A practical guide to grants for maternal and child health programs, HRSA MCH, CDC, ACF, state Title V, and foundation funders.
2025–2026 STATUS UPDATE: Title X (federal family planning) funding has been disrupted. In April 2025 HHS withheld $65.8M from 16 of 86 Title X grantees; funds were restored in December 2025 after litigation. The HHS Office of Population Affairs (OPA), which administers Title X, has been effectively shut down (KFF Health News). FY 2026 budget proposes eliminating the program. Verify current status at HHS OPA.
HHS announced restructuring in March 2025 that consolidates SAMHSA, HRSA, OASH, ATSDR, and NIOSH into a new “Administration for a Healthy America (AHA)” as part of a ~25% HHS workforce reduction. Programs and contact pathways may have shifted. Verify at hhs.gov.
Maternal and child health has a strong federal funding base centered on HRSA Maternal and Child Health Bureau, CDC programs, ACF home visiting, and state Title V programs, plus growing foundation interest in maternal health equity.
TL;DR
- Who funds MCH? HRSA MCHB, CDC, ACF MIECHV, state Title V, foundations.
- Who can apply? State health departments, hospitals, FQHCs, nonprofits, home visiting programs, doulas, midwives.
- What gets funded? Home visiting, perinatal care, prenatal-postpartum services, doula support, perinatal mental health, infant mortality reduction.
Federal Funding
HRSA Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB). Title V Block Grant (formula to states), Healthy Start, RMOMS (Rural Maternity and Obstetrics Management Strategies), Children’s Mental Health (Project LAUNCH historically), and many discretionary programs.
ACF Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV). State-administered evidence-based home visiting.
CDC. Perinatal Quality Collaboratives, maternal mortality surveillance, WIC (with USDA).
USDA WIC. Through state agencies.
State Programs
Title V is state-administered with substantial state programming. State maternal mortality review committees and perinatal quality collaboratives engage local providers.
Foundation Funders
- March of Dimes.
- Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
- W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
- Bezos Family Foundation.
- Heising-Simons Foundation.
- Health conversion foundations.
- Community foundations.
What Gets Funded
- Home visiting.
- Perinatal and postpartum care.
- Doula and midwifery services.
- Perinatal mental health.
- Reducing maternal mortality and morbidity, especially for Black and Indigenous birthing people.
- Infant mortality reduction.
- Family planning and reproductive health.
- WIC and nutrition.
How Grantboost Helps
Grantboost surfaces MCH funding across HRSA, CDC, ACF, USDA, state, and foundation sources, with drafts in your organization’s voice (see training AI on your past proposals).
Read next:
- HRSA Grants: A Guide to Health Resources and Services Administration Funding
- ACF Grants: A Guide to Administration for Children and Families Funding
- Grants for Early Childhood Education
Further Reading
- HRSA Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB)
- CDC Maternal Mortality
- ACF MIECHV (Home Visiting)
- Grants.gov (federal funding portal)
- Wikipedia: Maternal mortality in the United States
Disclaimer: Grant programs, eligibility rules, deadlines, and policies vary by region and change frequently. The information in this article is for general informational purposes only and may not reflect the current rules in your area. Always consult a local grant writer or qualified expert in your region for advice specific to your organization, project, and jurisdiction.