In August 2022, HRSA took action to strengthen the health care workforce, advance health equity through better data, and celebrated National Health Center Week by highlighting the achievements of health centers across the country.
Recent HRSA Highlights
HRSA Administrator and U.S. Representative Danny K. Davis Highlight Need for Reauthorization of Home Visiting Program during Meeting with Chicago Families
HRSA Administrator Carole Johnson joined U.S. Representative Danny K. Davis to visit the Primo Center for Women and Children in Chicago and meet children, families, and home visitors supported through the HRSA Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program, which needs to be reauthorized this year.
HRSA Administrator visits Vermont Health Care Leaders with Senator Bernie Sanders
On August 26, HRSA Administrator Carole Johnson and U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders took part in a roundtable at the University of Vermont with health care providers and educators on strengthening the nursing workforce and met with Vermont’s Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) network.
Administrator Johnson visits Monkeypox Vaccine Clinic
On August 27, HRSA Administrator Johnson visited Fenway Health in Boston, home of the HRSA-funded Fenway Institute. Fenway is a HRSA Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program /Health Center Program that is participating in HRSA’s Monkeypox Vaccine Distribution Initiative. HRSA is delivering vaccines to our partners serving the LGBTQIA+ community.
Administrator Johnson visits Maine to Announce Maternal Health Funding
On August 29, HRSA Administrator Johnson visited Stephens Memorial Hospital, a critical access facility in Maine to reaffirm HRSA's commitment to decreasing maternal mortality in rural areas, improving the continuum of care, and connecting obstetrics care across the states.
As part of the visit, HRSA announced over $20 million in awards to address the maternal health crisis. These funds aim to help reduce disparities in maternal and birth outcomes, expand and diversify the workforce caring for pregnant and postpartum individuals, increase access to obstetrics care in rural communities, and support states in tackling inequities in maternal and infant health.
HRSA Celebrated the 32nd Anniversary of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program
In 1990, Congress enacted the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency Act—legislation that created the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program. Thursday, August 18, 2022 marked the 32nd anniversary of the program, which serves more than a half a million people with diagnosed HIV across the United States. The virtual 2022 National Ryan White Conference on HIV Care and Treatment (NRWC) took place August 23-26.
HHS Secretary Becerra Announces More Than $20 Million in Funding to support Ending the HIV Epidemic
At the National Ryan White Conference on HIV Care and Treatment, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra announced more than $20 million in funding awarded by HRSA to expand HIV prevention, testing, and treatment services at health centers nationwide.
HRSA Invests Nearly $60 Million to Strengthen Health Care Workforce and Improve Access to Care in Rural Communities
HRSA announced investments of nearly $60 million to grow the health care workforce and increase access to quality health care in rural communities, including nearly $46 million in funding from President Biden’s American Rescue Plan.
HRSA Celebrates National Health Center Week
During National Health Center Week, which occurred August 7-13, HRSA leadership and staff joined communities across the country in celebrating the incredible work of our nation’s health centers.
HRSA Administrator Carole Johnson and HRSA Associate Administrator Jim Macrae (above, middle and second from left) kicked off the week by visiting Community of Hope health center in Washington, D.C., during their “Back to School Bash”—an annual event where, in partnership with other local organizations, they provided community members school supplies and backpacks, COVID-19 vaccines, health screenings, and fun for the family.
During National Health Center Week, HRSA awarded nearly $90 million in American Rescue Plan funding to nearly 1,400 community health centers across the country to advance health equity through better data collection and reporting.
HRSA’s Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs visited more than 30 health centers to recognize the vital role HRSA-funded health centers play in providing primary care in underserved communities across the country. Regional staff met with health center patients and providers while they toured health centers, celebrated staff appreciation days, attended community events, and spoke at ribbon-cutting ceremonies across the country.
News from the Regions
On August 5, HRSA Regional Administrator Leah Suter and Deputy Regional Administrator Rob McKenna, visited Dr. Barbara Bazron, Director of the DC Department of Behavioral Health, to discuss the district's behavioral health priorities and share HRSA's behavioral health resources.
On August 15, HRSA Regional Administrator Nancy Rios met with Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts, leadership from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, and local officials in Lincoln, Nebraska. They talked about the health needs of Nebraskans and areas for collaboration with HRSA, particularly related to workforce, behavioral health, and maternal health.
On August 16, Regional Administrator Sharyl Trail presented during the HHS Region 6 Tribal Consultation. On August 22-24, Regional Administrator Sharon Turner, CAPT Carmen Clelland, and the Bureau of Health Workforce’s Dr. Janelle McCutchen presented at the Region 10 Tribal Consultation, which was held in Portland, Oregon. These sessions are an opportunity for tribal leaders to address HHS on how the Department can improve tribal outreach and coordination and to discuss programmatic and policy issues and concerns with tribes. HRSA engaged with tribes on a variety of programmatic areas, including workforce, behavioral health, and maternal health.
On August 23, HRSA Regional Administrator Natalie Brevard Perry spoke at the White House Initiative Latino Economic Summit in Atlanta, Georgia alongside federal, state, and local leaders and shared information about HRSA’s programs with attendees. The Summit highlighted the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to advancing equity and economic empowerment and connected local Latino community members directly with federal leaders and resources.
On August 25, HRSA Regional Administrator Natalie Brevard Perry and Chief Dental Officer Dr. Adam Barefoot represented HRSA at Congresswoman Lucy McBath's (Georgia’s 6th District) Maternal Health Roundtable Discussion, which included federal officials and maternal health stakeholders. They shared HRSA’s maternal health resources, including the Maternal Mental Health Hotline.
HRSA Regional Administrator Nancy Rios met with farmers, health officials, and state and local leaders during a mental health listening session in rural northwest Kansas. The conversation focused on farmers’ mental health and rural health care. This visit was a stop on the HHS National Tour to Strengthen Mental Health.
