Indiana State Health Commissioner Dr. Lindsay Weaver was in Marshall County Friday morning to discuss the Health First Indiana plan.
The state’s goal is to ensure that every resident has access to core public health services that allow them to achieve optimal health and wellbeing.
The legislature approved a historic amount of funding in its biennial budget to target health and mental health over the course of two years and that funding is benefiting local health departments. Dr. Weaver stated that there is no indication that funding will not be available to continue start-up initiatives by health departments to assist Indiana’s residents.
Each county had an option to opt-in to this funding and the Marshall County Commissioners approved that option. Dr. Weaver and her regional team are visiting each county that opted-in earlier this year.
In 2023, the health department has $57,268.72. In 2024, that funding will grow to about $556,000 and in 2025 it will grow even more to just over $1 million. Funding is based on a per capita basis.
Marshall County Health Department officials and certain partners were in attendance to advise Dr. Weaver of initial plans going into this new structure of funding. They have found that partnerships with schools needs to increase as well as the availability of screenings, vaccinations, training and immunizations. Education in schools and in the public about tobacco, vaping and drug use can improve, as well as mental health programming and outreach. Programs to assist the community with prenatal care, healthy choices, and paramedicine were also topics discussed by local health officials with the state regional health team.
It is the regional team’s plan to speak to all community health departments about what others are doing and how to adapt programs and initiatives to each seeking that help and work together to utilize the funding to the best to the ability to help improve health across the state.
