Health Care Law Expands Support for Children and Families ...

WASHINGTON, Apr 03, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) ?
To improve the health and development of children, 10 states received
grants to provide early childhood supports and home visits to families
who volunteer to receive these services, Health and Human Services (HHS)
Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced today.

These awards are part of the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home
Visiting Program (MIECHV) created by the Affordable Care Act. The nearly
$72 million in funding announced today will allow states to expand or
establish their home visiting program.

?Home visits from an experienced counselor can help provide skills and
links to important services and early childhood education,? said
Secretary Sebelius.

Today?s awards include states that have demonstrated a commitment to
operating successful early childhood systems for pregnant women,
parents, caregivers and children from birth-to-eight years of age. The
awards also include states that are developing new home visiting
programs, using proven strategies, to support families and improve
health and developmental outcomes.

?These investments will give states a significant boost in their efforts
to keep children safe and healthy,? said Mary K. Wakefield, Ph.D., R.N.,
administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

HHS? Administration for Children and Families (ACF) collaborates with
HRSA on the implementation of the home visiting program. The two
agencies provide states guidance and assistance in early learning and
development, the prevention and identification of child maltreatment,
the improvement of maternal and child health outcomes, and family
engagement.

?Helping children and families succeed involves many approaches and
voluntary home visits play a key role in strengthening families and
putting children on solid footing,? said George Sheldon, the ACF acting
assistant secretary.

Awardees include:

          Organization                                                       City          State         Award         ---------------------------------------------------------------    ----------    -----    --------------         Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment               Denver        Colo.     $3,717,761.00         ---------------------------------------------------------------    ----------    -----    --------------         State of Connecticut Department of Public Health                   Hartford      Conn.     $8,677,222.00         ---------------------------------------------------------------    ----------    -----    --------------         Iowa Department of Public Health                                   Des Moines    Iowa      $6,600,000.00         ---------------------------------------------------------------    ----------    -----    --------------         Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Department for    Frankfort     Ky.       $6,971,342.00         Public Health         ---------------------------------------------------------------    ----------    -----    --------------         Minnesota Department of Health                                     St. Paul      Minn.     $8,000,000.00         ---------------------------------------------------------------    ----------    -----    --------------         New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services                Trenton       N.J.      $9,430,000.00         ---------------------------------------------------------------    ----------    -----    --------------         Commonwealth of Pennsylvania                                       Harrisburg    Pa.       $9,027,586.00         ---------------------------------------------------------------    ----------    -----    --------------         Tennessee Department of Health                                     Nashville     Tenn.     $6,571,353.00         ---------------------------------------------------------------    ----------    -----    --------------         Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Health                      Richmond      Va.       $6,295,506.00         ---------------------------------------------------------------    ----------    -----    --------------         Washington State Department of Early Learning                      Olympia       Wash.     $6,609,476.00         ---------------------------------------------------------------    ----------    -----    --------------         TOTAL                                                                                     $71,900,246.00         ---------------------------------------------------------------                           -------------- 

The MIECHV program is one part of the Obama administration?s strong
commitment to improve health outcomes for America?s children and
families.

For more information on HRSA?s MIECHV program, please visit mchb.hrsa.gov/programs/homevisiting/.
To learn more about the Affordable Care Act, visit
www.HealthCare.gov .

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), part of the
U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, is the primary Federal
agency for improving access to health care services for people who are
uninsured, isolated, or medically vulnerable. For more information about
HRSA and its programs, visit
www.hrsa.gov .

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

          HRSA Press Office         301-443-3376         media@hhs.gov   www.hhs.gov/news             

Copyright Business Wire 2012

Article source: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/health-care-law-expands-support-for-children-and-families-2012-04-03

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