The Title V Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant Program acts as a safety net provider for health care and essential public health services for women, mothers, infants, children up to age 22, and children with special health care needs and their families. The program was created as part of the 1935 Social Security Act as a commitment to improving the health and well-being of the country's mothers, children, and families. The Health Resources and Services Administration, a federal agency, oversees the Title V Block Grant program at the federal level. The Title V Block Grant is managed in Pennsylvania by the Bureau of Family Health in the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
Needs and Capacity Assessment
Every five years, the Bureau of Family Health is required by the Title V Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant (MCHSBG) to conduct a Five-Year Needs and Capacity Assessment – a state-level, comprehensive assessment of the health status of the maternal and child health populations in Pennsylvania including women and mothers, infants, children, adolescents, and children with special health care needs. The objective of the assessment is to identify the priority health needs that will guide state and local Title V work over the next five-year funding cycle. During the assessment, the Bureau of Family Health also evaluates its capacity to serve and meet the needs of Pennsylvania's maternal and child health populations.
The assessment is a multi-step process which includes evaluation of the following:
- Social, economic, and environmental determinants of health
- Health disparities
- Quantitative data from state and national datasets
- Qualitative data such as focus group feedback
- Title V workforce capacity
- Title V program partnerships and collaborations
2020 Five-Year Needs and Capacity Assessment:
2025 Five-Year Needs and Capacity Assessment:
- Title V 2025 Five Year Needs and Capacity Assessment Overview + Timeline
- Title V 2025 Five Year Needs and Capacity Assessment Overview + Timeline (en Español)
- Title V 2025 Five Year Needs and Capacity Assessment – Selected Values
- Title V 2025 Five Year Needs and Capacity Assessment – Selected Values (en Español)
- Title V 2025 Five Year Needs and Capacity Assessment – Data Placemats
- Title V 2025 Five Year Needs and Capacity Assessment – Data Placemats (en Español)
- Title V Final Priorities, 2026-2030
The Health Resources and Services Administration also encourages Title V Block Grant programs to conduct ongoing and interim needs assessment during reporting years between five-year needs and capacity assessments. Through interim needs assessment, the Bureau of Family Health evaluates the extent to which the priority needs are being met, identifies emerging health issues, and continues to gather feedback from providers, service recipients, and other stakeholders. For more information on Pennsylvania's interim Title V needs assessment activities, click on the links below.
Interim Needs and Capacity Assessment:
More Information
Annual Reports and Applications
- Pennsylvania's Title V Block Grant 2023 Report and 2025 Application
- Pennsylvania's Title V Block Grant 2022 Report and 2024 Application
- Pennsylvania's Title V Block Grant 2021 Report and 2023 Application
Older reports available upon request
Public Input
Send us your comments and questions! We welcome public input at any time.
Title V MCH Block Grant Coordinator
Bureau of Family Health
Division of Bureau Operations
Health and Human Services Building
625 Forster St.
Harrisburg, PA 17120-0701
717-346-3000
RA-DHPATITLEV@pa.gov