DHHS: DPH: Women, Infant and Community Wellness Section

Funding opportunities

10/17/25: RFA A424 - PREPare for Success Program

The North Carolina Division of Public Health, Women, Infant, and Community Wellness Section has released RFA A424 – PREPare for Success Program.

RFA A424 – PREPare for Success Program (PDF, 833 KB)
RFA A424 – PREPare for Success Program (Word, 279 KB)
Open Window Budget Worksheet (XLS, 469 KB)
Open Window Budget Form Worksheet Instructions (Word, 261 KB )
RFA Questions and Answers (PDF, 172 KB) 10/17/25
Bidder's Conference, October 2, 2025, Slide Deck (PDF, 446 KB) 10/17/25

Purpose: The Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP) is designed to educate adolescents on both abstinence and contraception to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), and adulthood preparation subjects. With reproductive health education programs, youth development, and parent involvement, adolescents will have the information and skills needed to make healthy decisions about reproductive health. PREP is administered by Teen Pregnancy Prevention Initiatives (TPPI) of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, Women, Infant, and Community Wellness Section, Reproductive Health Branch.

Eligibility: Public or private non-profit agencies (e.g., schools, colleges/universities, local health departments, non-profit community-based organizations) may receive funding to replicate at least one (1) evidence-based program model through this Request for Applications (RFA). For-profit agencies need not apply. If the applicant agency currently receives Primary Prevention funding for teen pregnancy prevention through the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, the agency may not apply to implement an additional primary pregnancy prevention program in the same county they currently serve but may propose a new program in a different county.

Applications will only be accepted from counties ranking in the top 50 for birth rates among females aged 15 to 19 based on a five-year average between 2019-2023. The counties are as follows: Alleghany, Anson, Ashe, Beaufort, Bertie, Bladen, Burke, Caldwell, Caswell, Cherokee, Chowan, Clay, Cleveland, Columbus, Craven, Cumberland, Duplin, Edgecombe, Graham, Greene, Halifax, Hoke, Jones, Lee, Lenoir, Macon, Martin, McDowell, Mitchell, Nash, Northampton, Onslow, Perquimans, Person, Richmond, Robeson, Rockingham, Rutherford, Sampson, Scotland, Surry, Swain, Vance, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Wilkes, Wilson, Yadkin, and Yancey.

How to Apply:

The RFA will be posted on the Program’s website www.teenpregnancy.ncdhhs.gov/funding.htm, along with electronic copies of the application materials, on September 24, 2025.

A representative of the applicant agency is encouraged to participate in the bidder’s conference, which will be held virtually on October 2, 2025 from 10am-12pm EST through this Zoom link. Written questions concerning the specifications in this RFA will be received until 5:00pm on October 9, 2025. As an addendum to this RFA, a summary of all questions and answers will be placed on https://teenpregnancy.dph.ncdhhs.gov/funding.htm by October 17, 2025.

Potential applicants are also encouraged to submit an optional Notice of Intent no later than 5:00pm on October 9, 2025 by completing the survey found here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NoticeofIntentRFA2025.

No later than October 30, 2025, Applicants shall email a PDF version of the full application; the application must be typed, on 8.5” x 11” paper with margins of 1”. Line spacing should be single-spaced. The font should be easy to read and no smaller than an 11-point font.

Deadline for Submission: Applications must be submitted electronically no later than 5:00pm on October 30, 2025 to tppi-rfa@dhhs.nc.gov.

How to Obtain Further Information: tppi-rfa@dhhs.nc.gov
Direct inquiries concerning this RFA to all of the following:
Nancy Warren, nancy.warren@dhhs.nc.gov
Deja Garlin, deja.garlin@dhhs.nc.gov
Kylia Ahuna, kylia.ahuna@dhhs.nc.gov

Application Process Summary Dates

09/24/2025: Request for Applications released to eligible applicants.
10/02/2025: Bidder’s Conference / Teleconference, 10am-12pm EST. Zoom Link
10/09/2025: Notice of Intent due. Submit Here
10/09/2025: End of Q&A period. All questions due in writing by 5pm.
10/17/2025: Answers to Questions released to all applicants, as an addendum to the RFA.
10/30/2025: Applications due by 5pm.
11/24/2025: Successful applicants will be notified.
06/01/2026: Contract begins.

10/17/25: RFA A418 - Healthy Beginnings

RFA A418 – Healthy Beginnings
The North Carolina Division of Public Health, Women, Infant, and Community Wellness Section has released a Request for Application (RFA) #A418 – Healthy Beginnings.

Request for Applications A418 Healthy Beginnings (PDF)
Request for Application A418 Form (Word)
Open Windows Budget Form (Excel)
Open Windows Budget Form Instructions (PDF)

Eligibility

Public or private nonprofit agencies (e.g., community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, local health departments, community health centers) may apply to receive funding to implement Healthy Beginnings program aimed to impact the reduction of minority infant mortality, and preterm and low birthweight births in their communities and thereby improve minority birth outcomes.

How to Apply

The RFA will be posted on the NC Division of Public Health, Women, Infant, and Community Wellness Section’s (WICWS) website: https://wicws.dph.ncdhhs.gov/ along with electronic copies of application materials, on October 17, 2025.

A representative from the applicant agency is strongly encouraged to participate in a Pre-Application Webinar being held virtually on Wednesday, October 22, 2025 from 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM through this Zoom link.

