Mission

The HRSA Maternal and Child Health Bureau improves the health of mothers, children and their families. Authorized under Title V of the Social Security Act, HRSA maternal and child health programs ...

• Assure access to quality care, especially for those with low-incomes or limited availability of care.
• Reduce infant mortality.
• Provide and ensure access to comprehensive prenatal and postnatal care, especially for low-income and at-risk women.
• Increase the number of children receiving health assessments and follow-up diagnostic and treatment services.
• Provide and ensure access to preventive and child care services, as well as rehabilitative services for certain children.
• Implement family-centered, community-based systems of coordinated care for children with special healthcare needs.
• Provide assistance in applying for services to pregnant women with infants and children who are eligible for Medicaid.

Grant Programs

The Maternal and Child Health Block Grant to States is a public health program that reaches across economic lines to improve the health of all mothers and children. A partnership between HRSA and State maternal and health programs, State Title V programs use block grant funding to build capacity and ssytems, conduct public education and outreach, train providers and support services for children with special healthcare needs, newborn screening and genetic services, lead poisoning and injury prevention, and health and safety promotion in child care settings.

• Understanding Title V of the Social Security Act (PDF - 1.4 MB)

By law, 85 percent of the Title V appropriation, up to $600 million, is allocated to the States and 15 percent goes to Special Projects of Regional and National Significance (SPRANS). Appropriated funds in excess of $600 million are distributed as follows: 12.75 percent to Community Integrated Service Systems (CISS) and, of the amount remaining, 85 percent to States and 15 percent to SPRANS.

SPRANS and CISS projects are funded through grants, contracts and other mechanisms.

• HRSA Grants Open Opportunities

History

The Children's Bureau was established in 1912. In 1935, the U.S. Congress
enacted Title V of the Social Security Act, which authorized the Maternal
and Child Health Services programs and provided a foundation and structure
for assuring the health of American mothers and children.

MCH Timeline: History, Legacy and Resources for Education and Practice traces the history of maternal and child health in the U.S., provides in-depth modules on topics such as MCH 101, MCH Systems of Care, Infant Mortality and MCH Performance and Accountability, and allows you to search for topical areas of interest.

Organization

MCHB is a bureau of the Health Resources and Services Administration,
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

• Organization Chart