This center aims to strengthen relationships between key federal and state programs and their services so that maternal and child health (MCH) improves.
Those programs are:
- Title V MCH Services Block Grant (Title V program)
- The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
- State Medicaid programs
Awards
In 2024, we awarded one cooperative agreement to Altarum. This award of nearly $2 million each year continues for 5 years until 2029.
Read the closed Notice of Funding Opportunity (HRSA-24-105).
Our reach
The center serves all states and U.S.-affiliated jurisdictions. It works to improve state-level public health systems.
How the Center for MCH Medicaid Partnerships works
The Title V program, CHIP, and Medicaid share the goal to improve maternal and child health. When the programs work together seamlessly, they can be instrumental to increase access and to improve care for MCH populations. The center leads the national- and state-level efforts to strengthen these collaborations.
Fostering collaboration to reach goals
This center builds collaboration between the three programs by:
- Growing their knowledge and shared priorities
- Providing help that is tailored to each state’s unique needs
- Helping them create new strategies to optimize financial resources
- Supporting each state to develop or update their interagency agreements
- Having a plan to sustain improvements beyond the funding period
The center’s activities contribute to:
- Improved eligibility, coverage, access, and quality of care
- Formalized policies and accountability within the systems that guide and sustain their joint efforts
- New financing models
- Maximized use of resources to expand and maintain system improvements
Reducing health disparities
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines health disparities as preventable differences in the burden of disease, injury, violence, or opportunities to achieve optimal health that are experienced by socially disadvantaged populations. We can help prevent disease and reduce disparities and inequities by addressing social determinants of health.
The Title V program, CHIP, and Medicaid play a critical role in advancing health and well-being. They help improve access to health care by strengthening the ways services are coordinated, financed, and delivered to MCH populations. Improving access is part of disease prevention.
A study by The Commonwealth Fund and other Title V data show that there are significant and persistent health disparities among MCH populations. For example:
- Maternal and infant death rates, preterm birth, and low birth weight rates show significant disparities by race, ethnicity, and geography.
- Adolescent risk factors and outcomes for substance use, depression, suicide, and experience of violence differ based on race, ethnicity, gender, education, income, disability, geographic location (for example, urban and rural), and sexual orientation.
- The prevalence and impact of children and youth with special health care needs differs by race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and geographic location.
This program creates solutions so that MCH populations have fair and just opportunities for optimal health and well-being.
More information
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Jobs
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Contact us
Need more information, or have a specific question? Contact Maura Dwyer at MDwyer@hrsa.gov.