The Appropriations Subcommittee on Public Health convened on May 20, 2025, to discuss funding allocations for various maternal and child health programs within Michigan's public health budget. The meeting focused on the financial support for initiatives aimed at improving pregnancy prevention, prenatal care, and maternal health services.

The session began with an overview of the Family, Maternal and Child Health Administration, which has 49 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions and a gross appropriation of $10.3 million, including $3.6 million from the general fund. This funding supports essential programs such as newborn hearing screenings, infant mortality reduction efforts, and health education curricula in schools. As of the current fiscal year, $4.8 million has already been spent.

Next, the committee reviewed the family planning and local agreements budget, which totals $15.8 million, with $7.3 million from the general fund. This allocation includes grants to local health departments for comprehensive reproductive health services and education. So far, $12.2 million has been utilized in the current fiscal year.

The discussion continued with the local maternal and child health grants, which include $7 million from the federal Title V block grant. These funds are distributed to local health departments to address specific community needs, such as prenatal care and immunizations. To date, $4.7 million has been spent.

The pregnancy prevention program was also highlighted, with a budget of $1.3 million, including federal and state funding. This program supports local health departments in providing family planning and pregnancy risk assessment services, with $372,000 spent so far this fiscal year.

The prenatal care outreach and service delivery support line was allocated $43.4 million, with $27.4 million from the general fund. This funding supports various prenatal programs and services for at-risk families, with $21 million already expended.

Additionally, the meeting addressed the sudden and unexpected infant death prevention program, which has $321,300 allocated for services such as grief counseling and safe sleep education. So far, $51,600 has been spent.

The Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program was discussed in two parts: the administration and special projects line, which has a gross allocation of $19.7 million, and the local agreements and food cost line, totaling $251.3 million. The latter supports nutrition education and counseling for at-risk pregnant women and new mothers, with participation numbers showing a decrease from the previous year.

The committee also examined the sources of funding, noting that much of the financial support comes from federal grants, with some programs requiring state matching funds. The discussion concluded with an acknowledgment of the importance of these programs in addressing maternal and child health needs across Michigan.

Overall, the meeting underscored the state's commitment to enhancing maternal and child health services through strategic funding and collaboration with local health departments. The subcommittee plans to continue monitoring expenditures and outcomes as the fiscal year progresses.