Funding will help health centers provide recommended developmental screenings and follow-up services for children and further integrate early childhood development into care teams. 

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), announced the availability of approximately $30 million for HRSA-funded health centers to expand early childhood development care through increased screenings and follow-up services.

“HRSA-funded health centers are dedicated to meeting the unique needs of their communities – including providing key preventive services and care to help their youngest patients thrive,” said Administrator Carole Johnson. “This funding will strengthen and expand the availability of early childhood screenings and follow-up services that are vital for ensuring that kids get the support they need and have the tools to lead healthy, happy lives.”

Health centers provide essential preventive and primary care services to underserved communities across the country. Children undergo rapid physical, cognitive, linguistic, and emotional growth and development at this stage, and screening efforts help identify developmental or behavioral conditions, language delays, or other needs, such as food insecurity and housing instability, that can contribute to gaps in school readiness and impact a student’s ability to succeed.

Health centers that receive these awards will use the funding to strengthen their capacity to provide more children with recommended developmental screenings and follow-up services, including by developing the health center workforce necessary to deliver these services and focusing on the patient and caregiver experience.

Applications are due in Grants.gov on March 17, 2023 and in HRSA Electronic Handbooks on April 18, 2023. Visit the Early Childhood Development Technical Assistance Webpage for the notice of funding opportunity, technical assistance information, and other resources.

HRSA-funded health centers served 30 million people through nearly 1,400 health centers across the United States, collectively operating more than 14,000 service delivery sites in communities across the country.

To locate a HRSA-supported health center, visit: https://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/.