FY 2016 Appropriation

The Bureau of Maternal and Child Health supports the Health Department's mission to reduce illness, disability, and death among women of childbearing ages, children, and youth in the State. The Bureau identifies health concerns, prioritizes strategies to address needs, develops programs, coordinates efforts, and develops resources to address health issues for mothers and children. The Bureau is responsible for the State's Title V Maternal and Child Health Block Grant Annual Application and Report.

Funding History
Appropriation Overview

During the 2015 General Session, the Legislature appropriated for Fiscal Year 2016, $67,050,900 from all sources for Maternal and Child Health. This is a 9 percent reduction from Fiscal Year 2015 revised estimated amounts from all sources. The total includes $181,200 from the General/Education Funds, an increase of 1.6 percent from revised Fiscal Year 2015 estimates.

Appropriation Adjustments

In addition to statewide compensation and internal service fund cost increases, the following appropriation adjustments were made during the 2015 General Session:

DescriptionOngoingOne-Time Federal Funds Adjustments$0$7,778,100
OngoingOne-TimeFinancing Source
$0$7,778,100Federal Funds
Annual adjustments of federal funds based on agency submission of grant changes.
Nurse Family Partnership$0$1,000,000
OngoingOne-TimeFinancing Source
$0$1,000,000Federal Funds
"Early and intensive interventions in high-risk pregnancies and family situations up to 2 years of age to improve outcomes and decrease short and long-term social services costs."
Transfer Cytomegalovirus Public Health Initiative from Disease Control and Prevention to Family Health and Preparedness$40,000$40,000
OngoingOne-TimeFinancing Source
$40,000$0General Fund
$0$40,000General Fund, One-time
Transfer the $40,000 ongoing General Fund for the item "Additional Funding for HB 81 (2013 General Session, Menlove) Cytomegalovirus Public Health Initiative" from the Department of Health's Disease Control and Prevention line item to the Family Health and Preparedness line item.

The Bureau of Maternal and Child Health provides leadership for many maternal and child health efforts in the State through its programs, contracts with local health departments and other entities, federal grant opportunities, and involvement at a national level to learn from other states about programs to apply in Utah. The Bureau is responsible for most maternal and child health issues, such as promotion of health among women of childbearing ages, health prior to pregnancy to promote healthy mothers and babies, access to health care before and during pregnancy, healthy weight and nutrition, oral health, and promotion of healthy pregnancies and breastfeeding by providing information on the potential impact of exposures to medications, chemicals, and infectious agents. Additionally, the programs promote healthy children and adolescents through oral health, healthy weight, and nutrition. The Bureau conducts surveillance and analysis of data related to pregnancy and factors associated with poor pregnancy outcomes, such as prematurity. The Bureau reviews maternal, fetal, and infant deaths. The information is used to identify factors that relate to prevention of poor outcomes and future deaths. The Bureau conducts surveillance and analysis of data related to children's health, such as dental screenings for young school-aged children to determine the degree of dental disease, or parents' experiences with health care for their children.

The Bureau includes six programs that work to achieve the Bureau's goal of healthy mothers and children: Maternal and Infant Health, Data Resources, Oral Health, Pregnancy RiskLine, and the Women, Infants and Children Programs (WIC). The Bureau is responsible for the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System, the WIC Program funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Commodity Supplemental Food Program.

Maternal and Infant Health

The mission of the Maternal and Infant Health Program is to improve the health of women of childbearing age and their infants by reducing preventable illness, disability, and death related to pregnancy, birth, and infancy through the promotion of healthy lifestyles and optimal health care. The various components of the Maternal and Infant Health Program include Prenatal/Family Planning, Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS), and the Perinatal Mortality Review component. The program creates and disseminates pertinent health education messages based on information identified through the program's various data collection resources. These messages go in an Internet website (www.health.utah.gov/mihp), brochures, television, radio, poster displays and presentations at schools, churches, and health fairs.

The program is guided by a strategic plan that includes nine outcome objectives:

  1. Reduce the number of unintended pregnancies.
  2. Increase percentage of women accessing quality early and adequate prenatal care.
  3. Decrease maternal death rates and morbidity.
  4. Reduce percentage of infants born before the 37th week of pregnancy and/or weighing less than 5 pounds and 9 ounces.
  5. Decrease fetal and neonatal deaths.
  6. Increase the percentage of women who initiate and continue to breast-feed their infants through the first year of life.
  7. Increase the recognition and treatment of depression among women of childbearing age in Utah.
  8. Increase the proportion of women who practice healthy behaviors before becoming pregnant.
  9. Decrease the prevalence of intimate partner violence during the perinatal time period.

