HHS Announces Funding to Strengthen Maternal and Child Health Outcomes

On April 13, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), announced via a press release nearly $16 million to strengthen Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Programs through seven awards supporting eight states.

The release states that “These awards will advance data and technology innovations to support positive maternal and child health outcomes in states and communities, and focus on addressing health disparities. This announcement comes as the Biden-Harris Administration recognizes Black Maternal Health Week, which takes place this year from April 11 –17, 2022. The Administration has championed policies to improve maternal health and equity and addressing the maternal mortality and morbidity crisis.”

Further, “In addition, HRSA is announcing the availability of up to $9 million through the State Maternal Health Innovation and Data Capacity Program to expand the State Maternal Health Innovation and Implementation Program. This program supports state-level development and implementation of proven strategies to improve maternal health and address maternal health disparities. The new funding will continue to build state capacity to deliver high-quality maternity care services, provide training for maternal care clinicians, and enhance the quality of state-level maternal health data through better collection, reporting and analysis.  The program will fund up to nine cooperative agreements, and each will receive up to $1 million over five years.”

The MIECHV Innovation awards fall into two categories. Approximately $8 million in American Rescue Plan funding will support Arkansas, Iowa, Virginia, and Oklahoma for the development of data and technology that address the impact of COVID-19 on pregnant individuals. HRSA will award another approximately $8 million to Delaware, Massachusetts, Tennessee, and West Virginia for the development of data and technology to improve home visiting services.

“The combined $16 million from these awards will address social and structural determinants of health, and help reduce disparities in health care access and health outcomes,” the release adds. “At a national level, over a quarter of MIECHV participants served in FY2021 identified as Black or African American (27.2 percent). This investment will continue to strengthen evidence-based home visiting services and advance create greater health equity among diverse populations.”

HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra was quoted in the release saying that “No parent should have to suffer without the necessary support to keep themselves and their families healthy. As we recognize Black Maternal Health Week, we are strengthening our Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program to better connect families to the services they need, while making more funding available for states to develop and implement proven strategies that will help close maternal health disparities. this investment further demonstrates the Biden-Harris Administration’s deep commitment to improving health equity and access to care for all parents and children.”