For the provision of statewide support services for maternal, child and family health activities to pregnant people, parents, caregivers, infants, children and youth, including those with special health needs to maintain the public health infrastructure necessary for promoting racially equitable, evidence--based, data--informed and family--engaged services and programs; provided, that not less than $386,000 shall be expended for the universal newborn hearing screening program; provided further, that not less than $25,000 shall be expended for Junie's Place, Inc. to provide comprehensive, no--cost grief support services to families enduring the profound loss of a child, infant or pregnancy or experiencing a stillbirth; provided further, that not less than $10,840,965 shall be expended for the pediatric palliative care program established in
section 24K of chapter 111 of the General Laws; provided further, that notwithstanding said
section 24K of said chapter 111, children less than 22 years of age shall be eligible for this program; provided further, that funds shall be expended for universal newborn hearing screening and perinatal--neonatal quality improvement; provided further, that not less than $1,000,000 shall be expended for a doula certification program; provided further, that not less than $350,000 shall be expended for the operations of and hiring additional personnel for the Massachusetts maternal mortality and morbidity review committee to enhance the committee's ability to comprehensively review deaths and complications that occur during or within 1 year of pregnancy and make related remedial policy and practice recommendations; provided further, that the Massachusetts maternal mortality and morbidity review committee shall convene regularly to encourage consistent case review and reporting of findings and recommendations; provided further, that the department of public health shall submit to the Massachusetts maternal mortality and morbidity review committee, in a timely manner, aggregated and patient--level maternal morbidity and mortality data for review and utilization in developing recommendations to improve perinatal and maternal health outcomes; provided further, that not later than March 2, 2026, the Massachusetts maternal mortality and morbidity review committee shall submit a report on its findings and recommendations to the joint committee on public health, the house and senate committees on ways and means, the pregnancy and birth equity task force of the Massachusetts caucus of women legislators and the commission on the status of women; provided further, that not less than $1,000,000 shall be expended to support the development and operation of freestanding birth centers to cover costs including, but not limited to, facility costs, start--up expenditures and the cost of providing full prenatal care and extensive postpartum care; provided further, that funds shall be issued through a competitive grant process; provided further, that freestanding birth centers and maternal health--centered community--based nonprofit organizations shall be eligible to apply for the funds, which shall include a requirement that a birth center be licensed or be in active pursuit of licensure; provided further, that priority for funding shall be given to birth centers that serve communities historically impacted most by inequities in maternal health including, but not limited to, high rates of maternal and infant mortality; provided further, that not less than $100,000 shall be expended to Pernet Family Health Services in the city of Worcester for its fourth trimester screening program; provided further, that not less than $25,000 shall be expended to It Takes A Village in the town of Huntington for postpartum and early parenting support for families in the western region of the commonwealth; provided further, that not less than $220,000 shall be expended for grants to community--based organizations to address mental health conditions and substance use disorders for perinatal individuals consistent with section 16GG of chapter 6A of the General Laws; and provided further, that not less than $100,000 shall be expended for the deployment and promotion of a software application accessible by cell phones, computers, tablets and other electronic devices to enable the public to identify, evaluate and access resources for maternal and infant health including, but not limited to, mental and physical healthcare, transportation, nutrition and housing
