The "NEWBORN Act" authorizes funding for infant mortality pilot programs in areas with high infant mortality rates to improve maternal and infant health outcomes.
Chris Van Hollen
Senator
MD
The NEWBORN Act authorizes funding for infant mortality pilot programs in areas with high infant mortality rates. Grants will be awarded to eligible entities for up to 5 years to create, implement, and oversee these programs. Funds can be used for community needs assessment, outreach to at-risk mothers, and coordination between health departments and existing entities. The Act allocates $10,000,000 for each fiscal year from 2025 through 2029 to support these programs.
NEWBORN Act Proposes $50 Million Pilot Program Fund to Tackle Infant Mortality in High-Risk Areas
Congress is looking at a new approach to tackle infant mortality with the proposed NEWBORN Act. This bill sets aside federal money – specifically, $10 million per year for five years starting in fiscal year 2025 – for grants to create and run pilot programs aimed squarely at reducing infant deaths in communities hit hardest by this issue. The main goal is to test out different strategies on the ground and figure out what really works to help more babies reach their first birthday.
Boots (and Booties) on the Ground: What the Grants Fund
So, what would this money actually do? According to Section 2 of the bill, eligible groups, primarily local or state health departments, can apply for these 5-year grants. The funds are earmarked for a range of activities designed to support vulnerable moms and babies. Think things like figuring out what a specific community actually needs ('community needs assessment'), reaching out directly to expectant mothers considered 'at-risk,' setting up systems so families can more easily access social services, education, and medical care, running specific programs for rural areas, and launching public education campaigns about infant health. The idea is to build a support network tailored to local realities.
Targeting Trouble Spots
The bill isn't just throwing money out there; it's trying to be strategic. Priority for these grants goes to health departments serving areas with statistically high infant mortality rates – specifically mentioning the 50 U.S. counties with the highest rates. Grants can also be prioritized if they focus on specific causes of infant death, such as birth defects, preterm birth, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), complications during the mother's pregnancy, or injuries to the baby. This means a program in one county might focus heavily on improving prenatal care access if preterm birth is a major issue there, while another might concentrate on safe sleep education if SIDS rates are high.
Show Me the Data (and the Money)
Accountability is built in. Grantees have to submit annual reports detailing how their pilot programs are running. This data isn't just paperwork; the bill requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (acting through the Health Resources and Services Administration) to use these reports for evaluation and research. This feedback loop is crucial for understanding which interventions are most effective. There's a cap, though: no more than 10% of a grant can be spent on evaluating the program itself each year. The overall funding authorized is $10 million annually from fiscal year 2025 through 2029. While the goals are clear, the bill gives grantees some flexibility in how they implement programs, meaning the specific definition of 'at-risk' or the exact services offered could vary, requiring solid oversight to ensure the funds achieve the intended impact.