Health First Indiana funding requests reduced 30%

Three organizations will receive about 70% of their 2026 funding requests from the Wayne County Department of Health’s $200,000 Health First Indiana budget.

The county’s health board approved the distribution plan during its Nov. 4 meeting. During the October meeting, the board approved awarding 2026 funding to Reid Health, Bridges for Life and Birth to Five; however, those requests totaled $288,488.65.

Dan Burk, director of the Wayne County Health Department, reduced each request by equal percentages to approach the $200,000 budget number. Reductions of 30% left $1,942.06 remaining to cut. Burk divided that in three and reduced each award $647.35.

Reid Health will receive $76.946.71 of its $110,848.65 request. Its programs improve key performance outcomes for chronic disease, injury prevention, school health, maternal/child health and access or linkage to care, Burk said.

Bridges for Life will receive $64,200.65 of its $92,640 request. Its addiction recovery programming addresses opioid fatalities and injury and teaches housing and financial responsibility.

Birth to Five will receive $58,852.65 of its $85,000 request. Its programming with children addresses maternal/child health, healthy eating and chronic disease.

Burk said the organizations use Health First Indiana funding primarily to pay for personnel, with the rest purchasing equipment and supplies. Burk planned to share with the three organizations the funding plan and confirm they wanted to move forward. He said all three had indicated they could proceed with their programming without receiving their full requests.

Resources available

During her report, Dr. Jennifer Bales, the county health officer, promoted a list of resources available on the health department’s website, in.gov/localhealth/waynecounty/home/, for anyone impacted by the federal government’s shutdown. The resources include free meals and food banks.

Bales also stressed that parents should not water down baby formula or attempt to make their own formula. She said that can be “incredibly dangerous.”

During the October meeting, Bales urged residents to receive flu vaccines. She reiterated that with holiday gatherings looming, now is a good time to be vaccinated. The vaccine needs to be in a person’s system for two weeks to provide effective protection, Bales said.