WASHINGTON (May 24, 2022)—The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 provided states, localities, and tribal governments with $350 billion in fiscal relief to address the continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and invest in a variety of initiatives in ways that could lead to more equitable access to and outcomes from government interventions—but significant dollars remain uncommitted. Many states, counties, and cities—challenged to move this money quickly because of budgetary, procurement, and hiring regulations and policies—are turning to intermediary organizations for assistance.
Intermediaries are nongovernmental organizations such as local foundations, public health institutes, community health centers, and Accountable Communities for Health that can work collaboratively with governmental agencies to implement the goals of this funding, engage various sectors to better meet the needs of diverse communities, and rebuild trust and support for public health.
A new report by analysts at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health describes the different roles that intermediaries can play and provides examples of where they have been used in the field. It also identifies the risks, benefits, and possible innovations of intermediaries as well as policy approaches that might facilitate their appropriate use.
Janet Heinrich, Jeffrey Levi, and Helen Mittmann—all part of the Department of Health Policy and Management at GW prepared the report along with the Georgia Health Policy Center.
The report, “Intermediary Organizations are Urgently Needed to Assist in Modernizing Public Health and Addressing the Drivers of Health in the United States” was prepared as part of the Aligning in Crisis work with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
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