The Michigan Health Endowment Fund’s Maternal & Infant Health Initiative aims to improve health outcomes for pregnant individuals and their infants while reducing disparities in care and access. The initiative supports community-focused and locally-led projects that target systemic issues and promote equity in health care delivery. Each year, the initiative opens a grant cycle that welcomes proposals from organizations dedicated to transforming maternal and infant health across Michigan.

The purpose of this initiative is to address long-standing issues in the maternal and infant health care continuum. It emphasizes improving service delivery environments, increasing access to protective and clinical interventions, and advocating for policy and procedural changes. These three priority categories are designed to foster better integration of care services, enhance screening and referral processes, and encourage structural reforms in communities and health systems.

The grant supports projects that address barriers to equitable care by enhancing the integration of medical, behavioral, public health, and social services. It also funds efforts to expand access to screenings and follow-up interventions during the prenatal and postnatal periods. Lastly, it prioritizes initiatives that focus on making systemic changes in policies and procedures that impact maternal and infant outcomes.

Eligible applicants include a broad range of organizations with a strong commitment to maternal and infant health within Michigan communities. The initiative does not specify a narrow eligibility category but seeks out projects that align with its core priorities and goals.

Submissions open in November, and completed applications are due in January. Awards are announced in May. The Health Fund's website provides access to past funded projects, offering applicants a sense of successful proposals and areas of interest.

Application questions and evaluation criteria are not detailed in the current document, but applicants can expect the review process to be aligned with the initiative’s focus on equity, access, and structural change. Interested parties are encouraged to contact the Michigan Health Endowment Fund directly for additional details or clarification on the application process.