State Maternal Health Innovation Program (SMHI)

The State Maternal Health Innovation Program is administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This federal program operates under the Assistance Listing 93.110, which supports special projects of regional and national significance. The initiative reflects a broader federal commitment to improving maternal health outcomes across the United States, particularly by addressing disparities in maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity. The program is structured as a cooperative agreement, indicating substantial involvement by the federal agency in program implementation and oversight. The primary purpose of this program is to strengthen state-level capacity to improve maternal health systems and close gaps in care. The program emphasizes advancing quality healthcare services, expanding and supporting a skilled maternal health workforce, improving the quality and use of data systems, and implementing innovative strategies. These efforts are intended to reduce maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity through coordinated, evidence-based approaches that can be sustained over time. The initiative builds upon prior investments and is specifically targeted toward continuing and enhancing work already initiated by previously funded states. Funding under this opportunity is designed to support comprehensive statewide initiatives rather than isolated projects. Allowable uses of funds include activities that improve healthcare delivery systems, enhance workforce training and retention, strengthen data infrastructure, and implement new or expanded maternal health programs. While detailed restrictions are not explicitly provided in the forecast notice, the cooperative agreement structure implies that expenditures must align closely with federal program goals and will likely be subject to ongoing federal guidance and monitoring. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement, which reduces financial barriers for eligible applicants. Eligibility for this opportunity is highly specific and limited. Although the general eligibility category is listed as unrestricted, additional eligibility clarification restricts applicants to the seven recipients from the fiscal year 2022 State Maternal Health Innovation cohort. This indicates that the funding is intended as a continuation or expansion of previously funded efforts rather than an open competition. As a result, only those entities that previously received SMHI funding in FY22 are permitted to apply, ensuring continuity and leveraging established program infrastructure. The application process is expected to follow standard federal grant submission procedures, requiring electronic submission through designated systems by the specified deadline. While specific application components are not detailed in the forecast notice, applicants can reasonably expect to provide program narratives, budgets, work plans, and performance metrics aligned with federal expectations. Applications must be submitted by the stated deadline of April 19, 2027, no later than 11:59 PM Eastern Time. The anticipated posting date for the full opportunity is January 29, 2027, at which point additional application requirements and instructions will likely be made available. The timeline for this funding opportunity reflects a structured federal grant cycle. The estimated award date is August 31, 2027, with a projected project start date of September 30, 2027. The program is not explicitly described as recurring, but the continuation from a prior cohort suggests a potential pattern of periodic funding cycles. The archive date of September 1, 2028, indicates the administrative closure timeline for the opportunity. Applicants are encouraged to monitor the official posting for updates and detailed guidance as the forecast transitions into an active funding opportunity.