Maternal and Child Health Block Grant
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| Type | Program |
|---|---|
| Sponsor Organization | Maternal and Child Health Bureau |
| Top Organization | Department of Health and Human Services |
| Creation Legislation | Social Security Act, Title V (42 U.S.C. § 701 et seq.) |
| Website | Website |
| Purpose | The Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Block Grant Program provides funding to states and jurisdictions to improve the health of mothers, children (including children with special healthcare needs), and families. It aims to reduce infant mortality, enhance prenatal care, and address health disparities through flexible, state-led public health initiatives. |
| Program Start | 1935 |
| Initial Funding | $2.5 million |
| Duration | Ongoing |
| Historic | No |
The Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Block Grant Program, established in 1935 under Title V of the Social Security Act, is administered by the Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) through its Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) to provide formula-based grants to all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and territories, allocating over $25 billion since inception to support maternal and child health services for approximately 59 million people annually by 2025. Initially funded with $2.5 million, it has grown to distribute $850 million in FY 2024 across 59 awards, funding programs like prenatal care, infant mortality reduction, and services for children with special needs in rural and urban areas.[1] Despite its impact, challenges like funding shortages and rural service gaps persist (web ID: 0), but it remains a cornerstone of HRSA’s public health efforts.
Goals
- Improve the health of mothers, children, and families, including those with special healthcare needs.
- Reduce infant mortality and enhance access to prenatal, delivery, and postnatal care.
- Address health disparities through flexible, state-led initiatives tailored to local needs.[2]
Organization
The MCH Block Grant Program is managed by MCHB within HRSA, overseen by Administrator Carole Johnson since 2021, with states and jurisdictions implementing projects under federal oversight. It operates via annual appropriations, guided by Title V and subsequent funding acts like Public Law 117-328 (2022).[3]
Partners
- Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs
- National Association of County and City Health Officials
- March of Dimes
- Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium
History
Authorized by Title V of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. § 701 et seq.) and launched in 1935 with $2.5 million, the MCH Block Grant Program expanded with annual appropriations, reaching $850 million in FY 2024.[4] It grew from serving 20 states and 5 million people in 1940 to 59 jurisdictions and 59 million people by 2025, addressing disparities with innovations like the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline (web ID: 0). By 2025, it has awarded over $25 billion, though GAO notes funding challenges (web ID: 0).
Funding
Initial funding of $2.5 million in 1935 supported the program’s launch, with over $25 billion appropriated by 2025 via annual HHS budgets—e.g., $850 million in FY 2024.[5] Ongoing appropriations under Title V sustain its operations, with no fixed end as it addresses ongoing maternal and child health needs.
Implementation
The MCH Block Grant distributes formula grants annually, requiring states to address priority needs like infant mortality, tracked via HRSA’s Performance Measures Framework.[6] It progresses through state partnerships—e.g., 59 jurisdictions yearly—and service expansions, adapting to health needs with no set end, though rural gaps remain a challenge (web ID: 0).
Related
External links
- https://mchb.hrsa.gov/maternal-child-health-initiatives/title-v-maternal-and-child-health-services-block-grant-program
- https://www.amchp.org
- wikipedia:Maternal and Child Health Bureau
Social media
- https://twitter.com/HRSAgov
- https://www.linkedin.com/company/health-resources-and-services-administration
References
- ↑ "Title V MCH Block Grant Program". Health Resources and Services Administration. https://mchb.hrsa.gov/maternal-child-health-initiatives/title-v-maternal-and-child-health-services-block-grant-program.
- ↑ "FY 2024 MCH Block Grant NOFO". Health Resources and Services Administration. https://www.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/hrsa/grants/apply-assistance/mch-block-grant/fy2024-mch-block-grant-nofo.pdf.
- ↑ "About HRSA Leadership". Health Resources and Services Administration. https://www.hrsa.gov/about/leadership.
- ↑ "Social Security Act, Title V". Social Security Administration. https://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/ssact/title05/0701.htm.
- ↑ "Title V MCH Block Grant Program". Health Resources and Services Administration. https://mchb.hrsa.gov/maternal-child-health-initiatives/title-v-maternal-and-child-health-services-block-grant-program.
- ↑ "Performance Measures". Health Resources and Services Administration. https://mchb.hrsa.gov/data-research/performance-measures.