Philly, N.J., PA get health reform public health grants
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has awarded $42.5 million in grants to state and local health departments – the front lines of public health effort for everything from immunizing people against pandemic flu to reducing infant mortality rates.
Philadelphia is getting $1.1 million, New Jersey is getting $1.6 million and Pennsylvania is getting $400,000. The grand are aimed at helping health departments improve their capacity, expand training, and coordinate across jurisdictions.
"These funds will help health departments around the country to improve the quality and effectiveness of the critical health services that millions of Americans rely on every day," said Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius in a statement Monday. "Strengthening our public health system through better coordination and collaboration will help deliver higher quality health care more efficiently."
The 94 grants were selected from more than 140 applications from health departments in July.
The five-year program called – Strengthening Public Health Infrastructure for Improved Health Outcomes – was created as part of the "Prevention and Public Health Fund" created by the Affordable Care Act. The program seeks "fundamental changes" in how health departments are organized.
The goal is the improve the deliver of services in various ways including:
Build capacity at health departments to evaluate the effectiveness of their programs.
Expand and train public health officials and community leaders in key areas.
Improve networking, coordination, and cross-jurisdictional cooperation for the delivery of public health services.
Disseminate and implement most promising public health practices.
To check out more Check Up items go to www.philly.com/checkup.