The Health Fund has supported improved infant and maternal health since our founding, and our 2021-2025 Strategic Plan called on us to expand our work in this area. The 2022 Maternal & Infant Health Initiative is our first grant round dedicated to this issue, but it builds on our previous efforts and what we’ve learned from our grant partners over the past several years. In preparation for this initiative, we gathered feedback from those partners and met with stakeholders across Michigan to identify the most pressing needs, the most persistent challenges, and the gaps where our funding could make a real difference.

The goal of the 2022 Maternal and Infant Health Initiative is to reduce disparities and improve outcomes for infants and their mothers. We’re seeking proposals that address barriers in the service delivery environment; this includes better integrating care and services as well as provider training to improve care delivery. We’re also seeking proposals that increase access to protective and clinical interventions, such as improved screenings and helping people connect to the treatment and services they need.