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Healthy Start Initiative: Eliminating Disparities in Perinatal Health

Link

https://www.hrsa.gov/grants/find-funding/HRSA-24-033

Additional Links

Notice of Funding Opportunity (Grants.gov)

Deadline

Application Deadline: Dec 15, 2023

Sponsor

Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB)

Purpose

Offers funding to communities to address high rates of infant death by improving health outcomes before, during, and after pregnancy and reducing well-documented racial/ethnic differences in rates of infant death and adverse perinatal outcomes. Intends to support projects in diverse communities and populations, including rural, urban, non-Hispanic Black, American Indian/Alaskan Native populations, experiencing the greatest disparities in maternal and infant health outcomes.

The Healthy Start program goals include:

Continue to reduce infant mortality rates in the United States
Decrease disparities in infant mortality and poor perinatal health outcomes in areas where those rates are high

Program focus areas include:

Providing direct and enabling services, including screening and referrals, case management, care coordination, health and parenting education, and linkages to clinical care, to enrolled Healthy Start participants
Convening a community consortia comprised of diverse multi-sector partners that advise and inform Healthy Start activities, as well as to develop and implement action plans to improve perinatal outcomes within the project area

More information about Healthy Start program goals, strategic approaches, services, and performance measures can be found online.

Amount of Funding

Award ceiling: $1,100,000
Project period: 5 years
Estimated number of awards: Up to 103
Estimated total program funding: $113,645,000

Who Can Apply

Eligible applicants include public or private entities, community-based organizations, and tribes and tribal organizations.

Applicants must define a project area and target population in their proposal using the following criteria:

Eligible Project Area is a geographic area in which proposed services will be implemented consisting of communities experiencing rates of infant mortality that are 1.5 times the national average or greater and that do not already have access to Healthy Start Services. Applicants can use the Rural Health Grants Eligibility Analyzer to determine and identify their project area as rural or urban.

Eligible Target Population is the population served within the geographic project area and should be the population with the highest rate of infant deaths, low birthweight, or preterm birth within the project area.

Direct and Enabling Services for Healthy Start Participants should be tailored to meet the needs of the project area and target population, ensuring strategies and activities are culturally responsive and linguistically appropriate. More information on determining the type and intensity of services can be found in the funding announcement.

Applicants must propose a project area that does not overlap with a current Healthy Start or Healthy Start Initiative - Enhanced (HSE) project. A list of HSE project areas can be found in Appendix H of the funding announcement. HSE award recipients that propose a new project area are eligible for this opportunity.

Geographic Coverage

Nationwide

What This Program Funds

New Program • Operating Costs and Staffing

Application Process

Application instructions, requirements, and other information about the online application process are available in the funding announcement.

Applicant webinar recording
Applicant frequently asked questions

Contact

For programmatic or technical questions:
Mia Morrison, MPH
301-443-2521
MCHBHealthyStart@hrsa.gov

For grants management or budget questions:
Tya Renwick
301-549-0227
trenwick@hrsa.gov

Rural Awards

Past awards communities received in fiscal year 2024 can be found on the program website.

Rural communities who have received funding include:

Laurens County Board of Health in Dublin, Georgia
Indiana Rural Health Association, Inc. in Washington, Indiana
University of North Carolina at Pembroke
Lift Community Action Agency, Inc. in Hugo, Oklahoma

Topics This Program Addresses

Community Planning and Coalition Building • Health and Wellness • Health Education for Community and Patients • Healthcare Workforce • Social Service Supports