Migrant Health Program

Health Resources and Services Administration
Bureau of Primary Health Care

Since 1962, the Migrant Health Program (MHP) has provided grants to community nonprofit organizations for a broad array of medical and support services to migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their families.   The Program was originally authorized by the Migrant Health Act, Public Law 87-692, enacted in September 1962 and is currently authorized under section 330(g) of the Public Health Service Act.  

Vision

The vision of the MHP is the universal accessibility to quality and appropriate health care for our Nation’s Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers (MSFW) and their families.  The MHP provides MSFWs and their families access to comprehensive, culturally competent, primary care services.                      

Activities

·         The MHP supports the delivery of migrant health services including primary and preventive health care, transportation, outreach, dental, pharmaceutical, occupational health and safety, and environmental health. These programs use bilingual, bicultural lay outreach workers, health personnel, and culturally sensitive appropriate protocols. They also provide prevention-oriented and pediatric services such as immunizations, well baby care, and developmental screenings. 

·         Under the President’s Initiative to Expand Health Centers established in 2002, the MHP is ensuring that culturally competent primary care services are extended to a hard-to-reach segment of the population.  This is being accomplished by:

• establishing new migrant health center access points;
• expanding the medical capacity of Migrant Health Centers; and
• improving access to mental health/substance abuse, oral health, and pharmacy services.

Accomplishments

·         The MHP currently provides grants to 125 public and nonprofit organizations that support the development and operation of 400 migrant clinic sites throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. 

·         In 2001, Migrant Health Centers served over 650,000 migrant and seasonal farmworkers.  Over 85 percent of users are people of color.

·         Within the first year of the President’s Initiative to Expand Health Centers:

o        5 new migrant health center access points (new grantee organizations or new satellite sites of existing grantees) were created;

o        29 awards totaling $6.2 million were made to Migrant Health Centers to expand medical capacity; and

o        24 awards totaling $1.7 million were made to Migrant Health Centers to expand health care services in the areas of mental health/substance abuse, oral health, and pharmacy services.

Cooperative Linkages

Locally:

Migrant Health Centers enhance delivery of care through partnerships with State and local health departments, Area Health Education Centers, hospitals, specialty and social services providers, and medical residency programs.

Statewide:

Cooperative agreements with State and Regional Primary Care Associations augment the effectiveness of Migrant Health Centers by coordinating Federal and State primary care resources.

Nationally:

By supporting national organizations such as Farmworker Health Services, Inc, Farmworker Justice Fund, Migrant Clinicians Network, Migrant Health Promotion, National Association of Community Health Centers, and National Center for Farmworker Health, technical assistance is provided to Migrant Health Centers.  Through this support, the visibility of farmworker health issues is increased, thereby leveraging additional resources and services for MSFWs.  The MHP also oversees the National Advisory Council on Migrant Health and is a member of the Federal Migrant Interagency Committee.

Migrant Health Program Funding

FY 1997      $70.60 million                    FY 2000      $87.50 million
FY 1998      $70.69 million                    FY 2001      $98.90 million
FY 1999      $78.00 million                    FY 2002      $107.00 million

Future Initiatives

·         President’s Initiative to Expand Health Centers

The President’s Initiative to Expand Health Centers was established in 2002 to substantially strengthen the safety net for those most in need by extending the availability of primary care services to new and existing patients. The goal of the Initiative is to add 1,200 new and expanded health center sites over five years and serve an additional 6 million people. 

·         Health Disparities Collaboratives

A quality management strategy designed to change the system of primary care delivery based on four key elements: leadership, infrastructure and partnership development, and system redesign.  It is the vision for 2006 for all health centers to have completed a health disparities collaborative and continue to improve and share outcomes.

·         Integrated Services Development Initiative (ISDI)

The ISDI program supports the creation and development of community health center controlled networks of safety net providers that will help ensure access to health care for the medically underserved.

Key Contact

Jean L. Hochron, M.P.H.
Director, Office of Minority and Special Populations (OMSP)
(301) 594-4303
jhocron@hrsa.gov