Public Meeting Notice  Preventive Health and Human Services Block Grant

April 9, 2020

Dear Friend of Public Health,

The Department of Public Health and the Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant Advisory Committee are seeking public comment for the priorities for the Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant. Enclosed you will find a Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant summary, which includes federal fiscal year 2020 program priorities.

The remote open meeting is scheduled for April 23, 2020 from 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM.

Join by phone: 1-866-692-3580 | Access code: 619 585 823

Written comments can also be made to:

This hearing provides a forum for Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant funded agencies as well as other public health professionals and consumers to share their thoughts with the Department concerning Program priorities.  I encourage you to participate on April 23, 2020.

If you have any questions about the hearing, you may contact me by email (see above). Thank you.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth Barry

Deputy Director, Bureau of Community Health & Prevention

Preventive Health & Health Services Block Grant Program     

Enclosure (1)
The Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant was established in 1981 as a flexible way for states to address priority health concerns focused on healthy people objectives and prevention initiatives. 

The grant has been a key mechanism utilized by Massachusetts to achieve the three Public Health Core Functions:  Assessment, Policy, and Assurance. 

The Block Grant assures the infrastructure is in place both at the state and community level to address the ten Essential Public Health Services.  These funds are the foundation upon which other services and initiatives are built. This funding, integrated with both state and other federal funding, assures that Massachusetts can continue to address the disparities which exist in health outcomes and maintain core public health activities such as assessment and sanitation.

The State used the following criteria to select projects from DPH Offices and Bureaus for allocation of funding in Federal FY2020:

• Healthy People 2020 objectives
• Compliance with Maintenance of Effort requirements
• Focus on primary and secondary prevention
• Consistent with State Health Plan (SHIP)
• Focus on building/maintaining public health infrastructure including
  • Data Systems (collection and analysis)
  • Public Health Infrastructure, and
  • Community Investments.

Program goals are briefly outlined along with the estimated allocation of funding:

Data Systems – Improve public health data infrastructure by investing in MDPHnet, vital records, the Massachusetts Ambulance Trip Record Information system, the Trauma Registry system, the Office of Population Health, and other tools to improve data availability and online access - $792,832

Public Health Infrastructure – Increase the capacity of individuals, organizations, and teams to build healthier communities across the Commonwealth through investing in the public health workforce that coordinates and supports our public health programs, services and resources - $1,222,000

Community Investments – Lower the risk of chronic disease by supporting equitable food access and active living opportunities in cities and towns in Massachusetts while addressing health disparities and/or inequities, and support sexual assault prevention and survivor services by building their capacity to provide culturally competent services to all survivors, especially underserved and disparate populations- $1,848,000