Indianapolis, IN — The Indiana Department of Health has awarded nearly $8.5 million in grants to organizations working to improve Hoosiers’ health as part of the Health Issues and Challenges program, which was established by the Indiana General Assembly in 2021 with funding from the American Rescue Plan Act.
Locally, Ripley County will receive a portion of a $3.5 million award for community health workers through Indiana University Trustees, and the Franklin County Health Department is in line for $8,383.99 to be used for lead prevention.
This is the second round of grants through the program and follows the $35 million that was announced last June.
“Public health is built on a foundation of prevention and accessibility, and we are grateful to be able to use the remaining funds that our legislators allocated to support programs that will help improve Hoosiers’ health and well-being,” said State Health Commissioner Kris Box, M.D., FACOG. “These programs are locally delivered and reach Hoosiers where they live.”
Entities were invited to apply for funding for programs to help improve health outcomes related to one or more of the following priority areas: tobacco use, food insecurity/obesity, lead exposure, chronic disease and disease prevention programs, including community paramedicine and community health workers.
A total of 117 organizations submitted applications, and a total of 27 awards were issued.
Priority was given to applicants demonstrating a high need and high impact in their grant proposals.
Funding includes:
- More than $2.2 million to address chronic diseases, including asthma, diabetes, and cancer.
- $3.5 million for community health workers.
- $1 million to support community paramedicine programs in Clark, Posey, and Wabash counties.
- Nearly $1.6 million to address food insecurity and obesity in Marion, Lake, Jennings, and Vanderburgh counties, as well as Northwest Indiana.
- Nearly $91,000 for lead prevention programs in local health departments in Kosciusko, Clark, and Orange counties.
- Nearly $32,000 to the Porter County Health Department for tobacco prevention and cessation programming.
The funding must be spent by December 31, 2026.
Click here for a list of recipients and for more information about the program.
