What do YOU think is most needed in maternal and child mental health? Every state receives federal government dollars to help ensure moms and children are healthy. State health departments tailor these funds to meet the needs of their states best, but the money must be used to help these groups:
- preventive and primary care for children and adolescents;
- children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN);
- mothers, pregnant women, and other adults.
The Mississippi Department of Health’s Maternal Child Block Grant page provides more information about these funds and how Mississippi uses them.
We especially like this video overview:
Every five years, the federal government requires states to find out from families, community members, people who work with children, medical professionals and other partners what the needs are in the state and how people think the state should use this money to meet those needs. Please share your ideas about how the state should use this money in the space at the bottom of the Health Department’s Maternal Child Block grant page.
Joy Hogge, executive director of Families as Allies, is on the steering committee that assesses how the state should use these funds. Feel free to share your ideas with her at jhogge@faams.org or by calling 601-355-0915. One thing Joy has shared in planning meetings is that, with mental health, it’s essential to look not only at whether services are accessible but also if they are helpful once families access them for their children. She’s also shared the importance of putting mental health support where children already are (for example, helping primary care providers know how to respond to mental health issues.) Tell her if you think she is on or off track with these ideas.
Don’t forget to share your ideas on what is needed to keep Mississippi moms and children healthy!