The prenatal component of the program seeks to improve access to prenatal care through expedited eligibility to Medicaid, enhanced prenatal and delivery services within Medicaid, and by covering prenatal care for uninsured women. The family planning component assures access to family planning services in underserved areas of the State. It also assures reproductive health services through technical assistance and contracts with local health departments, community health centers, and other providers.

The Perinatal Mortality Review component of the program is a process aimed at identifying and examining the factors that contribute to perinatal deaths (fetal, infant, and maternal) through the systematic evaluation of individual cases. Through individual case review, the Perinatal Mortality Review coordinator, in conjunction with a committee of perinatal professionals, identifies contributing factors that may have led to the death. Information is obtained through hospital records, public health records, autopsy reports, birth/death certificates and health care provider records. Committee members make recommendations based on findings that may lead to public health recommendations for changes that could improve the outcome of future cases.

The Perinatal Mortality Review component of the program is a process aimed at identifying and examining the factors that contribute to perinatal deaths (fetal, infant, and maternal) through the systematic evaluation of individual cases. Through individual case review, the Perinatal Mortality Review coordinator, in conjunction with a committee of perinatal professionals, identifies contributing factors that may have led to the death. Information is obtained through hospital records, public health records, autopsy reports, birth/death certificates and health care provider records. Committee members make recommendations based on findings that may lead to public health recommendations for changes that could improve the outcome of future cases.

Data Resources Program

The Data Resources Program provides health data and information support to programs within Maternal and Child Health and Children with Special Health Care Needs programs, local health departments, community-based health organizations, and the public. The program is two-pronged in its approach as it aims to (1) increase access to health information and data, and (2) provide analytic consultation and data training.

The Data Resources Program acts as a resource for Maternal and Child Health and Children with Special Health Care Needs programs and provides expertise on research methodology, database design, survey development, and grant applications. The program also facilitates the coordination of multi-program projects and reports. The program also plays an active role in designing website and web-based applications for the Division of Family Health and Preparedness and ensures that they are in compliance with Health Department and State web standards.

The Data Resources Program collaborates with programs to publish surveillance updates and research reports. An important responsibility of the Data Resources Program is to provide coordination, compilation, and submission of the Federal Title V Maternal and Child Health Block Grant Application.

Oral Health Program

The Oral Health Program tries to improve the oral health status of Utah residents by developing, implementing, and promoting prevention and dental access programs at both the State and local levels. The Oral Health Program strives to prevent dental caries by community water fluoridation, fluoride mouth rinse programs, tooth sealant programs, and early childhood interventions. The evaluation and dissemination of statewide dental health surveys, Head Start data, and other Utah-specific dental health information by Oral Health Program provide needs assessment information for the State, local health departments, and dental societies in the State. The program works with the Utah Dental Association and the Utah Dental Hygiene Association to promote the role of public health in promoting good oral health.

In collaboration with the Utah Oral Health Coalition, the Oral Health Program has developed and maintains the Utah Oral Health Action Plan, which emphasizes implementation of appropriate prevention and access strategies for target populations and promotes development of policies for better oral health and improved oral health systems statewide. Additionally, the Oral Health Program encourages and facilitates the formation of local oral health coalitions by conducting needs assessments and oral health surveys, providing technical consultation, and reporting progress toward Healthy People 2020 oral health objectives. The Oral Health Program collaborates with local health departments and community health centers and partners with many community public health and private practice dental and health professionals, stakeholders, and advocates to implement programs which serve the needs of local communities. The Oral Health Program has developed and maintains an oral health website that provides educational and resource information for public and private partners as well as the general population of the State.

Pregnancy RiskLine

The Pregnancy RiskLine provides information regarding exposure to drugs, chemicals, and infections in pregnancy and lactation and the possible effect on the developing fetus, breast-fed, infant and mother. The Pregnancy RiskLine was established to provide health care practitioners and consumers with accurate, up-to-date information regarding potential risks to a fetus or breast-fed infant in order to prevent unjustified anxiety leading to unnecessary abortions, costly prenatal and postnatal screening, diagnostics, and testing of an exposed fetus or infant.

The program's major goals are the prevention of poor pregnancy outcomes and adverse health effects in children. The desired outcomes include the prevention of low birth weight, infant mortality, and birth defects.

By offering accurate and current information about fetal effects of maternal exposure to medications, drugs, chemicals, infections and diseases, the Pregnancy RiskLine may prevent untoward effects of some of these agents on a developing fetus, resulting in a decreased incidence of low birth weight, infant mortality, and birth defects.

Women, Infants and Children (WIC)

Women, Infants and Children (WIC) is a federally-funded program designed to provide supplemental food and nutritional education to pregnant, breast-feeding or postpartum women, infants and children up to five years of age. The federal funds come from the United States Department of Agriculture.

