WASHINGTON, DC – Citing the importance of a strong public health infrastructure, including physical and digital infrastructure and a skilled health care workforce, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressmen Seth Magaziner and Gabe Amo today announced $1,901,154 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to support Rhode Island’s public health infrastructure.  The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) may use the federal funds to bolster the state’s public health workforce, foundational capabilities, technology and data modernization, and physical health infrastructure.

“We’re pleased to deliver this federal funding to improve the health and well-being of Rhode Islanders and connect more patients to care, including preventative care,” said Reed, Whitehouse, Magaziner, and Amo in a joint statement. “RIDOH and their health partners work hard to keep our communities healthy.  This federal funding will help meet critical health infrastructure and workforce needs.  It is a smart investment in ensuring the state has the systems, services, and staffing it needs to protect and promote public health.”

The federal funding is made available through HHS's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Strengthening U.S. Public Health Infrastructure, Workforce, and Data Systems grant is a multi-year, multi-billion-dollar investment that supports critical public health infrastructure and workforce needs of jurisdictions across the United States: https://www.cdc.gov/infrastructure/