territories and the District of Columbia. The awards are expected to be made in September of this year. “Addressing serious mental illness across our nation and combating the opioid epidemic are two of the Department’s top priorities,” said HHS Secretary Tom Price, M.D. “Integration is key to solving these challenges. This funding will help our nation’s health centers provide that integration for mental health services and opioid addiction treatment.” Read the news release.

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HHS Awards $15 Million to Help Families Affected by Lead Exposure in Flint, MI

June 30 - HHS announced approximately $15 million in funding for the Genesee County Healthy Start Program to provide health and social services for women, infants, and their families who have had, or are at risk for, lead exposure in Flint, Michiganand the surrounding community.  “The Trump Administration is taking important steps to support the residents of Flint, Michigan as the need for vital resources remains critical to the health of their community,” said HHS Secretary Tom Price, M.D. “We understand the urgency of the situation, and this funding will help connect affected and at-risk Flint residents to comprehensive health and social services proven to mitigate the effects of lead exposure.” Read the news release.

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Georgetown University awarded Center for Oral Health Systems Integration and Improvement program

HRSA’s Maternal and Child Health Bureau has awarded the Center for Oral Health Systems Integration and Improvement Program to Georgetown University’s Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center.  The new program will work with key stakeholders to improve existing systems of care in addressing the comprehensive oral health needs of maternal and child health populations. Learn more about the award.

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Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program infographic

HRSA has released a new infographic on the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program.  The program supports voluntary, evidence-based home visiting services for at-risk pregnant women and parents with young children up to kindergarten entry, providing them with resources and skills to raise children who are physically, socially, and emotionally healthy and ready to learn. Check out the infographic (PDF - 223 KB).

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The National Health Service Corps on LinkedIn

The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) LinkedIn Showcase has more than 2,000 followers. Now you can join our NHSC Primary Health Care Professionals Group to network and learn from other health professionals. Each week, we'll post one or two new topics for discussion, and group members can share experiences, best practices, and tips. We’ll also share relevant data, reports, and information from the Bureau of Health Workforce and other sources that relate to primary care.  Join the group today by clicking the Ask to Join button.

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HRSA Recognizes National HIV Testing Day

HRSA's Laura Cheever, MD, ScM and James Macrae, MA, MPP co-authored the following post on HIV.gov for HIV Testing Day. The 2017 federal HIV Testing Day theme is Test Your Way. Do It Today., which emphasizes the importance of HIV testing and diagnosis for prevention and treatment of HIV.  Routine HIV testing is a central component of primary care HIV integration. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends screening for HIV infection for adolescents and adults aged 15 to 65 years, regardless of risk.   Read more on HIV.gov.

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HRSA Word Gap Challenge Yields Low-cost, Scalable, Tech-based Interventions 

HRSA's Jessie Buerlein and James Resnick co-authored the following post about the Word Gap Challenge. Crowded around a speakerphone at the offices of HRSA, members of the Maternal and Child Health Bureau announced to Dr. Melissa Baralt that she and her colleagues had won the Bridging the Word Gap Challenge. When Dr. Baralt heard the news on the other end of the line, she was leaving a preschool where she had been assessing the language development of a child, and was delighted that the child’s vocabulary had improved since the last visit. Hearing the news, she tearfully noted how hard the team had worked and that the $75,000 in prize money would allow the Háblame Bebé app to be freely available to the public. Read more about the Word Gap Challenge. Funding Opportunities Health Workforce Children’s Hospitals Graduate Medical Education (CHGME) Payment Program - Apply by July 14 Dental Faculty Loan Repayment Program- Apply by July 17 HIV/AIDS Improving HIV Health Outcomes through the Coordination of Supportive Employment and Housing Services — Demonstration Sites - Apply by July 24 Improving HIV Health Outcomes through the Coordination of Supportive Employment and Housing Services – Evaluation and Technical Assistance Provider - Apply by July 24 Curing Hepatitis C among People of Color Living with HIV - Apply by July 28 Maternal & Child Health Collaborative Improvement and Innovation Network on Infant Mortality (IM CoIIN) - Apply by July 17 Maternal and Child Health Services - Apply by July 17 Primary Health Care/Health Centers FY 2017 Access Increases in Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (AIMS) Supplemental Funding Opportunity Technical Assistance - Apply by July 26