---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 254c–8"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "254c–8"
heading: "Healthy start for infants"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/254c-8"
units:
  - "Chapter 6A — Public Health Service"
  - "Subchapter II — General Powers and Duties"
  - "Part D — Primary Health Care"
  - "Subpart i — health centers"
---

# §254c–8. Healthy start for infants

- (a) **In general—**
  - (1) **Continuation and expansion of program—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c), acting through the [Administrator](/usc/42/4005.md?p=1) of the Health Resources and [Services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau, shall under authority of this section continue in effect the Healthy Start Initiative and may carry out such [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) on a national basis.
  - (2) **Definition—** For purposes of [paragraph (1)](#a-1), the term “Healthy Start Initiative” is a reference to the [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) that, as an initiative to reduce the rate of infant mortality and improve perinatal outcomes, makes grants for [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) areas with high or increasing above the national average annual rates of infant mortality and that, prior to the effective date of this section, was a demonstration [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) carried out under [section 241 of this title](/usc/42/241.md).
- (b) **Considerations in making grants—**
  - (1) **Requirements—** In making grants under [subsection (a)](#a), the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall require that applicants (in addition to meeting all eligibility criteria established by the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c)) establish, for [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) areas under such subsection, community-based consortia of individuals and organizations (including [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) responsible for administering block grant [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) under title V of the Social Security Act [[42 U.S.C. 701](/usc/42/701.md) et seq.], [participants](/usc/42/300gg–91.md?p=d-11) and former [participants](/usc/42/300gg–91.md?p=d-11) of [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a), public health departments, [hospitals](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=1), health centers under [section 254b of this title](/usc/42/254b.md), [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) substance abuse [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1), and other significant sources of health [care services](/usc/42/300z–1.md?p=a-7)) that are appropriate for participation in [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) under [subsection (a)](#a).
  - (2) **Other considerations—** In making grants under [subsection (a)](#a), the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall take into consideration the following:
    - (A) Factors that contribute to infant mortality, including poor birth outcomes (such as low birthweight and preterm birth) and social determinants of health.
    - (B) Communities with—
      - (i) high rates of infant mortality or poor perinatal outcomes; or
      - (ii) high rates of infant mortality or poor perinatal outcomes in specific subpopulations within the community.
    - (C) The extent to which applicants for such grants facilitate—
      - (i) collaboration with the local community in the development of the [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2);
      - (ii) a community-based approach to the delivery of [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a);
      - (iii) a comprehensive approach to women’s health care to improve perinatal outcomes; and
      - (iv) the use and collection of data demonstrating the effectiveness of such [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) in decreasing infant mortality rates and improving perinatal outcomes, as applicable, or the process by which new applicants plan to collect this data.
  - (3) **Special projects—** Nothing in [paragraph (2)](#b-2) shall be construed to prevent the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) from awarding grants under [subsection (a)](#a) for special [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) that are intended to address significant disparities in perinatal health indicators in communities along the United States-Mexico border or in Alaska or Hawaii.
- (c) **Coordination—**
  - (1) **In general—** Recipients of grants under [subsection (a)](#a) shall coordinate their [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) and activities with the [State agency](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=12) or [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) that administer block grant [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) under title V of the Social Security Act [[42 U.S.C. 701](/usc/42/701.md) et seq.] in order to promote cooperation, integration, and dissemination of information with Statewide systems and with other community [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) funded under the Maternal and Child Health Block Grant.
  - (2) **Other programs—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall ensure coordination of the [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) carried out pursuant to this section with other [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) and activities related to the reduction of the rate of infant mortality and improved perinatal and infant health outcomes supported by the Department.
- (d) **Rule of construction—** Except to the extent inconsistent with this section, this section may not be construed as affecting the authority of the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) to make modifications in the [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) carried out under [subsection (a)](#a).
- (e) **Funding—**
  - (1) **Authorization of appropriations—** For the purpose of carrying out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated $125,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025.
  - (2) **Allocation—**
    - (A) **Program administration—** Of the amounts appropriated under [paragraph (1)](#e-1) for a fiscal year, the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) may reserve up to 5 percent for coordination, dissemination, technical assistance, and data activities that are determined by the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) to be appropriate for carrying out the [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) under this section.
    - (B) **Evaluation—** Of the amounts appropriated under [paragraph (1)](#e-1) for a fiscal year, the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) may reserve up to 1 percent for evaluations of [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) carried out under [subsection (a)](#a). Each such evaluation shall include a determination of whether such [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) have been effective in reducing the disparity in health status between the general population and individuals who are members of racial or ethnic minority groups. Evaluations may also include, to the extent practicable, information related to—
      - (i) progress toward achieving any grant metrics or outcomes related to reducing infant mortality rates, improving perinatal outcomes, or reducing the disparity in health status;
      - (ii) recommendations on potential improvements that may assist with addressing gaps, as applicable and appropriate; and
      - (iii) the extent to which the grantee coordinated with the community in which the grantee is located in the development of the [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) and delivery of [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a), including with respect to technical assistance and mentorship [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4).
- (f) **GAO report—**
  - (1) **In general—** Not later than 4 years after March 27, 2020, the [Comptroller General](/usc/42/300x–64.md?p=b-1) of the United States shall conduct an independent evaluation, and submit to the appropriate Committees of Congress a report, concerning the Healthy Start [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) under this section.
  - (2) **Evaluation—** In conducting the evaluation under [paragraph (1)](#f-1), the [Comptroller General](/usc/42/300x–64.md?p=b-1) shall consider, as applicable and appropriate, information from the evaluations under [subsection (e)(2)(B)](#e-2-B).
  - (3) **Report—** The report described in [paragraph (1)](#f-1) shall review, assess, and provide recommendations, as appropriate, on the following:
    - (A) The [allocation](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=2) of Healthy Start [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) grants by the Health Resources and [Services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) Administration, including considerations made by such Administration regarding disparities in infant mortality or perinatal outcomes among urban and rural areas in making such awards.
    - (B) Trends in the progress made toward meeting the evaluation criteria pursuant to [subsection (e)(2)(B)](#e-2-B), including [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) which decrease infant mortality rates and improve perinatal outcomes, [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) that have not decreased infant mortality rates or improved perinatal outcomes, and [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) that have made an impact on disparities in infant mortality or perinatal outcomes.
    - (C) The ability of grantees to improve health outcomes for [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) [participants](/usc/42/300gg–91.md?p=d-11), promote the awareness of the Healthy Start [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a), incorporate and promote family participation, facilitate coordination with the community in which the grantee is located, and increase grantee accountability through quality improvement, performance monitoring, evaluation, and the effect such metrics may have toward decreasing the rate of infant mortality and improving perinatal outcomes.
    - (D) The extent to which such Federal [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) are coordinated across [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) and the identification of opportunities for improved coordination in such Federal [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) and activities.

