Public Health Grants to Tribal Nations

The Minnesota Legislature has made state funding available to Tribal Nations to support Eliminating Health Disparities Initiative (EHDI) activities and Maternal and Child Health (MCH) activities. Federal TANF funding is also available to Tribal Nations to support family home visiting activities. Together, these three grants are designed to address the health issues and priorities identified by Tribal Nations and the communities they serve.

The Office of American Indian Health works to support and manage the funding for EHDI and MCH activities. Family home visiting activities funded through TANF are supported by the Family Home Visiting section in the Division of Community and Family Health.

Eliminating Health Disparities Initiative (Minnesota Statute 145.928, subd. 10) funding is for activities in one or more of the following health areas:

• Decreasing infant mortality rates
• Increasing adult and/or child immunization rates
• Decreasing morbidity and mortality rates from breast and cervical cancer
• Decreasing morbidity and mortality rates from HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infections
• Decreasing morbidity and mortality rates from cardiovascular disease
• Decreasing morbidity and mortality rates from diabetes
• Decreasing morbidity and mortality rates from accidental injuries or violence

Maternal and Child Health (Minnesota Statute 145.882, subd. 7) funding is for activities in one or more of the following areas:

• Services to decrease infant mortality rates and instances of infants born with low birth weight and medical complications associated with pregnancy and childbirth
• Services, such as home visiting, to pregnant women whose age, medical condition, maternal history, or chemical abuse substantially increases the likelihood of complications associated with childbirth or the birth of a child with an illness, disability, or special need
• Services to children who have or are likely to have a chronic disease or disability or special medical need
• Pre-pregnancy family planning services
• Child and adolescent health issues, such as immunization rates, lead screening, teen pregnancy prevention programs, screening and referral for developmental concerns

Family Home Visiting (TANF) (Minnesota Statute 145A.17) funding is targeted to one or more of the following areas:

• Providing eligible families with non-medical family home visiting services
• Providing eligible families with nutrition services in WIC clinics
• Implementing group teen pregnancy prevention programs