Maternal and Child Health Encounters Networks (MCHEK)
🏛 Health Resources and Services Administration (HHS-HRSA)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Sep 4, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for organizations seeking to improve maternal and infant health outcomes. Eligible applicants typically include nonprofits, health departments, universities, and other entities with capacity to operate a national resource center. The program supports a call center providing evidence-based information on medications, nutrition, foods, household products, and environmental exposures during pregnancy. Activities include counseling services, AI-assisted technology platforms, and healthcare provider education.
Organizations must demonstrate expertise in maternal health, toxicology, or related fields. They should have capability to reach pregnant women, families, and healthcare providers nationally. Prior experience operating similar resource centers or hotlines is strongly preferred.
This is a federal cooperative agreement requiring active collaboration with HRSA. Applicants must commit to translating complex scientific evidence into accessible public guidance. Multi-year sustainability planning is important.
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Key dates
- Jul 31, 2026 Applications open
- Mar 18, 2027 Application deadline in 194 days
- Aug 2, 2027 Award announced
- Sep 1, 2027 Project start
Program description
The purpose of this program is to improve maternal and infant outcomes by preventing contact with harmful materials before, during, and after pregnancy.
This program aims to improve maternal and infant health outcomes by preventing harmful exposures before, during, and after pregnancy. It supports a national expert-staffed call center that provides timely, evidence-based information and personalized counseling on medications, nutrition, foods, household products, and environmental exposures. By translating complex scientific evidence into clear, accessible guidance and leveraging emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), the program empowers women, families, and healthcare providers to make informed decisions that promote healthy pregnancies and improve maternal and infant outcomes.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (federal application form)
- Project Narrative with organizational capacity section
- Budget and Budget Narrative with detailed staffing costs
- Call center operational plan and technology specifications
- Letters of commitment from toxicology/maternal health experts
- Organizational capability documentation and financial statements
- Evaluation and performance measurement plan
Program contact
- 👤 Maternal Child Health Bureau/Division of Services
- 📧 CYSHCN@hrsa.gov
- 📞 301-443-5692
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.110 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
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$53,495,269
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$51,517,055
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$47,831,055
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$37,182,998
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$30,109,677
-
$25,419,976
-
$17,859,999
-
$16,167,482
-
$15,667,860
-
$14,010,845
Top States by Funding
- DC 8 awards $142.1M
- MA 6 awards $106.6M
- MD 8 awards $71.7M
- OH 2 awards $58.9M
- NC 3 awards $43.2M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.110). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $274,459,189 | |
| 2025 | $265,688,703 | |
| 2026 est. | $185,664,902 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply for this grant?
Nonprofits, academic institutions, health departments, and health systems with capacity to operate a national resource center are typically eligible. Prior experience operating maternal health hotlines or call centers is strongly preferred.
What is the deadline and funding amount?
The fixed deadline is March 18, 2027. A single award of $1,000,000 is available for the full project period.
What activities are supported by this grant?
The grant supports call center operations, evidence-based counseling on medications and exposures during pregnancy, AI technology integration, provider education, and translation of scientific research into accessible guidance.
Is this a highly competitive grant?
Yes. This is a single national award with a $1 million cap, making it highly competitive. Applications must demonstrate strong maternal health expertise and proven call center operations experience.
Do I need to provide matching funds?
No cost sharing is required. The full project can be supported by the federal award.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Emphasize your organization's existing capacity to operate a national call center. Include staffing models and technology infrastructure details.
- Highlight prior experience with maternal health hotlines or evidence-based resource centers. Demonstrate your track record with large-scale public outreach.
- Clearly explain your AI/technology strategy for scaling personalized counseling to reach pregnant women and providers nationwide.
- Show strong partnerships with toxicology experts, obstetricians, and maternal health organizations. HRSA values collaborative, multi-sector approaches.
- Address sustainability and maintenance of services beyond the grant period. Explain revenue models or ongoing support strategies to keep the call center operating.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Underestimating the operational complexity of running a national call center. Applications must show detailed staffing, training, and quality assurance plans. Not demonstrating sufficient expertise in toxicology, teratology, or maternal pharmacology. Reviewers expect scientifically credible guidance on medication and environmental exposures. Failing to show prior experience with similar national resource centers or hotlines. This is a mature, high-capacity program requiring proven operational excellence.
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