The Department of Health is initiating Black Maternal Health Week (April 11-17) by announcing that community-based organizations are eligible to apply for grants aimed at addressing maternal health issues across Pennsylvania by forming regional coalitions. Governor Shapiro secured state funding for this effort in the 2023-24 budget, allocating up to $1.8 million from the current budget.
Maternal health is a national concern, with pregnancy-associated death rates increasing in recent years. In Pennsylvania, there are 83 pregnancy-associated deaths per 100,000 live births, with 107 deaths recorded in 2020 during pregnancy, delivery, or within one year postpartum. Black women face a disproportionately higher risk, being nearly twice as likely to die during pregnancy or within the first year after pregnancy compared to white women.
Acting Secretary of Health Dr. Debra Bogen emphasized the need to address this health equity issue, stating that maternal mortality disproportionately affects Black women and their families. The Shapiro Administration aims to tackle this by forming regional coalitions to implement recommendations from the 2024 Pennsylvania Maternal Mortality Review Committee (MMRC) report, with the goal of improving maternal health at the local level.
The funding for these grants is sourced from the current year’s budget, where Governor Josh Shapiro allocated $2.3 million to study and implement MMRC recommendations for preventing maternal mortality. The 2024-25 proposed budget plans to invest an additional $2.7 million to address and prevent maternal mortality, particularly among Black mothers. The newly-established Division of Maternal Health Services within the Department of Health’s Bureau of Family Health will oversee the MMRC administration and grant funding implementation.
The grant agreement term for the Regional Maternal Health Coalitions is expected to be from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2027, contingent upon funding availability. An optional online pre-application conference is scheduled for April 15 at 11:00 AM, and applications must be submitted no later than 1:30 PM on April 30. More information about the application process is available online.
