Harrisburg, PA – The Department of Human Services (DHS) announced today that Pennsylvania has raised more than 1.2 million

“Young families must always receive the important help and services they need for their children, but this is particularly important in the prenatal to three-year development phase. But far too many families are not aware of all of the services and supports that exist, and that means that they are not accessing all of the support that is available to them, ”said Acting DHS Secretary Meg Snead. “With this funding, we will be able to build a comprehensive care system that ensures accessible, appropriate and effective care for these young families.”

This grant funding, awarded by the Health Resources and Services Administration of the Federal Department of Health and Human Services, will help the DHS Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) connect families to this continuum of services that require positive parenting and early development promote family health and well-being, including the Maternal, Infant and Young Child Home Visitation (MIECHV) and Early Intervention (EI) programs, the Child Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and other programs overseen by other government departments.

OCDEL will use the funds to recruit an Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems (ECCS) Program Leader and an ECCS Family Leader who will work to increase the capacities of health and family and child service systems and to coordinate services and address gaps in those services for Identify families. The ECCS program and family leaders will also work to promote awareness and understanding of justice, trauma-informed care, family engagement, and other positive parenting programs and resources available across the state.

This grant will provide OCDEL with $ 255,600 annually for a total of $ 1,278,000 for five years starting August 1, 2021.

For more information about DHS and Pennsylvania public assistance programs, visit www.dhs.pa.gov.

MEDIA CONTACT: Erin James – [email protected]

# # #