The Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs (AMCHP) continues to lead partners and collaborate with Congressional champions to secure robust funding for maternal and child health (MCH) programs, including the Health Resources & Services Administration’s (HRSA) Healthy Start Program, in Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24).
Established in 1991, Healthy Start is the government’s signature program that focuses on reducing infant mortality and ensuring that infants in families who face the greatest disparities survive infancy and live long, productive lives. Funding for the program was eliminated in H.R. 5894 under the mistaken notion that it is duplicative of the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program. AMCHP remains extremely concerned about the proposed elimination of Healthy Start funding. Healthy Start is critical to addressing the infant and maternal mortality crisis.
On January 18, AMCHP and the National Healthy Start Association led over 60 organizations in sending a letter to the leadership of House and Senate Appropriations Committees supporting the restoration of the Healthy Start funding in FY24 to its current allocation of $145 million. The letter details how Healthy Start is a necessary component in our national effort to combat infant mortality that complements, but is distinct from, MIECHV. Read the letter and view the signers.
While we recognize the fiscal constraints and polarization of the current political environment, the AMCHP Government Affairs Team will continue to advocate for funding the Healthy Start program and other vital MCH programs throughout the FY24 appropriations process and beyond.
To stay up-to-date on and get involved in AMCHP’s appropriations efforts:
- Check out our Government Affairs webpage for our FY24 appropriations work to date;
- Register for the AMCHP Policy & Partnership Town Hall Series, which occurs on the second Thursday of every month at 2 PM ET;
- Sign up for AMCHP Legislative Alerts; and
- AMCHP strives to uplift your stories when advocating for robust MCH funding. Please email Amani Echols (aechols@amchp.org) to share your Healthy Start success stories and their positive impact on MCH populations.
As always, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with AMCHP’s Government Affairs Team: Sherie Lou Santos (ssantos@amchp.org) and Amani Echols (aechols@amchp.org).
