Sunday, December 8, 2024
12/8/2024
In the Puerto Rico jurisdiction, the Title V Block Grant is administered by the Puerto Rico Department of Health (PRDOH) and consists of two programs: 1) the Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health Program (MCAHP) housed in the Maternal, Child and Adolescent Section; 2) the Children with Special Health Care Needs Program (CSHCNP) located in the Children with Special Medical Needs Section. Both sections operate under the Division of Family and Infant Health. The Puerto Rico Title V (PR Title V) uses quantitative and qualitative data gathering methods and relies on a wide array of collaborators from public and private organizations, families, and youths, to assess population needs, strengths, and resources to determine priorities and develop strategies for the 5 YR Action Plan. Based on the 5 Year Health Needs Assessment, the PR Title V selected nine priorities for the 2020-2025 Action Plan. These are: Women/Maternal Health Domain: 1) Promote Health and Wellbeing in Women of Reproductive Age; 2) Improve Birth Outcomes. Perinatal/Infant Health Domain: Decrease Infant Mortality Child Health Domain: Improve Preventive Health in Children Adolescent Health Domain: Improve Health and Wellbeing of Adolescents Children with Special Health Care Needs (CSHCN): 1) Increase the number of CSHCN who receive regular ongoing comprehensive health care within a medical home; 2) Increase the number of YSHCN who receive adequate support and services for their transition into adult health care; 3) Decrease the age when children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) receive their first diagnostic evaluation; 4) Decrease the prevalence of Neural Tube Defects (NTD) at Birth. The PR Title V addresses priorities through initiatives, projects, and programs in the seven Health Regions of the PRDOH. These include the Regional Pediatric Centers for CSCHN, Autism Centers, perinatal services, nurse-staffed home visiting program, adolescent program, and virtual and in-person community health education (parenting courses, prenatal course, videos, professional trainings, posters, brochures, and health guides and planners). The PR Title V plays a lead role in proposing and implementing important health public policies to improve health and wellbeing. It provides leadership through committees and coalitions including the Title V Regional Boards that are composed of representatives from government and non-government agencies to support the 5YR Action Plan. Also, it has established a broad and strong network of collaborators within and outside the health field (non-government organizations, medical associations, health organizations, parents’ organizations, among others). The PR Title V supports the efforts of partners through staff participation in task forces, committees, and alliances. The Title V Monitoring and Evaluation Unit (MEU) conducts health needs assessments, surveys, interviews, evaluations, data management, and monitoring of health factors and the progress made to improve health and wellbeing. All services and activities are carry-out by a highly committed multidisciplinary workforce with proven capacity to respond speedily to emergencies such as catastrophic hurricanes, earthquakes, and the COVID-19 pandemic. In each critical event, the staff have been able to make the necessary adaptations to better serve populations. For example, the staff switched from face-to-face (in-person) to virtual mode of providing services during the strict lockdown and subsequent gradual re-opening phases implemented by the PR government to handle the COVID-19 pandemic. Addressing PR Title V priorities take place within the context of a socioeconomic crisis characterized by an outstanding public debt, public cutbacks, low wages, high increases in living expenses (food, utilities, gas), and frequent power outages. The current crisis of the health care system in PR also poses challenges to enhance health and well-being.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
