An updated national framework recommends systemic improvements in access, equity, quality of life, and finances for nearly 1 in 5 children in the U.S.

June 1 - The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), released The Blueprint for Change: A National Framework for a System of Services for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs  through a special supplement in the journal, Pediatrics. The Blueprint for Change is a national framework to improve care for the nearly 1 in 5 children in the U.S. who currently has a special health care need.

Read the release.

In May, we awarded nearly $25 million to improve and strengthen access to school-based health services, launched a maternal mental health hotline, announced the availability of $5 million to advance equity in cancer screening at health centers, urged states to strengthen support for children’s mental health, and hosted a national telehealth conference.

Additionally, key HRSA leaders were recognized for their service to the nation. HRSA Deputy Administrator Diana Espinosa, winner of the 2021 Distinguished Executive Award, spoke at a White House celebration, and Suma Nair was named a Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals Award finalist.

Read the May roundup.

May 25 - Agencies across the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a joint letter to states, tribes, and jurisdictions encouraging them to prioritize and maximize their efforts to strengthen children’s mental health and well-being. The letter, signed by leaders of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), and the Administration for Community Living (ACL), outlines HHS’ plans to support and facilitate state-level coordination across federal funding streams to advance and expand mental health services for children.

Read the press release and the Joint letter from HRSA, CMS, SAMHSA, CDC, ACF, and ACL leadership

Health and Human Services Leaders on Strengthening Children’s Mental Health

On Wednesday, May 25, as part of the National Tour to Strengthen Mental Health, HRSA Administrator Carole Johnson joined other HHS leaders to host a roundtable discussion to support President Biden’s whole-of-government strategy and take up the Secretary’s charge to strengthen mental health. Watch the remarks from HHS leaders.

Join our upcoming webinar on enhancing access to pediatric behavioral health on Tuesday, June 7 at noon ET. The webinar will highlight strategies to enhance access to pediatric behavioral health services by building frontline provider competency and provider training supports, especially in rural and medically underserved areas. The webinar is hosted by HRSA’s Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs in collaboration with the Northeast Telehealth Resource Center.

Register for the webinar.

Next month, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will consider issuing an Emergency Use Authorization for a COVID-19 vaccine for young children. Please join us for a special town hall event on Thursday, June 9, 3-4:30 p.m. ET.Â

The event will identify partnership opportunities and provide a more comprehensive system of services and care for childhood COVID-19 vaccines and beyond. The event will feature panelists from the CDC, our Maternal and Child Health Bureau, our Bureau of Primary Health Care, and our Health Systems Bureau.

We recognize the importance of all members of integrated substance use disorder (SUD) treatment teams.

Our Bureau of Health Workforce’s SUD Treatment and Recovery Loan Repayment Program (STAR LRP) expands access to SUD treatment by extending loan repayment opportunities to providers such as bachelor’s-level SUD counselors, behavioral health paraprofessionals, and clinical support staff.

The STAR LRP provides up to $250,000 to eligible health professionals in exchange for a six-year, full-time service commitment.

Find out if you’re eligible and apply by 7:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, July 7.

Our Council on Graduate Medical Education (COGME) recently published “Strengthening the Rural Health Workforce to Improve Health Outcomes in Rural Communities” to address the crisis in access to care for rural populations and develop a health professional education system that increases rural health workforce capacity.

In the report, COGME developed a series of three issue briefs on the rural health workforce, each with its own set of recommendations. They include recommendations to increase rural health workforce training and improve access to health care through evidence-based, patient- and community-centered health workforce investments spanning education, training, and practice.

More than 100,000 Americans died from a drug overdose in the 12 months starting April 2020, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It marked the first year on record that overdose deaths exceeded 100,000, pushing the total since 1999 to 841,000.

The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) published a blog that provides examples of how states are expanding access to SUD treatment to prevent further drug overdose deaths.

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

State Medicaid programs vary in their approaches to serving children and youth in foster care (CYFC), with states increasingly implementing specialized health care delivery models and enhanced services.

The National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP) developed two maps, an issue brief, and an accompanying chart to highlight key characteristics of states’ Medicaid programs serving CYFC.

HRSA’s National Organizations of State and Local Officials Cooperative Agreement provided support for these NASHP resources.

Miss last month’s National Telehealth Conference? No problem! Learn how virtual care is shaping the future of health care—and how others are successfully integrating telehealth into the standard of care.Â

Watch our video Telehealth and the Underserved.