To: Dale K. Weighill, Governmental Operations Committee Chairperson
From: Michelle Estell, RS, MSA, Administrative Health Officer
title
RE: Approval of a resolution that supports the continuation of funding for the Healthy Start Initiative
recommendation
BOARD ACTION REQUESTED:
Approval of a resolution that supports the continuation of funding for the Healthy Start Initiative.
BACKGROUND:
The Healthy Start Initiative has been supporting families in Genesee County since 2001. The President’s proposed budget suggests the elimination of the federal funding for all 115 Healthy Start grantees across the United States.
DISCUSSION:
A resolution in support of the Healthy Start Initiative has been created in response to the proposed elimination of federal funding. The future of this initiative is currently being discussed during the federal appropriations process.
IMPACT ON HUMAN RESOURCES:
There is no expected impact on Human Resources.
IMPACT ON BUDGET:
There is no expected impact on the budget.
IMPACT ON FACILITIES:
There is no expected impact on facilities.
IMPACT ON TECHNOLOGY:
There is no expected impact on technology.
CONFORMITY TO COUNTY PRIORITIES:
Genesee County Healthy Start supports a Healthy, Livable, and Safe Community through the utilization of community resources. Home visiting services provided through the Healthy Start Initiative are shown to decrease maternal and infant mortality, therefore contributing to full term pregnancies and healthy infants.
resolution
TO THE HONORABLE CHAIRPERSON AND MEMBERS OF THE GENESEE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
WHEREAS, Healthy Start is a federally-funded program focused on improving health outcomes for families, especially in communities with high rates of infant mortality and other adverse perinatal outcomes; and
WHEREAS, Healthy Start has a 30-year track record of success in reducing infant mortality rates, improving maternal health, and building stronger families in Genesee County and across the nation; and
WHEREAS, Healthy Start, through the Genesee County Health Department, provides expectant moms and families with children up to 18 months old with nurses, social workers, dieticians, and community health workers that offer visitation services in the home or in a place where our residents feel most comfortable; and
WHEREAS, the most recent proposed budget by President Donald Trump proposes the elimination of the Healthy Start Initiative, which is a vital resource for many Genesee County families; and
WHEREAS, local Healthy Start projects provide vital services including linkages to prenatal and post-partum care, screening and referrals for mental health concerns, care coordination for social services and educational programming, and ongoing education for staff and community partners, resulting in a strong return on investment; and
WHEREAS, the elimination of funding for Healthy Start would disproportionally impact urban and rural communities in Genesee County and across the nation, areas that may already be struggling with significant healthcare challenges such as hospital closures, maternal care deserts, transportation issues, and healthcare staff shortages; and
WHEREAS, continued funding for Healthy Start not only addresses immediate healthcare needs, but also leads to substantial long-term savings by reducing health and educational costs associated with pre--term and low-birth-weight babies.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Genesee County Board of Commissioners strongly urges Congress and the President to reconsider support for the Healthy Start Initiative, advocating for its continued funding as a critical resource for residents in Genesee County and across the country.