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Public Policy

The goal of the Disability Policy Collaboration is to impact national public policy for people with developmental disabilities, including those with cerebral palsy and intellectual disability, and their friends, families and loved ones.

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Labor-HHS-Education

Increased Funding for Maternal and Child Health Block Grant Urged by UCP and 19 Other National Groups

The federal Maternal and Child Health Block Grant (MCHBG) provides funds to states for important services including special programs to prevent and treat birth-related disabilities, as well as well-baby immunizations and school health services for uninsured low-income children. MCHBG funding for federal Fiscal Year 2002, which began October 1, has not yet been set because differences in funding amounts in the Senate and House Appropriations bills have not been resolved.

UCP and 19 other national groups have sent a letter to Congress, urging it to adopt the House bill’s MCHBG funding level of $740 Million. This compares to $710 Million in Fiscal Year 2001.

Dear Senator:

We, the undersigned organizations, are writing to ask your support in the Labor-HHS-and Education bill conference for the House proposed level of funding for the Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant--$740 M. Established in 1935 as Title V of the Social Security Act, the MCH Block grant is an original component of our nation’s health care safety net. The number of women, children and adolescents served directly by the MCH Block Grant has more than doubled in recent years, from 11.7 million in 1992 to more than 26 million in 2000.

The MCH Block Grant supports a broad range of state public health activities including:

  • Prenatal care and early intervention services, including the reduction of infant mortality
  • Well child services and immunizations
  • Prevention of injury and violence
  • Reduction of racial and ethnic disparities
  • Provision of comprehensive care for children, adolescents, and families through clinics, home visits and school-based health programs.

Children with disabilities or other special health care needs (CSHCN) and their families rely on MCH programs to provide specialized health and support services, and to coordinate the complex range of services that these children need. MCH programs directly provide, fund, and coordinate services for nearly one million children and adolescents with special health care needs.

MCH Block Grant funds also support the training of the MCH public health workforce which is so critical during this time of emphasis on preparedness. MCH Block Grant funds also provide critical support to MCH research and demonstration projects that test new interventions to improve the health of women, children and families.

Each state MCH program has just completed a needs assessment that is conducted every five years. State MCH programs identified a number of areas of unmet needs that new funds could be used to address:

  • Oral health
  • Mental health services
  • Improving the delivery of CSHCN family support services and care options
  • Reducing Infant Mortality, including the disparity between the white and black infant mortality rates.

The MCH Block Grant’s funding has failed to keep pace with inflation over the past decade in spite of increasing numbers of people served. The authorization for the MCH Block Grant was increased to $850 M last year and we urge you to increase FY 2002’s funding to the House appropriated level of $740 M.

Sincerely,

The Friends of Title V
Ambulatory Pediatric Association
American Academy of Pediatrics
Association of University Centers on Disabilities
American College of Nurse-Midwives
American Dental Association
American Pediatric Society
American Psychological Association
Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs
Association of Medical School Pediatric Department Chairs
Association of State and Territorial Health Officials
Association of State and Territorial Public Health Nutrition Directors
Association of Teachers of Maternal and Child Health
Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses
CityMatCH
March of Dimes
National Assembly on School -Based Health Care
National Network for Youth
Society for Adolescent Medicine
Society for Pediatric Research
United Cerebral Palsy Associations