Choosing Childbirth Program

The Choosing Childbirth program is administered by the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) under the authority of the Choosing Childbirth Act. This state-funded initiative is designed to support not-for-profit organizations operating in Oklahoma that provide services, education, and resources to pregnant women or women who believe they may become pregnant. The overarching goal of the program is to empower women to make informed decisions regarding childbirth, adoption, or parenting, while also supporting the long-term well-being of both the mother and child through early childhood, up to age three. OSDH provides oversight, and in some cases technical assistance, through its Family Support and Prevention Service division. The program funds services that are outcome-based and must demonstrate measurable positive results through established evaluation methods. Eligible services include a broad range of supports such as prenatal medical care coordination, mental health and substance use services, nutritional assistance, housing and transportation support, adoption services, and education or employment assistance. Parenting education and support services are also central to the program, including evidence-based or evidence-informed models such as home visitation programs, family resource centers, community health worker initiatives, and doula services. These services must align with legislative intent and demonstrate the ability to improve maternal and child outcomes. Funding is distributed through a competitive process with a total program allocation of approximately 17,640,000 dollars. Awards are structured across three tiers: minimum, medium, and maximum funding levels. Minimum awards range from 300,000 to 500,000 dollars annually, medium awards from 1,000,000 to 2,000,000 dollars annually, and maximum awards from 3,000,000 to 5,000,000 dollars annually. Funding is provided on an annual basis within a three-year project cycle, and applicants are required to submit a detailed budget for each year. Although cost sharing is not required, applicants may propose matching funds at their own discretion. The funding period follows a structured three-year cycle beginning October 1, 2024, and ending September 30, 2027, with annual renewals contingent upon performance and legislative appropriations. Awarded recipients for the current cycle began their projects on December 1, 2024, and continuation is dependent on satisfactory outcomes and compliance with program requirements. Applications must demonstrate how proposed services expand or enhance existing efforts, ensuring no duplication of funding for the same services across different funding streams. Eligibility is limited to not-for-profit organizations registered with the Oklahoma Secretary of State and operating within Oklahoma. Organizations must comply with strict legislative requirements, including prohibitions against providing or referring for abortion services except where necessary to prevent death. Faith-based organizations may apply but must ensure that participation in religious activities is voluntary and that grant-funded services are not used for religious instruction or proselytization. Additionally, organizations may not charge clients for services funded through this grant, although billing third-party payers such as Medicaid is permitted as long as no cost is passed on to the client. The application process requires submission of a comprehensive proposal including a work plan, budget for each year of the funding cycle, organizational documentation, and compliance materials. Applicants must also demonstrate data tracking and evaluation capacity, often using systems aligned with OSDH such as Efforts to Outcomes or Qualtrics. The Notice of Funding Opportunity for this cycle closed on September 11, 2024, and applications were submitted via email. Questions regarding the program may be directed to the official program email at Choosing.Childbirth@health.ok.gov. The program is expected to recur based on legislative funding, with future application cycles anticipated near the conclusion of the current funding period.

Demonstrate clear expansion of services not duplication; align services with evidence-based models; ensure strong outcome tracking and evaluation capacity; provide detailed and justified multi-year budgets