Maternal and Child Health Block Grant

The Maternal and Child Health Block grant funds support state and local activities to improve the health of women, infants, children, youth, and their families.

To receive the grant each year, the Office of Family and Community Health Improvement submits an application and report to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau. The application includes:

  • Data on several national and state performance measures
  • A budget summary
  • A report on past, present, and planned activities.

Washington’s Plan to Support Women, Children, and Families (2025–2030)

Read about Washington State Department of Health’s (DOH) plan to help women, caregivers, children, and youth, including those with disabilities thrive.

Maternal and Child Health (MCH) State Action Plan

Vision: To Increase the Health and Well-Being of Families, Children, and Adolescents

What We're Working Toward

  • All mothers and babies are:  
    • Safe, healthy, and cared for 
    • Thriving before, during, and after pregnancy 
  • All children and youth are:  
    • Safe, healthy, and cared for  
    • Thriving at home, school, and in community 
  • All children and youth with special health care needs and their families: 
    • Receive the care they need to thrive from prenatal to adulthood 
  • State and local MCH systems are: 
    • Comprehensive, well-coordinated, and easily accessible 
    • Responsive to individual, family and community needs 

What We're Focusing On

These key themes anchor the plan and were identified through data and community input: 

Economic security and basic needs
Health care access and quality
Social-emotional well-being and support
System coordination

Health Impact Areas 

Women and Maternal Health

Priority needs: Expand access to timely, high quality maternal health care
Five-year objectives:
  • More mothers who attend postpartum visit within 12 weeks of delivery increase to 92%  
     
  • More mothers receive prenatal care in their first trimester increase to 79% 

Prenatal and Infant Health

Priority needs: Increased support for new parents and caregivers.
Five-year objectives:
  • More infants who have ever breastfed increase to 94% 
     
  • More postpartum women receiving a home visit after delivery of a baby increase to 15% 
     
  • Fewer parents reporting material hardship in at least 1 area of basic needs decrease to 35%

Child Health

Priority needs:
  • Access to comprehensive and family-centered pediatric care
     
  • Access to child and family basic needs and community resources
Five-year objectives:
  • More children ages 0–17 years with a medical home increase to 53% 
     
  • More children in low-income families who are ready for kindergarten increase to 45%

Adolescent Health

Priority needs: Access to youth-friendly health services and well-being support
Five-year objectives:
  • More 10th grade students who report they have seen a provider in the past 12 months for a reason other than being sick increase to 68% 
     
  • Fewer 10th graders who report having no adults to turn to when feeling sad or depressed decrease to 10%

Children And Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN)

Priority needs: Access to comprehensive and coordinated health services and supports
Five-year objectives:
  • More CYSHCN receive needed care coordination increase to 50% 
     
  • More CYSHCN can get the needed referrals increase to 71% 
     
  • More CYSHCN receive family-centered care increase to 82% 

Cross-Cutting and Systems Building

Priority needs: System coordination and collaboration for Prenatal-to-5 and CYSHCN populations.
Five-year objectives:
  • More governmental public health partners report that collaboration has resulted in streamlining workflows, leveraging points of influence, and systems improvements. 
     
  • More family leaders engaged in Maternal and Child Health Block Grant Process 

More Information

2026 Application and 2024 Report

Read the Draft Executive Summary of the Maternal Child Health Block Grant 2026 Application and 2024 Report (PDF).

Local Health Jurisdiction Success Stories from the Previous Application and Report