INDIANAPOLIS — Local health departments have received enhanced funding for the first time as a result of the Health First Indiana (HFI) initiative. HFI is a historic investment in public health made possible by legislation passed by the 2023 Indiana General Assembly, according to a news release. Eighty-six counties serving nearly 96% of Hoosiers opted to receive a total of $75 million in HFI funding. HFI is an unprecedented state investment to improve Indiana’s health outcomes, the release states.
HFI launches an effort to improve the health of all Hoosiers through guaranteed access to core public health services, including maternal and child health, tobacco and vaping cessation, chronic disease, trauma and injury prevention and more. About 78% of the funding will support preventive and health outcome-related activities. A key component of Health First Indiana is that local health departments determine how the funding is spent as they know best how to improve the health of Hoosiers living in their communities.
“The work began in 2021 with the formation of the Governor’s Public Health Commission, the support for the passage of SEA 4 and the overwhelming county-level participation in Health First Indiana have brought us to this moment,” said State Health Commissioner Lindsay Weaver, M.D., FACEP. “As I have visited communities across the state, it is clear they are poised to address the most pressing health challenges they face through partnerships within those communities.”
More information about Health First Indiana can be found by visiting healthfirstindiana.in.gov.