Despite the current federal government shutdown, the Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs (AMCHP) continues to lead national partners and collaborate with Congressional champions to protect and strengthen the Title V Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant (Title V MCH Block Grant) through the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) federal appropriations process.
On November 3, AMCHP, joined by over 125 national, state, and local organizations and academic institutions, sent a letter to the leadership of the House and Senate L-HHS Appropriations Subcommittees, urging Congress to increase, rather than reduce, the Special Projects of Regional and National Significance (SPRANS) portion of the Block Grant in FY26. The letter underscores the importance of sustained federal investment in the Title V Block Grant, particularly in the SPRANS portion, given its sweeping positive impact on maternal and child health (MCH) populations, providers, public health professionals, and trainees. Read the letter and view the signers.
In October 2025, both the House and Senate Appropriations Committees released their respective FY26 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education (L-HHS) appropriations bills. While both chambers maintained level funding for the Title V state formula fund, the House proposed a $46.449 million decrease to SPRANS, and the Senate proposed a $14 million cut—marking the third consecutive year of Congressional reductions proposed to SPRANS.
AMCHP and the broader MCH community remain deeply concerned that these proposed cuts would jeopardize national efforts to improve health outcomes for women, children, and families. SPRANS funding supports nearly 281 grantees across all states and jurisdictions, advancing innovation, workforce training, data capacity, and targeted services that address critical MCH priorities. Reductions to SPRANS would have wide-reaching consequences—limiting the reach of programs such as Healthy Tomorrows Partnership for Children, the MCH Workforce Development Centers, and the State Systems Development Initiative (SSDI).
While recognizing current fiscal constraints, AMCHP continues to call on Congress to fund the MCH Block Grant at $1 billion in FY26 – the level of funding necessary to support the critical work of all Title V state formula fund and SPRANS grantees. As the AMCHP Government Affairs Team continues to advocate for full funding of the Title V MCH Block Grant, we invite you to share how SPRANS funding supports your work and what reductions would mean for your state or organization. Please email Gabrielle Galusha (ggalusha@amchp.org) to discuss how reduced SPRANS funding would affect your work and the MCH populations you serve.
How You Can Get Involved & Stay Informed
Share Your Story: Share your anonymous-optional testimonial with AMCHP on how your program or community has been impacted by recent federal actions.
Stay Engaged:
- Visit our Government Affairs webpage for updates on FY26 appropriations.
- Review the AMCHP Title V MCH Block Grant: FY26 Funding Ask Sheet.
- Register for the AMCHP Policy & Partnership Town Hall Series, held the second Thursday of each month at 2 PM ET.
- Sign up for AMCHP Policy Alerts and the Policy Digest for the latest policy news.
For additional questions, please contact Sherie Lou Santos (ssantos@amchp.org), Gabrielle Galusha (ggalusha@amchp.org), or Karina Collins (kcollins@amchp.org).