## Source credit

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title III, § 330H, as added Pub. L. 106–310, div. A, title XV, § 1501, Oct. 17, 2000, 114 Stat. 1146; amended Pub. L. 108–271, § 8(b), July 7, 2004, 118 Stat. 814; Pub. L. 110–339, § 2, Oct. 3, 2008, 122 Stat. 3733; Pub. L. 116–136, div. A, title III, § 3225, Mar. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 381.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The effective date of this section, referred to in subsec. (a)(2), is the date of enactment of Pub. L. 106–310, which was approved Oct. 17, 2000.

The Social Security Act, referred to in subsecs. (b)(1) and (c)(1), is act Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, 49 Stat. 620. Title V of the Act is classified generally to subchapter V (§ 701 et seq.) of chapter 7 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 1305 of this title and Tables.

### Amendments

2020—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 116–136, § 3225(1)(A), struck out “, during fiscal year 2001 and subsequent years,” after “and may”.

Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 116–136, § 3225(1)(B), inserted “or increasing above the national average” after “areas with high”.

Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 116–136, § 3225(2)(A), substituted “participants and former participants of project services, public health departments, hospitals, health centers under section 254b of this title, State substance abuse agencies” for “consumers of project services, public health departments, hospitals, health centers under section 254b of this title”.

Subsec. (b)(2)(A). Pub. L. 116–136, § 3225(2)(B)(i), substituted “including poor birth outcomes (such as low birthweight and preterm birth) and social determinants of health” for “such as low birthweight”.

Subsec. (b)(2)(B). Pub. L. 116–136, § 3225(2)(B)(iii), added subpar. (B). Former subpar. (B) redesignated (C).

Subsec. (b)(2)(C). Pub. L. 116–136, § 3225(2)(B)(iv), added cl. (i) and (iv) and redesignated former cls. (i) and (ii) as (ii) and (iii), respectively.

Pub. L. 116–136, § 3225(2)(B)(ii), redesignated subpar. (B) as (C).

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 116–136, § 3225(3), designated existing provisions as par. (1), inserted heading, and added par. (2).

Subsec. (e)(1). Pub. L. 116–136, § 3225(4)(A), substituted “appropriated $125,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025.” for “appropriated—

“(A) $120,000,000 for fiscal year 2008; and

“(B) for each of fiscal years 2009 through 2013, the amount authorized for the preceding fiscal year increased by the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers for such year.”

Subsec. (e)(2)(B). Pub. L. 116–136, § 3225(4)(B), inserted at end “Evaluations may also include, to the extent practicable, information related to—” and added cls. (i) to (iii).

Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 116–136, § 3225(5), added subsec. (f).

2008—Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 110–339, § 2(b)(1), struck out par. (3). Text read as follows: “Effective upon increased funding beyond fiscal year 1999 for such Initiative, additional grants may be made to States to assist communities with technical assistance, replication of successful projects, and State policy formation to reduce infant and maternal mortality and morbidity.”

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 110–339, § 2(a), substituted “Considerations in making grants” for “Requirements for making grants” in heading, designated existing provisions as par. (1), inserted par. heading, and added pars. (2) and (3).

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 110–339, § 2(b)(2), (c), added subsec. (e) and struck out former subsec. (e) which related to additional services for at-risk pregnant women and infants.

Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 110–339, § 2(b)(2), struck out subsec. (f) which related to funding of program and additional services for at-risk pregnant women and infants.

2004—Subsec. (e)(3). Pub. L. 108–271 substituted “Government Accountability Office” for “General Accounting Office” in heading.