(Statewide) – Local health departments have received enhanced funding for the first time as a result of the Health First Indiana (HFI) initiative.
HFI was made possible by legislation passed during the 2023 Indiana General Assembly session.
Eighty-six counties serving nearly 96% of Hoosiers opted to receive a total of $75 million in HFI funding.
Locally in 2024, Ripley County will receive $327,312.21; Decatur County $267,917.57; Franklin County $230,602.22, and Dearborn County receives the largest amount in the area at $512,911.55.
HFI is an unprecedented state investment 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.
The Indiana Department of Health says a key component of HFI is that local health departments determine how the funding is spent since they know best how to improve the health of those 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, including a map of participating counties, a list of core public health services, and a breakdown of funding amounts by county can be found by visiting healthfirstindiana.in.gov.
