Maternal Child Health Block Grant

 

Missouri receives funding from the MCH Bureau of the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration for improving the health of women (particularly mothers) and children. This funding is known as the Title V Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Block Grant, and provides funding for both state- and local-level MCH work. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Division of Community and Public Health is responsible for administering the MCH Block Grant for the State of Missouri.

The Title V MCH Block Grant plays a key role in the provision of maternal and child health services in Missouri. Funds from this grant are distributed among a number of programs which target the improvement of the health of women and infants, children and adolescents, and children with special health care needs.

Every five years, a statewide needs assessment is conducted to identify state maternal and child health priority needs and direct Title V resources to meet these MCH challenges/needs through state/local partnerships and collaboration. The five year needs assessment process in Missouri led to the identification of five national and three state priority areas and two overarching themes to be applied across all priorities, performance measures, and strategies.

National Priority Areas

  1. Improve pre-conception, prenatal and postpartum health care services for women of child bearing age
  2. Promote safe sleep practices among newborns to reduce sleep-related infant deaths
  3. Reduce intentional and unintentional injuries among children and adolescents
  4. Reduce obesity among children and adolescents
  5. Ensure coordinated, comprehensive and ongoing health care services for children with and without special health care needs

State Priority Areas

  1. Enhance access to oral health care services for children
  2. Promote Protective Factors for Youth and Families to Prevent and Reduce Youth Suicide & Self-Harm
  3. Address Social Determinants of Health Inequities through Training & Health Literacy (Cross-cutting)

Overarching Principles

  1. Ensure Access to Care, including adequate insurance coverage, for MCH population
  2. Promote partnerships with individuals, families, and family-led organizations to ensure family engagement in decision-making, program planning, service delivery, and quality improvement activities

 

Any questions regarding the Maternal Child Health Block Grant can be directed to MCH.MCH@health.mo.gov.

To view narrative reports and forms for Missouri and compare how Missouri is doing in relation to other states, visit the Title V Information System (TVIS) website.