OFFICE OF MATERNAL CHILD & FAMILY HEALTH

OMCFH:  Progress Through Partnership

The mission of the Office of Maternal, Child and Family Health is to provide leadership to support state and community efforts to build systems of care that assure the health and well-being of all West Virginians.

OVERVIEW

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. For over 80 years, the Federal Title V Maternal and Child Health program has provided a foundation for ensuring the health of the Nation’s mothers, women, children and youth, including children and youth with special health care needs and their families. Title V converted to a Block Grant Program in 1981.

Specifically, the Title V Maternal and Child Health program seeks to:

1. Assure access to quality care, especially for those with low-incomes or limited
   availability of care;
2. Reduce infant mortality;
3. Provide and ensure access to comprehensive prenatal and postnatal care to
   women (especially low-income and at-risk pregnant women);
4. Increase the number of children receiving health assessments and follow-up
   diagnostic and treatment services;
5. Provide and ensure access to preventive and child care services as well as
   rehabilitative services for certain children;
6. Implement family-centered, community-based, systems of coordinated care for
   children with special health care needs; and
7. Provide toll-free hotlines and assistance in applying for services to pregnant
   women with infants and children who are eligible for Title XIX (Medicaid).

State Maternal and Child Health agencies (which are usually located within a State health department) apply for and receive a formula grant each year. In addition to the submission of a yearly application and annual report, State Title V programs are also required to conduct a statewide, comprehensive Needs Assessment every five years. States and jurisdictions use their Title V funds to design and implement a wide range of maternal and child health and children with special health care needs activities that address National and State needs.

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

1. Focuses exclusively on the entire maternal and child health population;
2. Encompasses infrastructure, population-based, enabling and direct services for
   the maternal and child health population;
3. Requires a unique partnership arrangement between Federal, state and local
   entities;
4. Requires each state to work collaboratively with other organizations to conduct
   a statewide, comprehensive Needs Assessment every five years;
5. Based on the findings of the Needs Assessment, requires each state to identify
   priorities to comprehensively address the needs of the MCH population and guide
   the use of the Maternal and Child Health Block Grant funds; and
6. 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.