Frye: Local providers receive funding boost to improve public health in Southeast Indiana

Several health departments received funding

STATEHOUSE (June 28, 2022) – State Rep. Randy Frye (R-Greensburg) said several agencies serving Southeast Indiana recently received a funding boost through a new state grant program aimed at tackling public health challenges.

Frye, supporter of the law establishing the Health Issues and Challenges Grant, said Indiana recently released more than $35 million in grant funding to local and statewide service providers and health organizations. The program's goal is to help improve health outcomes related to tobacco use, food insecurity/obesity, lead exposure, hepatitis C, chronic disease, and disease prevention programs, including community paramedicine and community health workers.

"Improving our communities' overall health is critically important," Frye said. "These grants are another tool in our tool belt to help us overcome some pressing health challenges and get Hoosiers on the right track."   

Recipients serving Dearborn, Decatur, Jefferson and Jennings counties and their respective programs that received grant funding include:

• Dearborn Health Department, programs for elevated blood lead levels;
• Decatur County Health Department, programs for elevated blood lead levels;
• Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana, programs for community health workers;
• Jefferson County Health Department, programs for elevated blood lead levels;
• Jennings County Health Department, programs for elevated blood lead levels;
• LifeSpring, Inc., programs for food insecurity and obesity;
• Refresh F5, programs for food insecurity and obesity;
• REFRESH-Foundations Health, programs for community health workers; and
• Refresh-Will Cooke, programs for community paramedicine.

Statewide organizations that serve local communities also received grants, including the National Kidney Foundation of Indiana, the Indiana Rural Health Association, the Health Foundation of Greater Indianapolis, Health By Design and the Indiana Breastfeeding Coalition.
 
According to the Indiana Department of Health, which oversees the program, grant funds must be spent by Dec. 31, 2026, and additional funding will be offered in a subsequent round.

To learn more, visit in.gov/health/grant-opportunities and click on "Health Issues and Challenges Grant."