MCH Block Grant Priorities

Needs Assessment

Every five years, a comprehensive needs assessment of the maternal and child health (MCH) population is required as part of the MCH Block Grant application. This assessment includes collecting and analyzing both quantitative and qualitative data, which are utilized to identify priority issues for the following five-year grant cycle.

Internal and external partners with a vested interested in the health and wellbeing of the MCH population are engaged throughout the process, from identifying data sources to developing an action plan that addresses the chosen priorities. Tennessee completed its last comprehensive needs assessment in 2020. During the years between comprehensive assessments, an ongoing needs assessment is completed. This includes monitoring all outcome and performance measures and making changes to the priorities based on emerging issues.

Click on the links below to view data for each population domain.

Priorities (2021-2025)

States are required to have at least one priority in each of the population domain defined in the
grant. The priorities for the current grant cycle are listed below by population domain

Population Domain Priority
Women's and Maternal Health Increase Family Planning
Decrease Pregnancy-Associated Mortality
Perinatal and Infant Health

Increase Breastfeeding
Decrease Infant Mortality

Child Health

Increase Prevention and Mitigation of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
Decrease Overweight and Obesity

Adolescent Health

Decrease Tobacco and E-cigarette Use

Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN) Increase Medical HomeTransition
Improve Transition from Pediatrics to Adult Healthcare
Crosscutting and Life Course
(Optional Domain)
Increase Health Equity
Improve Mental Health