Targeted Issues Grants

EMSC Stakeholders Research Researchers

The mission of the Targeted Issues (TI) Program is to support strategies to improve the quality of pediatric care delivered in emergency care settings through the implementation of pediatric emergency care research and innovative cross-cutting projects. Targeted Issues programs translate research into practice and improve pediatric health outcomes related to emergency care.

In 2019, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) Program funded five Targeted Issues grants to address current gaps in pediatric emergency care and enhance existing programs that promote pediatric readiness in emergency care settings. The majority of pediatric emergency department (ED) visits occur in community hospitals who see fewer than 15 pediatric patients each day. In addition, less than 10 percent of prehospital emergency medical services (EMS) patient encounters involve pediatric patients. As a result, many EDs and EMS agencies are challenged to have the resources, skills, and training to care for children.


Over the next four years (2019-2023), EMSC will invest 6.5 million dollars into projects that will demonstrate the link between ED and EMS system readiness improvements and improved pediatric clinical care and health outcomes. Click here to download a Fact Sheet about these grants.

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    Targeted Issues - Past Grants

    In 2013, the EMSC Program created the Targeted Issues Historical Database to track activities of the federal Targeted Issues grant program. Current and prospective grantees are encouraged to review all previous Targeted Issues projects and, when possible, build upon prior grantees' work to increase the depth and breadth of pediatric emergency care.

Page last updated October 3, 2022.