HRSA's Maternal and Child Health Bureau recently awarded three new community-based grants totaling $1.35 million over three years to develop an instrument to screen simultaneously for multiple behavioral risk factors common among women during their childbearing years.
 
The demonstration program -- called Screening for Multiple Behavioral Risk Factors During the Preconception through Postpartum Period -- will help improve screening for domestic violence, alcohol use and depression.
 
Funded projects will:

• develop a short, easy-to-administer set of questions for identifying multiple behavioral and psychosocial risk factors;
• pilot test the new screening instrument at health clinics; and
• ensure comprehensive assessments and make referrals for women whose screening results are positive.

The FY 2003 grantees are the Medical and Health Research Association of New York City, serving the New York City area; the Boston Public Health Commission, serving patients at two health centers in the Boston area; and Children’s Research Triangle in Chicago, serving the city’s south side. Grantees will each receive $150,000 annually over the three-year period.