HHS awards $40 million in ARP funding to support emergency home visiting assistance
The money will help provide services and supplies such as diapers, food, water and hand sanitizer.
Photo: FG Trade/Getty Images
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through the Health Resources and Services Administration, has awarded about $40 million in emergency home-visiting funds through the American Rescue Plan to states, territories and Washington to support children and families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The move, made in recognition of National Women's Week, directs funds to the Maternal Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program, which supports the delivery of coordinated, voluntary and evidence-based home visiting services to children and families in communities at risk for poor maternal and child health outcomes.
The funds will be used to provide services and emergency supplies such as diapers, food, water and hand sanitizer. Families who can't access home visiting services due to the pandemic will be provided technology to participate in virtual home visits.
Funds will also be used to train home visitors on emergency preparedness and response planning for families, and on how to safely conduct virtual intimate-partner-violence screenings.
The program is administered by HRSA, in partnership with the Administration for Children and Families, to assist underserved parents and families. Over the past nine years it has provided nearly seven million home visits.
WHAT'S THE IMPACT?
In fiscal year 2020, almost three-quarters of families participating in the program had household incomes at or below 100% of the federal poverty level, two-thirds of adult participants had a high school education or less and 78% of adults and children relied on Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program.
THE LARGER TREND
Earlier this month, HHS made close to $1 billion available to strengthen the COVID-19 response and vaccination efforts in rural communities.
An LSU Health New Orleans School of Public Health report published in February found a positive association between social vulnerability and COVID-19 incidence at the census-tract level, and recommends that more resources be allocated to socially vulnerable populations to reduce the incidence of COVID-19.
The analysis focused on the state of Louisiana. It found that tracts or geographic areas with higher levels of social vulnerability were linked to higher rates of coronavirus transmission, even after adjusting for population density.
In essence, this means the social determinants of health – such as poverty, lack of education or lack of access to transportation – have a profound impact on whether people contract the virus, a factor that holds true amidst a wide swath of geographies.
ON THE RECORD
"Today's investment demonstrates the Biden Administration's commitment to addressing the needs of pregnant people and families, who have been particularly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic," said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. "It is essential that we enhance access to home-visiting programs so they can support families' crucial healthcare services, early care and education, and family economic supports."
"Through innovative programs like MIECHV, HRSA is committed to improving health and achieving health equity," said HRSA Acting Administrator Diana Espinosa. "This funding will help bolster evidence-based programs and services that can be a lifeline for low-income parents and families in communities across the country."
Twitter: @JELagasse
Email the writer: jeff.lagasse@himssmedia.com
