WIC Maternal Health Center Grant

The WIC Maternal Health Center Grant Request for Applications is a federally supported funding opportunity administered through the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, specifically within the WIC Maternal Health Center housed at the Gillings School of Global Public Health. This initiative is funded through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and is designed to strengthen the capacity of Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children agencies to address maternal health risks. The program focuses on improving the ability of WIC state and local agencies to help women identify and respond to warning signs of morbidity and mortality during pregnancy and the postpartum period, while also building sustainable program capacity beyond the grant period. The primary purpose of this funding opportunity is to support implementation of one of four predefined maternal health initiatives. These include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Hear Her Campaign, urgent maternal warning signs education, blood pressure screening and referral, and psychosocial screening and referral addressing issues such as interpersonal violence, perinatal depression, and substance use. Each initiative is designed to increase awareness and promote timely referral to appropriate care. Applicants may submit more than one proposal, but only one initiative will be funded per agency if selected. Funding is available for up to 200000 dollars per awardee over a 24 month performance period. The funding supports both program implementation and a required evaluation component, which will be co-designed and conducted in partnership with the WIC Maternal Health Center. While applicants may request the full amount, the awarding body reserves the right to adjust funding levels based on application quality and program priorities. Funds are intended to cover implementation activities, evaluation collaboration, and required participation in program meetings and reporting. The WIC Maternal Health Center provides extensive support to awardees, including training, technical assistance, and decision support throughout the project lifecycle. Training components are pre-developed and delivered by WIC MHC staff, meaning applicants are not responsible for designing or delivering training themselves. Awardees are expected to collaborate with the center on evaluation activities, submit monthly reports and invoices, and participate in both virtual and in-person convenings, including a required in-person meeting in Chapel Hill, North Carolina during Spring 2027. Eligibility is limited to WIC state and local agencies within the United States, including all 50 states, the District of Columbia, 32 Indian Tribal Organizations, and five U.S. territories. Local agencies must demonstrate support from their corresponding state WIC agency. Applications must be submitted through the Reviewr online system, and applicants are required to select one initiative as part of their submission. Attendance at a mandatory webinar or review of a recorded session is required for eligibility. The application timeline begins with the release of the request for applications on May 4, 2026, followed by informational webinars and optional office hours throughout May and June. The final application deadline is July 6, 2026. Selected applicants will be notified in August 2026, with program implementation expected to begin around November 2, 2026 and conclude on October 31, 2028. Deliverables include ongoing reporting, final evaluation data, and participation in a closing event. This opportunity does not specify recurring funding cycles and appears to be a one-time competitive solicitation tied to a specific cooperative agreement. All inquiries are directed to the WIC Maternal Health Center via email, and applicants are encouraged to review available resource guides and application materials provided through the program website prior to submission.

Ensure alignment with one initiative and demonstrate capacity for implementation and evaluation collaboration