Can I view the Title V MCH Block Grant Application?

To view the 2006 Title V MCH Block Grant Applications (July 2004)  Select one of the following links:  Narrative or Forms

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Who is served through the Title V MCH Block Grant?

Three populations are served by the Title V MCH Block Grant:  1) pregnant women and infants, 2) children, and 3) children with special health-care needs.

What kinds of services are offered through Title V?

There are four major types of services offered through Title V.  1)  Direct health services fill gaps in the system of care and include basic health services and health services for children with special health care needs.  2) Enabling services help remove barriers in access to care, and include transportation, translation, outreach, respite care, health education, family support services, purchase of health insurance, case management, coordination with Medicaid, WIC, and education.  3) Population-based services include newborn screening, lead screening, immunization, sudden infant death syndrome counseling, oral health, injury prevention, nutrition and outreach/public education.  4) Infrastructure-building services include needs assessment, evaluation, planning, policy development, coordination, quality assurance, standards development, monitoring, training, applied research, systems of care, and information systems. 

 (Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Understanding Title V of the Social Security Act.)

What prohibitions exist for using MCH Block Grant funds?

A state must NOT use MCH Block Grant funds for the following:

• Inpatient services, other than for children with special health care needs of high-risk pregnant women and infants and such other inpatient services as the Secretary may approve.
• Cash payments to intended recipients of services.
• The purchase or improvement of land, the purchase, construction, permanent improvement of any building or facility (other than minor remodeling), or the purchase of major medical equipment.
• Satisfying any requirement for the expenditure of non-Federal funds as a condition for the receipt of Federal funds.  Further, Federal funds from other block grants (e.g., Preventive Health) may be transferred into the MCH Block Grant Program by States, but MCH Block Grant funds may not be transferred to any other program.
• Providing funds for research or training to any entity other than a public or nonprofit private entity.

(Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Understanding Title V of the Social Security Act.)

What are the major funding categories of the MCH Block Grant?

Formula grants (approximately 85 percent of the total funds) are awarded to state health agencies on the basis of the number of children in poverty in a state in relation to the total number of such children nationally.  Two types of Federally administered discretionary grants are awarded on a competitive basis to a variety of applicant organizations:  Special Projects of Regional and National Significance (SPRANS) and Community Integrated Service Systems (CISS).

(Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Understanding Title V of the Social Security Act.)

What determines a state’s funding?

The amount available for the States is allocated based on two factors:  1) the amount awarded to the States in 1981 for the pre-block programs later consolidated into the State grant ($422 million); and 2) the remaining amount is distributed based on the proportion of low-income children that a State bears to the total number of such children for all the States.

(Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Understanding Title V of the Social Security Act.)

What is the state’s obligation for expenditures and matching requirements?

States must provide a three-dollar match for every four Federal dollars allocated.  “In-kind” matching is permitted, but Federal funds from other sources may not be used to match the Federal MCH Block Grant allocation.  States must use at least 30 percent of funds received for preventive and primary care services for children, and at least 30 percent for services for children with special health care needs.  The state must also maintain the level of funds being provided solely by the state for maternal and child health programs at a level at least equal to the level provided in FY 1989.

(Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Understanding Title V of the Social Security Act.)

There is a standardized application, which provides a mechanism for program planning, management, measurement of progress, and accounting for the costs of state efforts.  
The application is due on July 15^th of each fiscal year preceding the application year. 

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What is the five-year statewide needs assessment?

Every five years, the block grant application must include a statewide needs assessment that identifies the need for preventive and primary care services for pregnant women, mothers and infants up to age one year; preventive and primary care services for children; family-centered, community-based services for children with special health care needs and their families; and a review of the data items to be used in the needs assessment. Every year the application must include a plan for meeting the needs identified by the statewide needs assessment; and a description of how the funds allotted to the state will be used for the provision and coordination services in the plan.  The application must be developed by or in coordination with the State’s MCH agency and made public within the State in a way that facilitates public comment. (Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau,  Understanding Title V of the Social Security Act). To view the Year 2005 MCH Needs Assessment[PDF 1.59M]

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MCHB has developed an electronic Title V Information System to capture standardized state performance and health outcome measurement data; fiscal data and numbers of clients served by class of individual, source, and service type; screening and treatment data; State priority needs, state Title V initiatives; MCH toll-free hotline data; and CSHCN service system data.  The Title V Information System, with links to states’ block grant application narratives and forms can be viewed online at:
https://performance.hrsa.gov/mchb/mchreports/Search/search.asp.