Health First Indiana Funding

The Indiana Department of Health (IDOH) announced in January 2024 that local health departments had received enhanced funding for the first time as part of the Health First Indiana (HFI) initiative. 

Health First Indiana seeks to improve the state’s standing in health outcomes. Currently, Indiana is 40 in the overall public health ranking in the United States.

HFI is a historic investment in public health made possible by legislation passed in 2023, with 86 counties -- serving nearly 96% of Hoosiers – opting to receive $75 million in funding. All counties except Crawford, Fountain, Harrison, Johnson, Wells and Whitley accepted funding.

The funding seeks to tackle Indiana’s chronically poor health rankings at the local level, providing counties with data on their health issues and giving health departments resources to address their most pressing local needs, in partnership with local elected officials, hospitals, clinics and schools. An additional $150 million will be distributed next year.

About 78% of the funding will support preventive and health outcome-related activities. A key component of HFI is that local health departments determine how the funding is spent, as they know best how to improve the health of Hoosiers living in their communities, according to IDOH.

Associated Links:

https://www.in.gov/healthfirstindiana/    Link to quick facts, our community information, county health scorecard and key performance indicators.

The updated county health scorecards are officially live on the Health First Indiana website. https://www.in.gov/healthfirstindiana/county-health-scorecard/

HFI Pending Contract (s):

 Ind. Code § 16-46-10-2.2 and 16-46-10-3 requite that “(b)efore funds may be used to hire or contract for the provision or administration of core public health services, the local health department shall post the position or contract to the public for at least thirty (30) days.

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Vigo County 2024 Budget    Work Plan