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Council Member Lynn Schulman questions DOHMH on maternal health program funding
3:26:13
·
3 min
Council Member Lynn Schulman inquires about the budget for maternal health programs in fiscal year 2026, comparing it to the previous year and discussing the council's request for additional funding. Acting Commissioner Michelle Morse and CFO Aaron Anderson respond with details on current funding, program outcomes, and explanations for budget changes.
- The FY 2026 budget for maternal health programs is about $51 million, compared to $61 million in FY 2025
- Council requested $15.7 million in additional baseline funding for FY 2026
- Discussion includes outcomes of doula initiatives and home visiting programs
- Clarification on the apparent budget reduction being due to unallocated funds rather than actual cuts
Lynn Schulman
3:26:13
So now I'm gonna go to maternal health.
3:26:31
In our preliminary budget response, the council requested $15,700,000 in additional baseline funding in fiscal twenty twenty six to support maternal health programs and services.
3:26:42
These include Maternity Infant Reproduction Program, Newborn Home Visiting Program, Nurse Family Partnership, and Universal Home Visiting Program.
3:26:50
What is the fiscal twenty twenty six budget for maternal health programs and how does it compare to fiscal twenty twenty five?
Michelle Morse
3:26:57
Thank you for the question.
3:26:58
This is again certainly a priority for us.
3:27:01
The FY twenty six budget is about $51,000,000 The FY twenty five budget was about $61,000,000 and so far again we've been able to achieve pretty significant outcomes and reach with both our doula programs and our new family home visiting programs, including our Nurse Family Partnership Program.
3:27:25
I'll just tell you briefly for the doula initiative,
Fiodhna O'Grady
3:27:29
as
Michelle Morse
3:27:29
of March we had 2,900 clients and attended 2,100 births and trained 148 community based doulas.
3:27:39
So that program again is continuing to have a really far reach.
3:27:43
And for our nurse family partnership and new family home visiting programs, we have served upwards of 10,000 visits over the course of the last year as well.
3:27:55
So all of that put together, again these are investments that we see as incredibly important and valuable and are certainly open to more conversations about what it would take to expand those programs because they are reaching a large number of people but they're certainly not reaching all of the people who would qualify for those services.
Lynn Schulman
3:28:14
So all the more reason for our request to be taken in terms of the $15,700,000 in additional baseline funding for fiscal twenty twenty six?
Michelle Morse
3:28:25
We certainly see birth equity as a priority and one other thing I'll mention is that we also know that more community based services for maternal health and birth equity are really important.
3:28:37
We've developed a neighborhood stress free zone model that was also described in our chronic disease report that is focused again on maternal health and infant health and is really intended to be a program that makes care, preventive care during pregnancy and afterwards even more accessible and focused in the communities where we know the maternal health outcomes are far from where they need to be.
Lynn Schulman
3:29:03
Do you expect any of the state fiscal twenty twenty six enacted budget for maternal health to flow to the city in June?
Michelle Morse
3:29:11
That is a phenomenal question.
3:29:13
We do speak regularly with the state about maternal health priorities.
3:29:16
At this time I'm not expecting any additional dollars specifically for maternal health, but let me pass to Aaron Anderson in case he has anything to add.
Aaron Anderson
3:29:25
Yeah, thanks for the question.
3:29:26
I would just add that that difference between the current year, about 60,000,000, and next year for 50, is really a function of not reduced funding but funding that hasn't been allocated yet, some through city council and some through grants.
Lynn Schulman
3:29:37
Alright.
3:29:37
So we want that list too.
3:29:40
Every time you answer you have more work.
3:29:47
The maternal health programs are part of the council priorities.
3:29:50
We want to ensure that CBO contracts are fully restored and that the additional ask for $15,700,000 be added at adoption.