AMCHP is proud to serve as our members’ eyes, ears and voice in Washington, DC. We advocate in support of federal programs to improve the health of women, children and their families. AMCHP works with federal agencies, Members of Congress and their staff, and partners to garner support for the Title V Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Services Block Grant and other MCH programs.
Policy Areas
Federal Policy Agenda
AMCHP’s policy and advocacy work are guided by AMCHP’s board of directors and our Legislative and Health Care Finance Committee, which is composed of AMCHP members and partners. Our agenda specifies where we will devote our advocacy resources and highlights key policy and advocacy activities for AMCHP.
With all that we could do to support state MCH programs and provide national leadership on issues affecting women, children, and families, we use this agenda to make explicit where we will assume leadership and partnership roles in terms of advocacy on an annual basis.
What is the Title V Maternal & Child Health Block Grant?
The MCH Block Grant, authorized by Title V of the Social Security Act, is the only federal program of its kind devoted solely to improving the health of all women and children in the United States. It is guided by the principles of evidence, flexibility, and results. In FY19, programs funded by the MCH Block Grant served 98% of infants, 92% of pregnant women, and 60% of children nationwide. Racial and ethnic inequities persist across several indicators, with Black infant mortality rates double the rates for white infants and the maternal mortality rate for black women being three to four times higher than the rate for white women. Title V programs work to address these inequities by increasing access to quality health care services and supports for women and children and facilitating health promotion efforts across the lifespan.
Another key component of the MCH Block Grant is the Special Projects of Regional and National Significance (SPRANS). SPRANS funding complements and helps ensure the success of state Title V, Medicaid, and CHIP programs by driving innovation and building capacity to create integrated systems of care for women and children. Examples of innovative projects funded through SPRANS include:
- The State Maternal Health Innovation program
- Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (AIM)
- Guidelines for well-child care from infancy through adolescence
- Nutrition care during pregnancy and lactation
- Recommended standards for prenatal care
- Successful strategies for the prevention of childhood injuries.
Maternal Health Bill Tracker
Learn more about pending federal legislation to improve maternal health by searching the below table. This page will be updated regularly to track legislation through the 117th Congress. If you experience issues loading the tracker in Internet Explorer, we recommend using Chrome, FireFox or Edge. For questions, comments, or corrections, please email govtaffairs@amchp.org.
The Biden Administration Mental Health Strategy: Implications for MCH
By Stacy Collins, Associate Director, Health Systems Transformation, Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs “First - beat the opioid epidemic. There is so much we can do. Increase funding for prevention, treatment, harm reduction and recovery. Get rid...
Congress Passes Short-Term Funding Bill to Avert Government Shutdown
Congress passed legislation last night to extend funding for the federal government through Mar. 11, 2022. President Biden is expected to sign the bill before government funding runs out at midnight tonight. The short-term funding bill – known as a continuing...
Increasing Access to Mental Health Services for Children and Youth with Developmental Disabilities: A Legislative Proposal
By Lauren Blachowiak and Alyson Northrup, Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs (AMCHP) and Danielle Webber, Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) Our nation faces a mental health crisis among children and youth that has been...
Our Team
