April 6-12 is National Public Health Week, and this year’s theme is Ready. Set. Action. Follow the Pennsylvania Department of Health on Facebook, X, and Instagram to learn how the Department helps Pennsylvanians to be ready to protect their health, how programs and policies are set to support public health, and how you and the Department take action to protect the health and wellbeing of each other here in Pennsylvania.

The Shapiro Administration recently unveiled Pennsylvania’s Maternal Health Strategic Action Plan, entitled Healthy Moms, Vibrant Futures. The comprehensive multi-agency plan is the first in Pennsylvania and contains strategic goals, data and research, ongoing work, and recommendations to combat maternal health disparities that can shape quality of life for mothers and their children. 

Since January 2023, the Shapiro Administration invested more than $12.3 million in maternal and child health initiatives that are delivering real results, like increased postpartum depression and blood pressure screenings, improved access to care for women, and new grants specifically designed to address the needs of Pennsylvania mothers and babies. Governor Shapiro’s 2026-27 budget proposal includes an additional $7.5 million for the Department of Health to continue this important work to make pregnancies, deliveries, and postpartum care safer.

Part of the funding is supporting Regional Maternal Health Coalition grants providing tangible results such as screening nearly 1,100 Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) clients for high blood pressure 2025. So far, at least one hundred mothers with elevated blood pressure have been identified and referred for care.   

Joy Golden, local mother, and Dr. Debra Bogen, PA Secretary of Health, speak in Scranton on March 13 about the importance of maternal and child health initiatives.

Secretary of Health Dr. Debra Bogen visited Pittsburgh Public Schools last month to highlight how historic investments of $6 million over two years is providing period products to help keep students across Pennsylvania in the classroom and learning.

“Free period products in schools help ensure that Pennsylvania’s more than 650,000 girls have peace of mind — so they can focus on their education,” said Dr. Bogen. “This is just the latest example of how the Shapiro Administration is ensuring students are prepared to learn without distractions or struggle. We heard firsthand just how essential this initiative has become over the last two years, and I am proud that Governor Shapiro continues to support its mission."

One in four students struggles to afford period products, and 23% miss class because they don't have the hygiene products they need. The 2026-27 budget proposes another $3 million to help students.

Speakers show off free period products in Pittsburgh’s public schools.

Emergency medical services (EMS) agencies across the Commonwealth are getting an infusion of $6.6 million to recruit, train, and equip EMS professionals so they can improve response times and save more lives. Another $6 million is proposed for the 2026-27 budget to continue these efforts.

The majority of that funding will be distributed to the state’s 13 Regional EMS Councils, which oversee Pennsylvania’s EMS agencies that respond to a high volume of emergency calls, assisting more than 2.2 million Pennsylvanians annually.

Dr. Bogen meets with EMS leadership in Allegheny County.

In March, the Department of Health’s Bureau of Emergency Preparedness and Response conducted the second part in a two-part series of preparedness exercises required by the CDC for state and local health departments. During the first meeting, staff from across the Department and the 11 local community and municipal health departments discussed a major measles outbreak scenario. During this exercise, the scenario was played out in real life, as the Department's Operations Center (DOC) was activated to support hypothetically required mass vaccination efforts. Staff from multiple bureaus filled key roles in the DOC and simulated the support and coordination across the state. 

Staff participate in an emergency response exercise in Montgomery County.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health is excited to announce that the Primary Care Practitioner Loan Repayment Program is open for applications from April 2 to May 4, 2026. This initiative aims to bolster the number of primary care practitioners in underserved areas across the state by offering financial incentives to eligible health care professionals.

For details and information, please visit the Loan Repayment website.

The Department of Health’s State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP) is a strategic plan and roadmap to improve health over five years that includes three focus areas, nine goals, 31 objectives, and many strategies to improve identified health challenges in Pennsylvania. The main goal of the SHIP is to make everyone in Pennsylvania healthier and to help ensure that everyone has a fair chance at good health, no matter who they are or where they live.

In April, as we celebrate National Public Health week and recognize how public health improves lives daily, the SHIP is an evolving part of that process. Check out the recently updated SHIP dashboard online that includes the latest information on strategies and activities partners are working on to improve health in Pennsylvania.

Throughout the year, the Department of Health publishes reports and dashboards on a variety of public health topics.

Learn more:

April Health Awareness Events

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Pennsylvania Department of Health | 1-877-PA-Health | health.pa.gov

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