For over a century, United Way for Southeastern Michigan has been tackling the most pressing challenges faced by our community, including those related to children and families, health, and overall stability. SEMPQIC (Southeast Michigan Perinatal Quality Improvement Coalition) is a coalition that aims to reduce infant mortality and support the perinatal system of care in the region. They are developing strategies to address the life-course and social determinants of health. According to United Way for Southeastern Michigan’s ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) report, 39% of households across our region struggle to afford basic needs such as quality childcare, food, housing, and utilities. Persistent disparities for ALICE communities can also lead to communities of color being disproportionately impacted by infant and maternal deaths. Systemic injustices have greatly diminished the opportunities for healthy pregnancies, births, and perinatal health, particularly in Black and Brown communities. United Way is proud to partner with SEMPQIC as their fiduciary and join the fight against preventable infant and maternal deaths, working toward healthy moms and healthier starts for our community’s youngest and most vulnerable.

Improving equity, reducing disparate outcomes, and ensuring healthy births for Michigan families is at the center of all efforts supported by the Michigan Perinatal Quality Collaborative (MI PQC)* and the Region 10 PQC. Achieving these goals is not feasible without the input and feedback from families, nor without the efforts of community organizations and programs that address local needs and provide care and support for families in our respective region.

In October 2023, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services released the newest version of its strategic plan for improving birth outcomes. This plan, Advancing Healthy Births: An Equity Plan for Michigan Families and Communities*, is written to be actionable and meant to be used by community partners, local stakeholders and all individuals working to improve birth outcomes for Michigan families.

To facilitate alignment with the Advancing Healthy Births plan and encourage collaborative efforts with the MI PQC and individual RPQCs, mini awards will be available through a request for proposal process. Community-based organizations and local programs within the Region whose efforts are focused on improving birth outcomes, reducing health disparities, and addressing root causes of these disparities, will be eligible to apply.

The Region 10 PQC is expecting to award an estimated 30 mini grants in an amount between $25,000 to $100,000 per award. Interested organizations and/or programs will need to complete the application to be considered for a mini grant. Mini grants will be awarded to successful applicants by February 29, 2024, and all funds will need to be spent by September 30, 2024. Additional information can be found below.

*For more information on the MI PQC, individual RPQCs, and the Advancing Healthy Births: An Equity Plan for Michigan Families and Communities, please visit the MDHHS Division of Maternal & Infant Health website: www.michigan.gov/MIH.

Applications are due no later than 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 23.

AWARD OVERVIEW

Through a request for proposal process, one-time funding received through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, will be available to local organizations and programs in Region 10 to support community-led efforts in improving disparate birthing outcomes and ensuring healthy births.

Interested entities must submit an application and budget, inclusive of items detailed below.

Examples of activities that may be eligible for funding include but are not limited to:

• Supporting efforts aimed at improving breastfeeding rates (initiation and duration) in the region.

• Providing infant safe sleep education and supplies to vulnerable populations.

• Outreach initiatives that increase access for people who face significant barriers to consistent healthcare (e.g., people experiencing homelessness, people affected by substance use disorder, people who are not U.S. citizens).

• Supporting efforts related to perinatal substance use disorder (e.g., implementing universal screening protocols at perinatal appointments; utilization of non-pharmacological care of infants born substance-exposed, as appropriate; support peer navigator program, etc.).

• Assuring care coordination and access to supportive services in prenatal and postpartum periods for the pregnant/birthing person and the infant (e.g., home visiting programs; substance use treatment; WIC, and etcetera).

• Implementation of recommendation or activity found within the Advancing Healthy Births plan or FIMR/MMMS Aligned Recommendations document.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

To be eligible to receive a mini-award, applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria:

• Represent a non-profit organization, local tribal organization, community-based organization, or local/county level agency. Other entrepreneurial organizations with a tax I.D. that fulfill the remaining eligibility criteria listed below are encouraged to apply for consideration.

• Service area is in Wayne, Macomb, or Oakland County.

• Provides activities or programs that address equity/disparities in maternal and infant health or that address the social determinants of health.

• Engage with the high-risk population or services to the population at risk for disparate birth outcomes.

• Organization has the infrastructure (personnel, financial resources, and other relevant factors) to support the grant requirements and dollars. The Organization’s current operating budget will need to be identified with supporting documentation.

Note: The application includes questions to determine eligibility as identified above. All complete applications submitted by the deadline will be initially reviewed against the eligibility criteria listed above. Any application that is ineligible based on responses to the eligibility questions will receive a review score of zero. All eligible applications will be reviewed, scored, and considered for award.

AWARD AMOUNT

Successful applicants will receive mini- grant awards in an amount between $25,000 to $100,000 for efforts focused on reducing disparate birth outcomes and ensuring healthy births families in their respective region. An estimated up to 30 awards may be given to community organizations serving Region 10.

GRANT TIMELINE

Dec. 22: Email notice of funding opportunities/post to United Way for Southeastern Michigan active grant opportunities website

Jan. 3: Application opens

Jan. 10: Applicant webinar

Jan. 23: Application closes

Between Feb. 12-29: Award notification

May 3: Report 1

July 8: Report 2

Oct. 15: Report 3

GRANT REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

Awardees will be required to submit reports on the schedule dictated in the final contract. Information required may include grant related activities, outcomes, metrics, financial spend down, and any other information or data that is required to support use of funds.

CLICK HERE FOR: GRANT RESOURCES