Federal Title V Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant funds support preventive and primary care health services for women and children. The Title V block grant is a federal-state partnership to address priority needs identified through a comprehensive needs assessment.
North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) has recently completed its five-year needs assessment to identify new or emerging priorities for the maternal and child health population. New activities for the priorities will begin Oct. 1, 2025, and run until Sept. 30, 2030. HHS is inviting public comment on the draft priorities now through April 4.
North Dakota’s priorities address the state’s plan to provide services to the maternal and child health population. The following priority areas were identified:
- Identify, reduce or eliminate barriers preventing women from receiving recommended postpartum care, including but not limited to mental health screening, breastfeeding support, care coordination and other support;
- Use statewide resources to educate about and implement infant safe sleep best practices;
- Expand partnerships with existing community resources (schools, food banks, local public health units, etc.) to improve access to healthy food options;
- Improve care coordination to link the pediatric population to essential services and resources;
- Identify, reduce or eliminate barriers preventing adolescents from receiving mental health treatment and counseling; and
- Improve the system of care for children with special health care needs.
Public Comment
To view details on the draft priorities, visit: hhs.nd.gov/nd-mch-priorities. Copies will also be provided upon request.
Individuals can provide public comment by April 3, 2025, by email to krhruby@nd.gov, by phone to (701) 328-4854, 711 (TTY) or by mail to North Dakota Health and Human Services - Public Health Division, Attn: Kimberly Hruby, 600 E. Boulevard Ave., Dept. 325, Bismarck, N.D., 58505-0250.