MCH Strategic Initiatives Grant Program

The MCH Strategic Initiatives Funding Opportunity is administered by the Indiana Department of Health through its Maternal and Child Health Division. This initiative is designed to support statewide efforts to improve maternal, infant, child, and adolescent health outcomes, with a particular emphasis on reducing infant mortality. The funding aligns with the state’s broader Maternal and Child Health priorities established through the Title V Block Grant Needs Assessment, which guides programming through 2030. These priorities focus on improving physical health, addressing upstream determinants, enhancing data and evaluation systems, and strengthening family and community well being. This funding opportunity provides competitive grants for community driven programs that address identified health disparities and gaps within Indiana communities. The program is structured as a two year, performance based grant with a potential extension. Organizations that demonstrate measurable improvement in selected outcomes during the initial funding period may be eligible for an additional two year performance award of up to the original award amount. The anticipated program period begins October 1, 2026 and runs through September 30, 2028. Funding is intended to support program implementation costs and staff directly involved in delivering services. The Indiana Department of Health anticipates allocating up to three million dollars across funded programs. Applicants are instructed to request only the amount necessary to implement their proposed activities. However, certain uses of funds are explicitly restricted, including direct clinical services such as medical reimbursements, prescriptions, or imaging services, as well as research only programs and programs focused solely on perinatal navigation without additional components. Eligible applicants include a broad range of organizations such as health departments, hospitals, healthcare related entities, universities, community based organizations, and nonprofit organizations as defined by the Internal Revenue Service. Applicants must serve populations within Indiana, demonstrate the ability to comply with state financial requirements, and show capacity to manage grant funds and reporting obligations. Collaboration with both traditional and non traditional partners is required, and applicants proposing safe sleep programming must implement the required components outlined in the appendix. The application process requires submission via email to the designated program inbox by May 8, 2026 at 5 p.m. Eastern Time. Applications must be completed using the official template and include detailed sections such as project overview, population domains served, program description, goals and objectives, evaluation plans, and sustainability strategies. Required attachments include a work plan, a detailed budget submitted in Excel format, and a summary of other funding sources. Applications that do not follow the template or miss the deadline will not be reviewed. Proposals are evaluated based on several criteria including the strength and feasibility of the program plan, alignment with Maternal and Child Health priorities, demonstrated impact potential, capacity to manage funds, and ability to collect and report data. Additional considerations include the extent to which the proposed program addresses high need areas, avoids duplication of existing services, and contributes to improved health outcomes. Selected applicants must comply with reporting requirements including quarterly and annual reports, monthly invoicing, and participation in site visits. Applicants are encouraged to participate in informational webinars and office hours and to submit questions via email prior to the stated deadline for inquiries. The Indiana Department of Health provides ongoing technical assistance and publishes responses to applicant questions to ensure transparency and fairness in the review process.

Align program with MCH priorities demonstrate measurable outcomes focus on high need areas and ensure strong data collection and reporting capacity