New Opportunities for Federal Funding to Advance Maternal Mental Health
The federal government recently announced new funding opportunities for Fiscal Year 2026 that will advance maternal mental health in the United States.
#1: Funding for the Maternal Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders Program
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) will soon be providing additional funding for the Maternal Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders (MMH-SUD) Program. This forecasted grant will fund up to two MMH-SUD programs in Tribal entities and/or states. Click here to learn more about this funding opportunity.
About This Program
The Maternal Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders (MMH-SUD) Program is a federally funded program that helps improve maternal mental health and substance use disorder outcomes for pregnant and postpartum women by providing grants to states to create perinatal psychiatry access programs.
These programs provide timely teleconsultation, training, and care coordination (including resources and referrals) to obstetric, primary care, and other maternal health providers.
The Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance (MMHLA) leads federal advocacy efforts to fund MMH-SUD programs. To date, we have secured over $70 million in federal funding for these programs.
Currently, 12 states (Colorado, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, and West Virginia) and Los Angeles County receive federal funding for MMH-SUD programs. Many other states have launched similar programs using state funds.
#2: Funding for Maternal Mental Health Research
The Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP) has announced anticipated funding opportunities for Fiscal Year 2026, including funding for maternal mental health research. The goal of this program is to transform healthcare through innovative and impactful research. Click here to learn more about this funding opportunity.
About This Program
The Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP) supports research across the full range of science and medicine with an underlying goal of enhancing the health, care, and well-being of military service members, Veterans, retirees, their family members, and the general public.
In 2022, the Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance (MMHLA) advocated to include maternal mental health as a priority research area within the CDMRP’s Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program (PRMRP). Since then, the PRMRP has funded four maternal mental health research projects, totaling almost $20 million.
STAY IN TOUCH
