The Obama administration will make $2.3 billion in Recovery Act funds available for health and human services programs that provide care for children and prevent disease.
States will receive $2 billion in Recovery Act funding to support childcare for working families. The administration also plans to make $300 million in vaccines and grants available to ensure more underserved Americans receive needed vaccines.
The $2 billion in Recovery Act funds for the Child Care and Development Fund will allow states across the country to support childcare services for more families whose children require care while they are working, seeking employment or receiving job training or education.
States will use the funds to provide vouchers to families for childcare or to provide access to care through contracts with childcare centers or invest in quality improvements. Recovery Act dollars will support a wide range of childcare providers, including childcare centers and home-based programs.
The new funds supplement the existing $5 billion childcare subsidy program, the Child Care and Development Fund. The Recovery Act funds will be awarded on a formula basis to states, the District of Columbia, five territories and 260 tribal grantees representing approximately 500 Indian tribes.
In addition to funding for childcare programs, an additional $300 million in Recovery Act funding and grants will help to ensure more underserved Americans receive vaccines.
Funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, most of the money will be used to purchase vaccines, which will be distributed through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Section 317 immunization program to all 50 states, several large cities and U.S. territories.
Approximately $18 million in additional grants will be used to provide support to Section 317 grantees that demonstrate innovative approaches to increase the number of Americans who receive the childhood vaccine series, zoster vaccine and influenza vaccine and for improving reimbursement practices.
Nearly $32 million in Recovery Act funds will be used to increase information, communication and education and strengthen the evidence base for immunization.