RD310 - Annual Report on the Pregnant Women Support Fund - July 2012


Executive Summary:
In 2007, the Virginia General Assembly enacted SB1088, which created the Pregnant Women Support Fund to “support women and families who are facing unplanned pregnancy.” Pursuant to § 32.1-11.6 of the Code of Virginia, the Board of Health is required to create and administer the Virginia Pregnant Women Support Fund as a special nonreverting fund. The General Assembly established the following authority and responsibilities for the Board of Health when administering the fund:

• Authority to solicit gifts, donations, bequests, and grants on behalf of the Fund from any source and to deposit all moneys received in the Fund.

• Responsibility to establish an application process and related procedures for community health centers, migrant health centers, homeless health centers, and public-housing centers seeking grants from the Fund.

• Authority and responsibility to use the Fund solely for the purposes of carrying out the following activities:

- Purchasing or upgrading ultrasound equipment;

- Creating a separate program for domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking screening against pregnant women and new mothers;

- Conducting a public campaign to increase public awareness;

- Providing support services for students of institutions of higher education;

- Providing funds to allow early childhood education programs to work with pregnant or parenting teens to complete high school and provide job training education; or

- Providing for teenage or first time mothers education on the health needs of their infants through free home visits by registered nurses.