Maternal & Child Health Block Grant

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment is responsible for administering the Title V Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Services Block Grant for the State of Kansas. The MCH Block Grant and affiliated programs are located within the Division of Public Health, Bureau of Family Health.

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

Kansas' Block Grant Activity Requirements

As part of Kansas' Block Grant activity requirements, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment:

• Submits an Application/Annual Report for Federal funds to the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) in the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), U.S. Department of Human and Health Services (HHS) which includes information related to activities and expenditures supported through this grant, progress made on performance measures, and plans for the coming year; and
• Conducts a statewide needs assessment every five years. The needs assessment provides direction and guidance to Title V activities for the next five years by identifying state maternal and child health priority issues and performance measures that measure state progress and accountability. The current needs assessment expires in September 2015, at which time the most recent needs assessment and State Action Plan for the period 2016 to 2020 take effect.

MCH Block Grant Basics

Enacted in 1935 as a part of the Social Security Act, the Title V Maternal and Child Health Program is the Nation's oldest Federal-State partnership. Specifically, the Title V Maternal and Child Health program seeks to:

• Assure access to quality care, especially for those with low incomes or limited availability of care
• Reduce infant mortality
• Provide and ensure access to comprehensive prenatal and postnatal care to women (especially low-income and at-risk pregnant women)
• Increase the number of children receiving health assessments and follow-up diagnostic and treatment services
• Provide and ensure access to preventative and child care services
• Provide and ensure access to rehabilitative services for children in need of specialized medical services
• Implement family-centered, community-based, systems of coordinated care for children with special healthcare needs
• Provide toll-free hotlines and assistance in applying for services to pregnant women with infants and children who are eligible for Title XIX (Medicaid)

Unique in its design and scope, the Maternal and Child Health Block Grant to States program:

• Focuses exclusively on the entire maternal and child health population
• Encompasses infrastructure, population-based, enabling, and direct services for the maternal and child health population
• Requires a unique partnership arrangement between Federal, State, and local entities
• Requires each State to work collaboratively with other organizations to conduct a State-wide, comprehensive Needs Assessment every 5 years
• Based on the findings of the Needs Assessment, requires each State to identify State priorities to comprehensively address the needs of the MCH population and guide the use of the Maternal and Child Health Block Grant funds
• May serve as the payer of last resort for direct services for the maternal and child health population that are not covered by any other program

Public Input

An important component of the MCH Block Grant process is a solicitation of public input. Public input can be provided at any point throughout the year. Email a comment or question about the MCH Block Grant Program.

Block Grant Data from Kansas & Other States

To view narrative reports and forms for the Kansas application/annual report, as well as compare how Kansas is doing in relation to other states, visit the Title V Information System (TVIS) website.

• View the Title V Maternal and Child Health Snapshot.