Important Information on Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) from the Maternal and Child Health Bureau

MCHB is responding to to the impact of COVID-19 on MCH populations by taking the following actions:

• Meeting Emerging Needs
• Funding Telehealth Expansion
• Supporting vaccination, testing, contact tracing, and slowing the spread

Meeting Emerging Needs

Shift how we provide health services

• Our Title V MCH Block Grant Program grantees—state public health agencies—can shift funding to train health workers in providing high-quality services through telehealth.
• Our Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Program changed to virtual home visiting services.
• Our Healthy Start Program changed to provide virtual education.
• We launched a competition, the Promoting Pediatric Primary Prevention (P4) Challenge, to respond to declining rates of childhood vaccinations and well-child visits due to COVID-19.
• Due to declining rates in childhood vaccinations, we encourage our awardees to partner with providers and families to make sure children and youth can both access the COVID-19 vaccine and catch up on their preventive well-child visits. The Bright Futures Periodicity Scale (PDF - 660 KB) provides recommended vaccines and screenings during well-child visits at each age.

Improve data collection, analysis, and observation to develop better interventions

• Adding COVID-19-related questions to the annual National Survey of Children’s Health
• Expanded the U.S. Census Bureau Household Pulse survey, adding questions to understand the pandemic’s impact on telemedicine, preventive visits, and child care
• Supporting the Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network (PECARN) to gather data about children’s admissions to emergency departments during the pandemic

Partner with federal agencies and national organizations to coordinate our response

• We host town halls, facilitated through the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs (AMCHP)
• Issued Joint Letter to Family Support, Maternal and Child Health, and Early Childhood Programs on Strategies During COVID-19 Pandemic with the Administration for Children and Families
• Issued Pediatric Immunization and the COVID-19 Pandemic letter (PDF - 76 KB) with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to Immunization Program Managers, State Title V/MCH Directors

Funding Telehealth Expansion

Through the 2020 Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, we awarded new funding that builds infrastructure for telehealth and supports training health care workers to provide high-quality service through telehealth. Funding includes:

• $6 million for Adolescents and Children with Special Health Care Needs
• $4 million for Pregnancy Care
• $4 million for Newborn Screening and Early Childhood Home Visiting
• $1 million for Telehealth Access Training for families of children with special health care needs and national family organizations

Supporting vaccination, testing, contact tracing, and slowing the spread

• Title V funds used to support activities including contact tracing, testing, direct patient care, and case management. Agencies may develop guidance and policies for childcare providers and schools to reopen safely. Connect to Title V State MCH Contacts.
• Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Program home visitors and the Healthy Start program educate pregnant women and families with young children on preventing the spread of COVID-19 and where to get tested and vaccinated.
• The Leadership Education in Adolescent Health (LEAH) program trains health care workers to educate adolescent patients worried about receiving the vaccine. Some trainees are researching why young people are hesitant to get the vaccine.
• The Telehealth Family Engagement Initiative helps families with children who have special health care needs get virtual care.
• The Children with Medical Complexity Program provides virtual mentoring to health care and public health professionals in ensuring safe service delivery for the children.

Can a state or local public health department reassign personnel to address COVID-19?

Yes, under certain conditions. A Governor of a state, local or tribal organization, or someone they designate, may request to reassign state and local public health department, tribal, or agency personnel to address a public health emergency in the state or Indian tribe during the period of the emergency.

This only applies to personnel funded in whole or in part through programs authorized under the Public Health Service (PHS) Act.

The Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation Act of 2019 addresses this.

This may impact MCHB-funded programs authorized under the PHS Act, including:

• Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Programs/Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Program
• Pediatric Mental Health Care Access Program
• Screening and Treatment for Maternal Depression and Other Related Disorders Programs
• Healthy Start Programs
  • Healthy Start Initiative: Eliminating Disparities in Perinatal Health
  • Addressing and Preventing Lead Exposure Through Healthy Start
• Newborn Screening Programs
  • Quality Improvement in Newborn Screening Program
  • NBS State Evaluation Program
  • Regional Genetics Networks
• Emergency Medical Services for Children Program
  • EMSC State Partnership Grants
  • EMSC Targeted Issue Grant

Learn more about the temporary reassignment:

• Guidance for Temporary Reassignment of State and Local Personnel during a Public Health Emergency
• Availability for Temporary Reassignment of State, Tribal, and Local Personnel during a Declared Public Health Emergency (PDF - 192 KB)

How should I approach travel for grant-funded activities?

You may need to postpone some grant activities, including those requiring travel. Talk with your Project Officer about other approaches to planned activities.

How should I address concerns about the impact of COVID-19 on fulfilling the terms of my award?

Contact your Project Officer. We’ll work with you on how to address the concern.

What should we do if the pandemic causes us to delay or modify our approved grant project?

We want to provide you as much flexibility as possible. However, some grant programs have requirements that don’t allow us to give you the same flexibilities.

Some changes—like a change in scope or re-budgeting request—may require HRSA review and approval.

Reach out to the Grants Management Specialist listed on your recent Notice of Award for more information.

All recipients are required to keep appropriate records and cost documentation.

What resources are available for CYSHCN or individuals with disabilities?

We recommend the following resources:

• HHS: Information on Federal Programs to Sustain Nutrition for At-risk Individuals (PDF - 351 KB)
• CDC: CYSHCN in Emergencies and Making Decisions about Children Attending In-person School During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Information for Parents, Guardians, and Caregivers
• The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS): Coronavirus (COVID-19) Partner Resources
• The Administration for Community Living (ACL) COVID-19 Response
• The HHS Office for Civil Rights: Civil Rights, HIPAA, and the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) (PDF - 423 KB)
• The U.S. Department of Education: COVID-19 Resources for Schools, Students, and Families

Are there COVID-19 resources for youth and young adults?

We recommend these resources:

• The Interagency Working Group on Youth Programs (IWGYP): Resources to Support Youth and Families During the COVID-19 Outbreak
• The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): Talking With Children: Tips for Caregivers, Parents, and Teachers During Infectious Disease Outbreaks (PDF - 12 MB)