Title 42, The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-110
§18203 Permissible Uses of Fund
Title 42 › CHAPTER 158 — SUPPORT FOR PREGNANT AND PARENTING TEENS AND WOMEN › § 18203
Summary
States must use grant money to help pregnant and parenting teens and women. They can give funds to colleges so those schools can start or run services for pregnant and parenting students. Schools must apply to the State and must add 25 percent of the grant from non‑Federal money (cash or fair value of things like services or space). The money must add to existing help, not replace it. Schools can assess campus and community needs, track each year how well they meet needs like maternity care in student health plans, family housing, child care, flexible class schedules, parenting education, baby supplies, and postpartum counseling, find and work with local service providers, help students get services, and, when asked, give referrals for prenatal care, delivery, foster care, or adoption. Each funded school must send an annual report to the State showing spending, performance based on State criteria, and how many students used the office. The State must set the reporting standards at least 180 days before the report is due and must report to the Secretary how many schools and students were served. States may also fund high schools and community centers in the same way (without the 25 percent match). States can give money to the State Attorney General to help pregnant victims of domestic or sexual violence with intervention, support, and training for public agencies and service providers. The training must cover how to identify victims, assess safety and health needs, keep private medical records, and refer victims to services. “Eligible pregnant woman” means someone who is pregnant when harmed or was pregnant within the one-year period before the harm. States may also fund public education about services and must set limits on how much can go to that.
Full Legal Text
Title 42, §18203
The Public Health and Welfare, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)In general
A State shall use amounts received under a grant under section 18202 of this title for the purposes described in this section to assist pregnant and parenting teens and women.
(b)Institutions of higher education
(1)In general
A State may use amounts received under a grant under section 18202 of this title to make funding available to eligible institutions of higher education to enable the eligible institutions to establish, maintain, or operate pregnant and parenting student services. Such funding shall be used to supplement, not supplant, existing funding for such services.
(2)Application
An eligible institution of higher education that desires to receive funding under this subsection shall submit an application to the designated State agency at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the State agency may require.
(3)Matching requirement
An eligible institution of higher education that receives funding under this subsection shall contribute to the conduct of the pregnant and parenting student services office supported by the funding an amount from non-Federal funds equal to 25 percent of the amount of the funding provided. The non-Federal share may be in cash or in-kind, fairly evaluated, including services, facilities, supplies, or equipment.
(4)Use of funds for assisting pregnant and parenting college students
An eligible institution of higher education that receives funding under this subsection shall use such funds to establish, maintain or operate pregnant and parenting student services and may use such funding for the following programs and activities:
(A)Conduct a needs assessment on campus and within the local community—
(i)to assess pregnancy and parenting resources, located on the campus or within the local community, that are available to meet the needs described in subparagraph (B); and
(ii)to set goals for—
(I)improving such resources for pregnant, parenting, and prospective parenting students; and
(II)improving access to such resources.
(B)Annually assess the performance of the eligible institution in meeting the following needs of students enrolled in the eligible institution who are pregnant or are parents:
(i)The inclusion of maternity coverage and the availability of riders for additional family members in student health care.
(ii)Family housing.
(iii)Child care.
(iv)Flexible or alternative academic scheduling, such as telecommuting programs, to enable pregnant or parenting students to continue their education or stay in school.
(v)Education to improve parenting skills for mothers and fathers and to strengthen marriages.
(vi)Maternity and baby clothing, baby food (including formula), baby furniture, and similar items to assist parents and prospective parents in meeting the material needs of their children.
(vii)Post-partum counseling.
(C)Identify public and private service providers, located on the campus of the eligible institution or within the local community, that are qualified to meet the needs described in subparagraph (B), and establishes programs with qualified providers to meet such needs.
(D)Assist pregnant and parenting students, fathers or spouses in locating and obtaining services that meet the needs described in subparagraph (B).
(E)If appropriate, provide referrals for prenatal care and delivery, infant or foster care, or adoption, to a student who requests such information. An office shall make such referrals only to service providers that serve the following types of individuals:
(i)Parents.
