The Biden-Harris administration is continuing its work to address the maternal mortality crisis in the U.S. — earlier this week, alongside the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the White House announced more than $558 million in funding for programs to support maternal mental health.
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), an agency of HHS, said more than $440 million of the award would go toward expanding maternal, infant, and early childhood home visiting programs across the country. Through this program, local organizations can send nurses, social workers, and other trained health workers to visit families in their homes to provide ongoing prenatal care and postpartum support. Some of the programs they offer include support on breastfeeding, safe sleep for babies, early language development, developmental screening, and connecting families with other resources in their communities as needed.
The Biden-Harris administration is the first in nearly 10 years to expand the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting program, which gives leeway to local communities to design programs in evidence-based ways to meet the needs of their mothers and families.
“As someone who has spent my entire career fighting for the health and wellbeing 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,” Vice President Kamala Harris said in a statement.
“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.”
HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra added, “Bringing home a baby can be stressful. Many new parents face additional challenges such as housing, or income insecurity, which can make the whole situation even more daunting. But we know from decades of research that home visits work – from helping with school readiness and achievement for children to improving health for women.
President Biden and Vice President Harris know how important it is to support children in their most crucial years of development so they can grow up to be healthy, happy adults. We will continue to make resources and support available, and elevate maternal health issues so that more women and families know that help is available.”
