641—76.1 (135) Program overview. The maternal and child health (MCH) programs are operated by the Iowa department of public health as the designated state agency pursuant to an agreement with the federal government. The majority of the funding available is from the Title V MCH block grant, administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) within the United States Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).
	 76.1(1) Purpose. The purpose of the program is to promote the health of mothers, children, and youth by ensuring or providing access to quality maternal and child health care services (especially for low-income families or families with limited availability of health care services); to reduce infant mortality and the incidence of preventable diseases and handicapping conditions; to increase the number of children appropriately immunized against disease; and to facilitate the development of community-based systems of health care for children, youth and their families. The program provides and promotes family-centered, community-based coordinated care, including care/service coordination for children and youth with special health care needs.
	 76.1(2) Services.
	  a.   	 The department’s bureau of family health (BFH) enters into contracts with selected private nonprofit or public agencies for the assurance of access to prenatal and postpartum care for women, preventive and primary child health care services, and services to children and youth with special health care needs. The types of services provided by these contracts are infrastructure building, population-based services, enabling services, and direct health care services.
	  b.   	 The department’s bureau of oral and health delivery systems (OHDS) collaborates with BFH to develop oral health programs to reduce barriers to oral health care and reduce dental disease through prevention.
	  c.   	 The children and youth with special health care needs program is administered by the Child Health Specialty Clinics (CHSC) at the University of Iowa. The department contracts with the University of Iowa department of pediatrics’ CHSC to provide services for children and youth with special health care needs, including infrastructure building, direct clinical care, care coordination and family support. In accordance with the MCH Title V Block Grant Program administered by DHHS, HRSA, and MCHB, the CHSC shall ensure that public health funds will be used to cover the cost of services only after all other sources of reimbursement have been exhausted.
	 76.1(3) MCH advisory council. The MCH advisory council assists in developing the state plan for MCH, assessing need, prioritizing services, establishing objectives, and encouraging public support for MCH and family planning programs. In addition, the council advises the director regarding health and nutrition services for women and children, supports the development of special projects and conferences and advocates for health and nutrition services for women and children.
[ARC 0364C, IAB 10/3/12, effective 11/7/12]