WIC authorized foods has the following eligibility criteria:

  • A resident of Utah and a member of the population served by the 49 local clinics.
  • Income at or below 185 percent of the Federal Poverty Level.
  • Certified to be at nutritional need through a medical and/or nutritional assessment.

Commodity Supplemental Food Program

Commodity Supplemental Food Program is a federally funded program designed to provide supplemental food and nutritional education to seniors over 60. The program is not available statewide. The program is in the following counties: Weber, Davis, Salt Lake, Tooele, Utah, Carbon, Emery, and Grand. Seniors must have incomes under 130% of the Federal Poverty Level in order to qualify.

Intent Language

HB0003: Item 76

Under Section 63J-1-603 of the Utah Code, the Legislature intends that up to $50,000 of Item 21 of Chapter 13, Laws of Utah 2014, funds appropriated for the Department of Health's Assistance for People with Bleeding Disorders Program shall not lapse at the close of Fiscal Year 2015. The use of any nonlapsing funds is limited to services to eligible clients.


HB0003: Item 76

Under Section 63J-1-603 of the Utah Code, the Legislature intends that up to $250,000 of Item 21 of Chapter 13, Laws of Utah 2014 for the Department of Health's Emergency Medical Services shall not lapse at the close of Fiscal Year 2015. The use of any nonlapsing funds is limited to testing, certifications, background screenings, replacement testing equipment and testing supplies.


HB0003: Item 76

Under Section 63J-1-603 of the Utah Code, the Legislature intends that civil money penalties collected for the Department of Health's Child Care Licensing and Health Care Licensing in Item 21 of Chapter 13, Laws of Utah 2014 from childcare and health care provider violations shall not lapse at the close of Fiscal Year 2015. The use of any nonlapsing funds is limited to trainings for providers and staff, as well as upgrades to the Child Care Licensing database.


HB0003: Item 76

Under Section 63J-1-603 of the Utah Code, the Legislature intends that up to $245,000 of Item 21 of Chapter 13, Laws of Utah 2014 for the Department of Health's Family Health and Preparedness line item not lapse at the close of Fiscal Year 2015. The use of any nonlapsing funds is limited to health facility licensure and certification activities.


HB0003: Item 76

Under Section 63J-1-603 of the Utah Code, the Legislature intends that up to $210,000 of Item 21 of Chapter 13, Laws of Utah 2014 from fees collected for the purpose of plan reviews by the Department of Health's Bureau of Health Facility Licensure, Certification and Resident Assessment shall not lapse at the close of Fiscal Year 2015. The use of any nonlapsing funds is limited to plan review activities.


HB0003: Item 76

Under Section 63J-1-603 of the Utah Code, the Legislature intends that criminal fines and forfeiture money collected for the Department of Health's Emergency Medical Services in Item 21 of Chapter 13, Laws of Utah 2014 shall not lapse at the close of Fiscal Year 2015. The use of any nonlapsing funds is limited to purposes outlined in Section 26-8a-207(2).


SB0003: Item 113

The $1,000,000 in federal funds appropriated for the Nurse Family Partnership in the Department of Health in the Family Health and Preparedness line item is dependent upon the availability of and qualification for the Nurse Family Partnership for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families federal funds.


SB0007S01: Item 1

The Legislature intends that the Department of Health report on the following performance measures for the Family Health and Preparedness line item: (1) The percent of children who demonstrated improvement in social-emotional skills, including social relationships (Goal = 70% or more), (2) The percent of children who demonstrated improvement in their rate of growth in acquisition and use of knowledge and skills, including early language/communication and early literacy (Goal = 75% or more), (3) The percent of children who demonstrated improvement in their rate of growth in the use of appropriate behaviors to meet their needs (Goal = 75% or more) by January 1, 2016 to the Social Services Appropriations Subcommittee.


SB0007S01: Item 11

The Legislature intends that the Department of Health report on the following performance measures for the Family Health and Preparedness line item: (1) The percent of children who demonstrated improvement in social-emotional skills, including social relationships (Goal = 70% or more), (2) The percent of children who demonstrated improvement in their rate of growth in acquisition and use of knowledge and skills, including early language/communication and early literacy (Goal = 75% or more), (3) The percent of children who demonstrated improvement in their rate of growth in the use of appropriate behaviors to meet their needs (Goal = 75% or more) by January 1, 2016 to the Social Services Appropriations Subcommittee.


Effective FY 2011 the Immunization Program is now part of the Epidemiology Program within the Disease Control and Prevention line item. Immunization was previously part of the Maternal and Child Health Program.

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COBI contains unaudited data as presented to the Legislature by state agencies at the time of publication. For audited financial data see the State of Utah's Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports.