Program Administration

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted many health disparities across Wyoming. Through the federal COVID-19 Health Disparities Grant, the Wyoming Department of Health, with Align’s assistance, awarded over $7 million dollars to eligible entities to build up the health care infrastructure and address historical inequities in social determinants of health in Wyoming communities. The funds were distributed across 5 total programs which provided reimbursable grants to eligible entities. These programs helped improve rural healthcare access by addressing staffing shortages and improving infrastructure at rural health centers. Funds were used throughout Wyoming to provide meals and improve shelter conditions to victims of domestic violence, mental health centers providing care to children, and those experiencing homelessness.

Throughout Wyoming the organizations awarded funding included: mobile health clinics, senior centers, group homes, shelters, food banks, rural health centers and hospitals, preschools, and day care centers. Over 85% of funds awarded went to organizations in rural communities.

LIEAP is a federally-funded program that helps low and fixed income families and individuals pay home heating bills November through May (electric/natural gas) or October through May (propane/ wood). LIEAP has been administered by Align since 2012 through a contract with the Wyoming Department of Family Services. We provide complete program management services, including application processing, federal performance measures, fuel supplier payments and record keeping.

The state of Wyoming works to provide high quality training and education for the people that care for and educate our youngest children. As part of that work, childcare providers around the state are required to receive ongoing education in order to maintain their license, and many providers work beyond those requirements to build their career and provide an even higher level of education and support to our children. Align works with the Department of Family Services to provide the STARS registry system. This system helps childcare providers find training options and approves high quality training for credit. It then tracks the training that childcare providers receive in order to help them maintain their license and improve their careers.