Supporting quality health for women and children
About
ASTHO's Maternal and Child Health (MCH) program addresses issues affecting families, women of reproductive age, infants, children, and adolescents, including those with special healthcare needs. It works to increase state capacity to develop and implement policies and programs that respond to MCH challenges and effectively promote state MCH. It builds opportunities for state health agencies and others to work together to improve maternal and child health across the nation.
Making the Case for MCH Programs
Maternal and child health is grounded in sound economics as much as it is in good science. While many costly, chronic illnesses can be prevented from preconception through childhood, interventions for the long-term are often passed over in favor of short-term health improvements and immediate savings. As a result, advocacy for MCH often requires the use of cost-based arguments in addition to research and science.
The following resources are designed to help public health advocates make a compelling business case for maternal and child health:
Please contact Ellen Schleicher Pliska, to suggest adding a state program or link to related resources to this site.
MCH Collaborations
Coordinating Health Services: WIC and Other Public Health Programs
This webcast, presented by ASTHO and NACCHO, highlighted state and local models of collaboration between the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women and Children (WIC) and other public health programs that promote the efficient, effective use of state and local resources.
Webinar Link • Slideshow
Archived until April 29, 2010
Recording ID: 984NJW
Recording Key: fKR9)$Q
Collaboration Between MCH and Chronic Disease (pdf)
Slides from a webinar on how collaboration between maternal and child health, chronic disease, and other state and local health divisions can shift departmental focus from treatment to early prevention and create more streamlined and comprehensive approaches to public health.
It Takes a Village: MCH and Medicaid Collaborations to Improve Outcomes and Leverage Funds (pdf)
Slides from an October 2008 webinar on working with Medicaid through transformation grants, waivers, and other innovative approaches to improve outcomes in the states.
Technical Assistance for States
Abstinence Only Education (pdf)
Information on states receiving Section 510 funding and links to policy statements regarding abstinence only education; state evaluations of abstinence only programs; and other related resources.
IDEA part C (pdf)
Information on the reporting requirements and costs associated with IDEA Part C implementation and the relative experience of other states.
Newborn Screening Funding (pdf)
Information on funding sources and percentages for state newborn screening programs.
Staff
Albert Terrillion, DrPH, CPH, CHES, Senior Director, Family and Community Health
Ellen Schleicher Pliska, MPH, Senior Analyst, Maternal and Child Health