Rep. Blackshear Announces Funding to Improve the Health of Ohioans

COLUMBUS - State Rep. Willis E Blackshear Jr. (D-Dayton) today announced that the Controlling Board has approved several funding opportunities that address pressing health issues facing Ohioans. 

One of these items is an allocation of $7.5M for school based health centers and local health departments. The money is granted by President Biden’s American Rescue Plan Act, with the purpose of establishing, expanding and sustaining a public health workforce. The $7.5M will specifically be used for meeting staffing levels required to administer quality care in health centers and health departments throughout Ohio. 

“To build an Ohio where every family can thrive, we must continue to invest in important health programs like these. I’ll always prioritize the health of families and students in Montgomery County,” said Rep. Blackshear.

Additionally, other health related items approved by the Controlling Board include:

• $650K to develop public education programs to promote organ, tissue, and eye donation. More than 103K men, women and children are currently on the national waiting list for life-saving organ transplants. Thousands more are in need of tissue and cornea transplants to restore mobility, vitality, and sight. These funds will be used to spread awareness of the need to donate.
• $170K to begin the planning phase of the integrated newborn screening system. All newborns in Ohio are screened for disorders identified by blood spot, hearing, and Critical Congenital Heart Disease (CCHD) screenings. This new technology will allow for more efficient newborn screenings.
• $42k to provide support to families with children who have been diagnosed with sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). These funds will be used for education and grief services for loved ones.