Greetings Healthy Kids Action Network!

Before the Memorial Day recess, the U.S. House passed a scaled back jobs bill - the American Workers, State, and Business Relief Act of 2010 (H.R. 4213) - due to concerns from lawmakers regarding the cost of the package and affect on the federal deficit.

House leaders excluded the temporary extension of the enhanced federal matching rate to fund Michigan's Medicaid program. State lawmakers--and many across the country--are relying heavily on the inclusion of this funding. Specifically, Michigan is depending on $500 million from the extension to help fill its $1.7 billion shortfall in its fiscal year 2011 budget which begins October 1, 2010.

Without the temporary extension of increased funding for Medicaid, Michigan will have to make even deeper cuts to Medicaid and other health and other basic services.

As state lawmakers continue to discuss the state budget, it is CRITICAL to reach out to Senators Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow to ask for their support to include the provision as the Senate is currently debating the bill and expected to vote beginning tomorrow--and, it must be included to be discussed in a House/Senate conference committee. It is also important to reach out to House members as the bill will go to conference following Senate Action.

Click here to read more in our May 4 Action Alert.

Click here to read more about H.R. 42.13.

Also included in this email is information on a webinar on the new federal funding available for home visiting through the federal health reform law taking place on THURSDAY (6/17) and a save the date flyer for a workshop on youth mental health.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.

Best,

Alicia S. Guevara
Policy & Outreach Associate

HHS will be hosting a webinar on Thursday, June 17th from 2-3pm to discuss the home visiting funding made available to states through the health reform law.

The webinar will provide an overview of the new Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program to be administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) in collaboration with the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) to promote healthy child development and improved maternal and child health outcomes. The webinar will walk-through the first Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) released on June 10th. There will be an opportunity for participants to submit questions that will be answered in writing to all participants as soon as possible following the webinar.

Please register for the webinar at least one day in advance by clicking here. Please be sure to complete the technical check to be sure your system is compatible.

Click here for the HRSA Funding Opportunity Announcement for the Home Visiting Program.

Click here for a recent summary by the Children's Defense Fund on the home visiting provision in the federal health reform law.

On October 20, 2010, Micheal Nerney, an internationally know lecturer and consultant in Substance Abuse and Prevention and Education, will be conducting a training, "The Adolescent Brain: Substance Abuse and Other Risky Behaviors."

Click here for the Save the Date flyer for more information. Please share with colleagues and others who might be interested.

Registration for the workshop will be available in August.