Written questions concerning the specifications of this RFA will be received until 4:30 pm on Friday, October 31, 2025. As an addendum to this RFA, a summary of all questions and answers will be emailed to applicants who submitted a Notice of Intent on Thursday, November 6, 2025. The addendum will also be posted on the WICWS’ : https://wicws.dph.ncdhhs.gov/ on Thursday, November 6, 2025.

Potential applicants are encouraged to submit an optional non-binding Notice of Intent no later than 5:00 PM on Friday, October 31, 2025. The link to complete the notice of intent is: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HBRFAA418.

Deadline for Submission: Applications must be submitted electronically no later than 5:00 pm on Friday, November 21, 2025.

Application Process Summary Dates:

10/17/2025: RFA A418 released and consultation period begins
10/22/2025: Pre-Application webinar (strongly recommended) - 10:00 am - 11:00 am. Zoom Link
10/31/2025: Notice of Intent (optional) due by 5:00 pm. Submit Here
10/31/2025: RFA consultation period ends. All questions due by email by 4:30 pm.
11/06/2025: Questions and answers released as an addendum to the RFA.
11/21/2025: Applications due by 5:00 pm
12/19/2025: Successful applicants will be notified.
06/01/2026: Contract begins.

Direct all inquiries concerning this RFA to: Renee D. Jackson, Healthy Beginnings Program Manager renee.jackson@dhhs.nc.gov.

News and Highlights

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2018 - 2020 North Carolina Maternal Mortality Review Committee Report 08/27/25

2018 - 2020 NC Maternal Mortality Review Report One-Page Fact Sheet 08/27/25

NC Doula Landscape Analysis and Summit Report 2023

COVID-19 Vaccines Pregnancy, Breastfeeding and Fertility: What You Need to Know

COVID-19 and Pregnancy

Find a Family Planning Clinic

NC Perinatal Health Strategic Plan 2022-2026

The NC Perinatal Health Strategic Plan (PHSP) serves as a statewide guide to improve maternal and infant health and the health of all people of reproductive age. The plan's primary focus is increasing health equity, which is the opportunity for every person to have good health regardless of social and economic factors. The first PHSP began implementation in 2016, and the state continues to strive to achieve perinatal health equity. This plan, created for 2022-2026, seeks to address both the challenges of structural racism and of the COVID-19 pandemic by focusing on the drivers of health. Please visit and share our updated website with your friends, community partners, and agencies. 04/25/23

The NC Division of Public Health (DPH) brought together more than 100 stakeholders from across the state, currently known as the Perinatal Health Equity Collective, to develop this revised plan (PDF, 11 MB) and will continue to work with public, nonprofit, and private partners along with individuals with lived experiences to implement the plan and assess progress. To get involved or to ask questions, send us an email.

Plan of Safe Care (POSC)

09/11/18: A federal mandate went into effect on July 31, 2017 that requires health care providers involved in delivery and care of infants in North Carolina (and all states) to notify child welfare when an infant is identified by a medical provider

as being affected by:

Mom’s untreated substance use disorder

or having:

Withdrawal signs and symptoms
Signs of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
A positive urine, meconium, or umbilical cord segment substance test with provider concerns.

This law also requires that a Plan of Safe Care (POSC) is developed for these infants. The POSC English (PDF, 2 MB) and Spanish (PDF, 2 MB) pamphlets provide basic information for patients regarding how and why a Plan of Safe Care is created. Agencies should download the brochures as needed.

Legislation was enacted by the NC General Assembly in December 2015 to establish the NC Maternal Mortality Review Committee (MMRC). The MMRC is charged with reviewing all maternal deaths in the state to determine if pregnancy related or pregnancy associated.

The MMRC also has the responsibility to make recommendations for improvement. The DHHS was awarded a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) grant to support the work of the MMRC in late 2019. This is the first report (PDF, 7.3 MB) of the MMRC based on data from 2014-2016.

Quick Links

NC Maternal and Child Health Block Grant Application (PDF) 09/04/24

OPA Family Planning Clinic Locator - Click the locator link to find a Title X Family Planning Clinic near you and call to make your appointment!

Women’s Preventive Health Services Covered By The Affordable Care Act (ACA) - Preventive Health Services for Women

North Carolina Medical Center Resources - High-Risk Prenatal Care Resource List (PDF, 23 KB)

Trainings

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Publications

The Women, Infant and Community Wellness Section develops and promotes programs and services that protect the health and well-being of infants and of women during their child-bearing years. The goal is to improve the overall health of women, reduce infant sickness and death, and strengthen families and communities.

The Women, Infant and Community Wellness Section also offers guidance, consultation and training for professionals who provide women's health services.

Local health departments and other community agencies serving each of the 100 counties in North Carolina provide a variety of these women's health services, including family planning, prenatal care, flu shots and other women's immunizations, and pregnancy care management. For more information on the services near you, contact your local health department.

The Women, Infant and Community Wellness Section is part of the North Carolina Division of Public Health.

Learn More: Services

Mailing Address

Women, Infant and Community Wellness Section
1929 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1929
Courier Number: 56-23-01

Physical Address

5601 Six Forks Rd.
Raleigh, NC 27609

Telephone

Main: (919) 707-5700
Fax: (919) 870-4827

Additional Contact Details

Last Modified: 10-17-2025

Women, Infant and Community Wellness Section