H97 - 2015 Appropriations Act, Sec. 12E.11: Improve Maternal and Child Health/Establish Competitive Grants Process (SL 2015-241)

Overview: Sec. 12E.11 of S.L. 2015-241 designates the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health as the lead agency to:

• Assume responsibility for controlling all funding and contracts designed to (i) improve North Carolina's birth outcomes, (ii) improve the overall health status of children in this State from ages birth to five, and (iii) lower this State's infant mortality rates.
• Develop a comprehensive plan in consultation with the University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health.
• Conduct a continuation review of all maternal and child health-related programs in consultation with the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Program Evaluation Reporting and Accountability (OPERA).
• Establish a competitive grants process for local health departments based on the county's proposal to invest in evidence-based programs and on maternal and infant health indicators.
• Evaluate the protocol for future program funding in consultation with the School of Global Public Health.
• Submit a report on the competitive grants process, in consultation with the School of Global Public Health, to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services no later than April 1, 2016.

This section became effective July 1, 2015.