Title V Program

The Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant, Title V of the Social Security Act, is the only federal program devoted to improving the health of all women, children, and families. Title V provides funding to state maternal and child health (MCH) programs, which serve 35 million women and children in the U.S. Since 1935, federal and state funds have supported state activities that improve the health of pregnant women, mothers and infants, children, and children with special health needs. These groups are often referred to as the "MCH population." Title V funds are used to address maternal and child health priorities. Every state has a Title V Block Grant and is required to write annual reports and do a statewide needs assessment every five years. Title V is a Federal-State partnership and states provide $3 for every $4 of federal funding provided to them. In Oklahoma, Title V benefits approximately 1.3 million individuals.

The Title V Program in Oklahoma is administered by two state agencies.

Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) administers programs for pregnant women, mothers, infants, children and their families through the Maternal and Child Health Service (MCH).
Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) administers the Children with Special Health Care Needs (CSHCN) Program through the Health Related and Medical Services of the Family Support Services Division.

The goal of the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) and the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) are to provide data-driven services specific to Oklahoma’s Maternal and Child Health (MCH) population groups. This is achieved by implementing a Five Year Needs Assessment which sets a foundation for addressing and evaluating progress on identified health priorities; includes input from families and health experts as key processes within the needs assessment process; and, is readily available for use by others who make decisions about and/or develop, provide, and evaluate services to the Oklahoma’s MCH population groups.

MCH and the Children with Special Health Care Needs (CSHCN) Program use the needs assessment to guide Title V activities. A five-year plan that addresses national and state priorities and sets targets for improvement has been developed using this information. In interim years, changes in Oklahoma’s MCH population groups’ strengths and needs will be assessed and monitored and may lead to changes in the identified state priorities, state performance measures, and/or targets set for national and state performance measures. Current priorities, performance measures and evidence-based strategy measures can be easily found in the Oklahoma’s State Action Plan Table.

To provide input or comments on the Title V priorities, action plan, or Oklahoma grant submission please email: MCH@health.ok.gov.