(ii)Prospective parents awaiting adoption.
(iii)Women who are pregnant and plan on parenting or placing the child for adoption.
(iv)Parenting or prospective parenting couples.
(5)Reporting
(A)Annual report by institutions
(i)In general
For each fiscal year that an eligible institution of higher education receives funds under this subsection, the eligible institution shall prepare and submit to the State, by the date determined by the State, a report that—
(I)itemizes the pregnant and parenting student services office’s expenditures for the fiscal year;
(II)contains a review and evaluation of the performance of the office in fulfilling the requirements of this section, using the specific performance criteria or standards established under subparagraph (B)(i); and
(III)describes the achievement of the office in meeting the needs listed in paragraph (4)(B) of the students served by the eligible institution, and the frequency of use of the office by such students.
(ii)Performance criteria
Not later than 180 days before the date the annual report described in clause (i) is submitted, the State—
(I)shall identify the specific performance criteria or standards that shall be used to prepare the report; and
(II)may establish the form or format of the report.
(B)Report by State
The State shall annually prepare and submit a report on the findings under this subsection, including the number of eligible institutions of higher education that were awarded funds and the number of students served by each pregnant and parenting student services office receiving funds under this section, to the Secretary.
(c)Support for pregnant and parenting teens
A State may use amounts received under a grant under section 18202 of this title to make funding available to eligible high schools and community service centers to establish, maintain or operate pregnant and parenting services in the same general manner and in accordance with all conditions and requirements described in subsection (b), except that paragraph (3) of such subsection shall not apply for purposes of this subsection.
(d)Improving services for pregnant women who are victims of domestic violence, sexual violence, sexual assault, and stalking
(1)In general
A State may use amounts received under a grant under section 18202 of this title to make funding available tp its State Attorney General to assist Statewide offices in providing—
(A)intervention services, accompaniment, and supportive social services for eligible pregnant women who are victims of domestic violence, sexual violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
(B)technical assistance and training (as described in subsection (c)) relating to violence against eligible pregnant women to be made available to the following:
(i)Federal, State, tribal, territorial, and local governments, law enforcement agencies, and courts.
(ii)Professionals working in legal, social service, and health care settings.
(iii)Nonprofit organizations.
(iv)Faith-based organizations.
(2)Eligibility
To be eligible for a grant under paragraph (1), a State Attorney General shall submit an application to the designated State agency at such time, in such manner, and containing such information, as specified by the State.
(3)Technical assistance and training described
For purposes of paragraph (1)(B), technical assistance and training is—
(A)the identification of eligible pregnant women experiencing domestic violence, sexual violence, sexual assault, or stalking;
(B)the assessment of the immediate and short-term safety of such a pregnant woman, the evaluation of the impact of the violence or stalking on the pregnant woman’s health, and the assistance of the pregnant woman in developing a plan aimed at preventing further domestic violence, sexual violence, sexual assault, or stalking, as appropriate;
(C)the maintenance of complete medical or forensic records that include the documentation of any examination, treatment given, and referrals made, recording the location and nature of the pregnant woman’s injuries, and the establishment of mechanisms to ensure the privacy and confidentiality of those medical records; and
(D)the identification and referral of the pregnant woman to appropriate public and private nonprofit entities that provide intervention services, accompaniment, and supportive social services.
(4)Eligible pregnant woman
In this subsection, the term “eligible pregnant woman” means any woman who is pregnant on the date on which such woman becomes a victim of domestic violence, sexual violence, sexual assault, or stalking or who was pregnant during the one-year period before such date.
(e)Public awareness and education
A State may use amounts received under a grant under section 18202 of this title to make funding available to increase public awareness and education concerning any services available to pregnant and parenting teens and women under this chapter, or any other resources available to pregnant and parenting women in keeping with the intent and purposes of this chapter. The State shall be responsible for setting guidelines or limits as to how much of funding may be utilized for public awareness and education in any funding award.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
42 U.S.C. § 18203
Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare
Last Updated
Sep 23, 2026
Release point: 119-110