eNotes
June 17, 2024Announcements
US HRSA allocates $15m to improve maternal health in rural areas
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), under the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), has allocated $15 million to improve maternal health services in rural communities.
This funding, allocated over the next four years, is part of the goal of the Rural Maternity and Obstetrics Management Strategies (MOMS) program, to improve access to maternal care. It will provide start-up funding to awardees, each receiving nearly $4 million over four years. Funds will pilot new approaches for supporting and expanding maternal care in rural communities in the Delta region of the South and Midwest.
News from the Field
Occupational Therapy Telehealth Toolkit and Infographic
Two new resources created by the Great Plains Telehealth Resource and Assistance Center (gpTRAC) focus on occupational therapy (OT) and telehealth. The and Occupational Therapy Toolkit and OT infographic give these professionals the latest telehealth basics, documents foundational practices, and provides resources to implement telehealth services. Toolkit topics were developed from stakeholder interviews. It contains some content specific to early intervention (EI) and young children. A variety of topics are covered in the infographic toolkit.
- Telehealth ethics and etiquette
- Licensure
- Current policies
- Billing, reimbursement, and documentation
- Platforms and software
- Best practices among different settings and populations
Promoting Mental Health and Well-being in Early Childhood
In this Executive Summary: Promoting Mental Health and Well-being in Early Childhood Programs, the Office of Early Childhood Development in the Administration of Children and Families (ACF) announced new policy guidance for its four early childhood programs: Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF); Head Start; Preschool Development Grants Birth through Five; and the Tribal Maternal Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting program.
These program-specific informational memoranda (IMs) help programs promote the mental health and well-being of children, families, and the early care and education workforce. They are tailored to the unique priorities, needs, and activities of each program, and include actionable recommendations, resources, and strategies to promote mental health. Guidance across all four programs is based on a common framework that spans the services and supports that make up a comprehensive early childhood mental health system of care.
Research
Green Spaces May Improve Kids' Mental Health
In Green Spaces May Improve Kids' Mental Health, a new study suggests that a child’s early years are a crucial time to be exposed to green spaces. Scientists at the National Institute of Health’s (NIH) Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) program found that kids, ages 2 to 5, who lived near green areas had fewer mental health symptoms like anxiety or depression.
Mental health problems affect millions of children in the U.S. Some studies have found that people with access to parks and other green spaces tend to have better moods and a lower risk of mental disorders. But few studies have looked at whether this is true in children. The children came from nearly 200 counties across 41 states.