	Introduction

The Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Services Block Grant is administered by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Generally, these services are provided to pregnant women, mothers, children, and children with special health care needs (CSHCNs), some of whom are also eligible for and receive services from Medicaid or the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The MCH Services Block Grant is composed of three funding programs. A federal-state partnership is a program that joins a federal agency with a state or jurisdiction, in order for the two to address a certain issue. Congress established this block grant under Title V of the Social Security Act (SSA, P.L. Program History

The MCH Services Block Grant was established to serve as a single block grant under the previous SSA statutory heading, "Title V – Grants to States for Maternal and Child Welfare"; which was referred to as "Title V." In 1981, Congress combined the MCH Services Block Grant with other maternal and child health services and programs. Such services and programs aimed to improve the health of mothers and children, particularly those in low-income households. The MCH Services Block Grant enables states to 
ensure that quality health care is provided to mothers and children, particularly to those with low incomes or limited availability of care; reduce the number of infant deaths, preventable diseases, and handicapping conditions among children; reduce hospital inpatient and long-term care services; increase the number of low-income children who receive health assessments and follow-up diagnostic and treatment services; provide perinatal care to low-income, at-risk women and provide preventive and primary care services to low-income children; provide rehabilitation services that are not under subchapter XIX of the SSA to blind and disabled children who are under the age of 16 and who are beneficiaries under subchapter XVI of the SSA; provide family-centered, community-based, and care-coordinated services; and enable the development of community-based systems for CSHCNs. Programs and Services

The primary use of funds under the MCH Services Block Grant, including formula grants to states, competitive grants for Special Projects of Regional and National Significance (SPRANS), and competitive grants for projects through the Community Integrated Services Systems (CISS) program, is to provide core public health services for low-income mothers and children. Types of Funded Services

There are four types of funded services: (1) direct health care services, (2) enabling services, (3) population-based services, and (4) infrastructure building services. 114-223 ), Congress provided $20 million in supplemental funding to the SPRANS program to help territories respond to the Zika virus. Appropriations History

In FY2016, HRSA received $638.2 million for the MCH Services Block Grant program. As a result of the FY2016 appropriation and as shown in HRSA's FY2018 congressional budget justification report, $77.1 million (12.08%; the SSA calls for 15%) was for SPRANS, $10.3 million (1.61%) was for CISS, and $550.8 million (86.31%) was for block grants to states.
The Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Services Block Grant is a federal-state partnership program that aims to improve the health of low-income pregnant women, mothers, and children. In addition, the program aims to connect low-income families with other services and programs, such as Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). This federal-state partnership is composed of three programs. First, formula-based block grants are provided to states and territories (collectively referred to as states in this report). Second, competitive grants are available through the Special Projects of Regional and National Significance (SPRANS) program. Third, competitive grants are available through the Community Integrated Service Systems (CISS) program. As a whole, these programs are administered by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This block grant was authorized under Title V of the Social Security Act (SSA).
Appropriations
The MCH Services Block Grant received an appropriation of $638.2 million in FY2016. Of that amount, approximately $550.8 million (86.31%) was for block grants to states, $77.1 million (12.08%) was for SPRANS, and $10.3 million (1.61%) was for CISS. Congress provided $20 million in supplemental funding to the SPRANS program to help territories respond to the Zika virus.
Eligible Population
Although the MCH Services Block Grant program primarily serves low-income pregnant women, mothers, and children, individuals who are not from low-income families are also eligible to receive services. Such recipients may include nonpregnant women who are over 21 years of age.
Program Services
MCH Services Block Grant funds are distributed for the purpose of funding core public health services provided by maternal and child health agencies. These core services are often divided into four categories: (1) direct health care, (2) enabling services, (3) population-based services, and (4) infrastructure building. Within these categories, the MCH Services Block Grant supports a wide array of programs, including newborn screening, health services for children with special health care needs (CSHCNs), and immunization programs.
Topics Covered in This Report
This report provides background and funding information on the MCH Services Block Grant. It also includes select program and health expenditure data to provide context on issues that Congress and HRSA have sought to address through this block grant program.