What is the.... County Prenatal Block Grant?

The County Prenatal Block Grant supports local efforts to encourage entry into prenatal care through funding to each of the 15 county health departments.   Programs cover a wide range of activities including: pregnancy testing, child birth education classes, pre and post-natal services, support programs for young dads/young families, immunizations clinics, child safety, women’s health education, breastfeeding education, information and referral. Some counties also provide emergency assistance to low income families such as diapers, transportation to medical appointments, car seats, bottles, and formula.   

Why is this program needed?

This program was developed as a result of a legislative action in l996 to address a fragmented and in some areas, a nonexistent prenatal care system in Arizona. At the time, communication, networking and collaboration among providers, social services agencies and community members were completely absent or minimal. The legislative intent was to fund a program that would be flexible enough to allow communities to develop strategies specific to their region and would open the door to collaboration and partnership among the local programs that serve this target population.

Each county has different sets of issues. Some of these issues include: 

• High rates of teen pregnancies.

• High rate of women, including pregnant women, who smoke.

• Barriers to prenatal care and education in rural areas.

• Lack of public awareness regarding the importance of preconception health, such as  taking folic acid to prevent birth defects.

• High rates of low birth weight babies.

What are the goals of the program?

The County Prenatal Block Grant provides funding to:

• Reverse the high rates of poor birth outcomes by developing programs and systems that will identify women who are at risk. 

• Develop prevention programs that educate the public on behaviors that could negatively impact birth outcomes and make needed services accessible to the public.

• Encourage community participation by establishing community based Advisory Councils.

• Assess the needs of each specific county, their target population, and availability and accessibility of services.

• Network and collaborate with providers and service agencies to improve and expand case management services, and to develop a ”seamless system of care” for prenatal services. 

In addition, all of the counties develop their goals based on needs that are specific to their county and are identified by local community members, the medical community and service providers.  

What has the program achieved?

During Fiscal Year 2005-2006, The County Prenatal Block Grant provided services to 14,768 women, teens, infants and expecting fathers; 2,313 families received information on community resources; 2,570 infants and children received immunization and health and safety services; 131 women received mental health consultations and perinatal mood disorder screening; and 571 professionals and community organization representatives participated in activities to improve health the care delivery system. The County Prenatal Block Program served a total of 20,353 women, teens, infants and children and community members.

Need more information?  

Virginia James, Program Manager
Bureau of Women’s and Children’s Health
150 N. 18th Ave., Suite 320
Phoenix, Arizona 85007
Phone: (602) 364-1446
Fax: (602) 364-1495
E-mail: jamesv@azdhs.gov   

The Title V Information System (Title V IS) electronically captures data from annual Title V Block Grant applications and reports submitted by all 59 U.S. States, Territories, and Jurisdictions and provides information on key measures of maternal and child health (MCH) in the United States. Their web site can be found at:  https://performance.hrsa.gov/mchb/mchreports  

Publications

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