LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — On August 27, the Arkansas Department of Health was awarded $8,811,006 in funding to help improve maternal health across the state.
The funding comes as part of over $568 million announced by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through the Biden-Harris Administration’s White House Blueprint for Addressing the Maternal Health Crisis.
The Health Resources and Services Administration is also awarding over $440 million to expand voluntary, evidence-based maternal, infant, and early childhood home visiting services for eligible families across the US.
The home visiting program funds states, jurisdictions and tribal entities to develop and implement evidence-based, voluntary programs that best meet the needs of their communities.
Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced a $118.5 million investment that will take place over five years to continue building the public health infrastructure in 46 states.
“As someone who has spent my entire career fighting for the health and well-being of women and children, I am committed to addressing a maternal health crisis in which women across America are dying before, during, and after childbirth at higher rates than in any other developed nation. That is why I called on states to extend Medicaid postpartum coverage from two months to 12 months and announced the launch of the White House Blueprint for Addressing the Maternal Health Crisis, an unprecedented whole-of-government strategy to improving maternal care,” said Vice President Harris. “Today, we are building on this lifesaving work by awarding more than $558 million to improve maternal health across America. This includes a critical $440 million to support pregnant women, new mothers, and their children through home visiting programs that will improve health outcomes, child development, and access to resources for years to come.”
For a complete list of Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program awardees, click here.
