Multiple layoffs are occurring as a result of the termination of federal COVID-era grants, according to Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) officials.
The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) revealed funding cuts earlier this week, which directly led to these layoffs.
As part of the department’s efforts to adapt to the loss of financing, 15 posts that were previously supported by these awards will be removed, according to an ADH representative.
Employees whose work was funded by the government funds intended to resolve COVID-19 and its aftermath occupied the majority of the affected roles.
State and municipal health departments around the country had received the money to assist in managing the ongoing difficulties caused by the pandemic.
Essential duties like monitoring infectious diseases, addressing health inequalities, vaccinating, offering mental health services, and employing community health workers to address COVID-related issues were among them.
But like many other state and local health departments, the Arkansas Department of Health is struggling to run its operations without these vital resources after the US Department of Health and Human Services recently announced that it would be canceling billions of dollars in funding.
The grants, which came to a total of $11.4 billion across the country, had mostly been used for community engagement, immunization campaigns, and testing as part of pandemic response activities.
“The COVID-19 pandemic is over, and HHS will no longer waste billions of taxpayer dollars responding to a non-existent pandemic that Americans moved on from years ago. HHS is prioritizing funding projects that will deliver on President Trump’s mandate to address our chronic disease epidemic and Make America Healthy Again,” HHS stated.
The department now has to undertake major changes, including staff layoffs, as a result of this funding ending.
ADH’s layoffs started on Friday, and impacted workers were informed of their employment status.
“We are making sure each employee understands the benefits that are available to them, and they will be eligible for special employee consideration for open positions throughout state government. We will also be offering severance packages as outlined in the Office of Personnel Management policy,” the spokesperson stated.
Officials from ADH stressed that the agency is helping those who have been laid off by making sure they are aware of the benefits they are eligible for.
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“Due to the discontinuation of covid-era grants, the Arkansas Department of Health will be eliminating 15 positions that were funded by those grants,” the spokesperson stated. “Notifications to affected employees began today.”
This gives those affected by the layoffs some possibility of obtaining new work inside the state system, including qualifying for other state government job prospects.
The ADH representative added that the department had limited time to make adjustments because the notice from HHS stated that the funding changes were effective immediately.
Although these layoffs are regrettable, the ADH is making every effort to lessen the impact on the impacted staff members and make sure they have support at this difficult time.
Like many other states, Arkansas will continue to struggle to maintain the workforce and infrastructure required to respond to health emergencies as the pandemic continues to have an impact on public health financing.
This Information has been sourced from kark
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