FOR RELEASE: March 19, 2002
CONTACT: Dick Gunn
405/271-5601

Public Input Sought for Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant

Officials with the Oklahoma State Department of Health are seeking comments from the public regarding the Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant (Title V of the Social Security Act).

Public input is needed for the development of the grant's State Plan for Services for the 2003 fiscal year. The grant provides federal funds for the Maternal and Child Health program, whose primary goal is to improve the health status of pregnant women, mothers, infants, and children, including children with special health care needs. Funds from the block grant assure that these groups, particularly those with low income or with limited availability of services, have access to quality maternal and child health care services.

The long-term outcomes for these services include the following:

• Significantly reduce infant mortality.
• Provide comprehensive care for women before, during and after pregnancy and childbirth.
• Provide preventive and primary care services for children and adolescents.
• Provide comprehensive care for children and adolescents with special health needs.
• Immunize all our children.
• Reduce adolescent pregnancy.
• Prevent injury and violence.
• Put into community practice national standards and guidelines for prenatal care, for healthy and safe child care, and for the health supervision of infants, children, and adolescents.
• Assure access to care for all mothers and children.
• Meet the nutritional and developmental needs of mothers, children, and families.

Written comments must be received before May 1, 2002. Comments should be forwarded to: Edd D. Rhoades, MD, Title V Director, Family Health Services, Oklahoma State Department of Health, 1000 N.E. 10th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73117; email: eddr@health.state.ok.us.

###