Maternal Care Access Project (MCAP) Grant

The Maternal Care Access Project (MCAP) Grant is administered by the South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) as part of its Maternal and Child Health initiatives. This competitive funding opportunity seeks to address persistent disparities in maternal health outcomes across South Carolina, particularly in rural and underserved regions identified as maternal health deserts. These areas face limited or no access to routine prenatal and postpartum care due to factors such as provider shortages, hospital closures, and transportation barriers. Through this grant, DPH aims to expand access to high-quality maternal healthcare services by funding the establishment and operation of a Mobile Maternity Unit (MMU). The primary purpose of the MCAP Grant is to improve maternal health outcomes by increasing access to evidence-based prenatal and postpartum services. The program emphasizes continuity of care, integration with existing healthcare systems, and service delivery regardless of a patient’s ability to pay. The selected grantee will be responsible for designing, launching, and sustaining a mobile care model that provides comprehensive maternal clinical services, including prenatal visits, postpartum follow-up, chronic condition monitoring, behavioral health screenings, lactation support, and referral coordination. The MMU must operate in designated high-need counties and align with clinical standards such as those established by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Funding under this program is structured in two components: capital funding and operating funding. The capital component provides up to 702,750 dollars in reimbursement for the purchase and outfitting of a mobile maternity unit, including medical equipment, technology, and customization for clinical use. The operating component provides up to 1,400,000 dollars annually to support staffing, service delivery, outreach, and administrative functions. These operating funds are distributed as fixed monthly payments and are not tied to service volume or reimbursable costs. Over the life of the grant, total operating funding may not exceed 7,000,000 dollars. Funds must be used exclusively for program-related activities and cannot be redirected to unrelated purposes. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations and governmental entities such as Federally Qualified Health Centers and healthcare systems. Applicants must demonstrate experience in maternal healthcare delivery, financial solvency, administrative capacity, and compliance with applicable regulations. They must also show the ability to operate a mobile clinical unit, deliver services according to evidence-based guidelines, and serve uninsured and underinsured populations without denying care based on ability to pay. Additional requirements include maintaining appropriate staffing, ensuring data integration with electronic health records, and coordinating care with local healthcare providers. The application process requires submission of a complete proposal including a cover letter, organizational documentation, detailed program design, staffing plans, outreach strategies, and financial information. Applications may be submitted electronically or via physical delivery to the DPH Contract Approvals Office. Applicants must include one original and four copies for physical submissions. The deadline for submission is February 13, 2026 at 5:00 PM Eastern Time. Questions regarding the application were accepted until January 9, 2026, with responses published by January 30, 2026. Applications are evaluated through a multi-step review process. Initial screening is conducted by DPH Maternal and Child Health staff to assess eligibility and completeness. Qualified applications are then reviewed by an internal panel based on criteria including program design, organizational capacity, financial stability, readiness, and community engagement strategies. Final award decisions are made at the discretion of DPH, with notifications anticipated by April 6, 2026. The grant period is expected to begin around April 25, 2026 and extend through April 30, 2029, with potential renewals up to 2031. The program includes ongoing monitoring, reporting requirements, and performance evaluations to ensure accountability and effectiveness in improving maternal health outcomes.

Focus on demonstrating operational readiness, strong community partnerships, and a clear deployment strategy aligned with underserved areas; ensure financial sustainability and compliance capacity