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6 | Page January 10 I ssue%u201cThe TMaH Model provides Kansas Medicaid with the funding and support necessary to improve maternal and child health outcomes,%u201d said Christine Osterlund, KDHE Deputy Secretary of Agency Integration and Kansas Medicaid Director. %u201cThrough stakeholder input and support, especially from our partners at the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund, Kansas submitted a strong and ultimately successful grant application with a clear vision for the program.%u201dThe model is centered on three pillars, which include access to care, infrastructure and workforce capacity, quality improvement and safety, and whole-person care delivery. The grant will allow KDHE to build upon its work in the following:%u2022 Hospital Engagement for Birthing-Friendly Designation: KDHE, in collaboration with the Kansas Perinatal Quality Collaborative, the Kansas Maternal Mortality Review Committee, and other partners, is recruiting and educating facilities to achieve CMS%u2019s birthing-friendly designation status. TMaH will align with these key public health initiatives to further address barriers and increase quality services and patient safety.%u2022 Whole-Person Care: KDHE%u2019s Kansas Connecting Communities and Maternal Anti-Violence Innovation and Sharing programs will be pivotal in enhancing the patient education and universal screening components of the TMaH model. These programs offer provider consultation, training, and technical assistance for perinatal mental health, substance use, and intimate partner violence. Resources will be scaled to ensure the behavioral health and social determinants of the health needs of all patients.%u2022 Telehealth and Telemonitoring Prioritization: TMaH will enhance telehealth services to overcome geographic barriers, improving access to specialists and reducing travel. KDHE will implement robust telemonitoring for hypertension and gestational diabetes and collaborate on a State Plan Amendment to expand covered services under Medicaid.%u2022 Home Visiting Program Expansion: The TMaH payment model will make home visiting sustainable by addressing funding gaps. KDHE%u2019s strength-based approach improves outcomes in pregnancy, parenting, and early childhood health while TMaH funding expands reach and quality.The funding will support Kansas%u2019 efforts to address disparities among underserved populations at higher risk for poor maternal outcomes. More program information is available at CMS TMaH Model.FEMA Announces $1.35 Billion to Increase Climate Resilience NationwideOn January 6, FEMA announced that the agency is making $1.35 billion available for two grant programs designed to help communities enhance their resilience to the impacts of increasingly frequent and extreme weather events.The Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) annual grant program is making $750 million available for projects that protect people and infrastructure from natural hazards and the effects of extreme weather events. The Flood Mitigation Assistance program is making $600 million available for projects that mitigate flood risks facing homes and communities across the nation.