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Strengthen the Evidence for Maternal and Child Health Programs

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Items in this list may be obtained from the sources cited. Contact information reflects the most current data about the source that has been provided to the MCH Digital Library.

Displaying records 1 through 20 (336 total).

Larsen B, Larsen W. n.d.. Project performance: An analysis by ranks. Minneapolis, MN: [University of Minnesota, School of Public Health], Systems Development Project, 29 pp. (Quantods series no.: 2-10 (9))

Annotation: This paper presents a method of comparative composite scoring of project performance for use in the Children and Youth Program. Seven proxy indicators measuring project performance in health care delivery for comprehensive health care projects are used. By means of a transformation procedure, individual performance measures are converted into a single score measuring composite project performance. This paper is part of the documentation and assessment of the effect of P.L. 89-97, Title V. [Funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau]

Keywords: Adolescent health programs, Child health programs, Children and Youth Projects, Evaluation methods, Federal MCH programs, Measures, Statistical analysis

Larsen B, Larsen W. n.d.. Ranking of reporting performance among Children and Youth Projects. Minneapolis, MN: [University of Minnesota, School of Public Health], Systems Development Project, 21 pp. (Quantods series no.: 2-11 (10))

Annotation: This paper is an analysis focusing on the completeness, consistency, and timeliness of reports submitted for Children and Youth Program grant continuation. This is intended as an administrative tool for identification of areas where action can be most effectively applied toward replanning, reorganizing, reallocation of resources, redirection, and modified supervision of ongoing services. [Funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau]

Keywords: Adolescent health programs, Child health programs, Children and Youth Projects, Evaluation methods, Federal MCH programs, Measures, Reports, Statistical analysis

Larsen B, Larsen W. n.d.. A rank order method for assessing the Children and Youth Program. Minneapolis, MN: [University of Minnesota, School of Public Health], Systems Development Project, 15 pp. (Quantods series no.: 2-11 (12))

Larsen B. n.d.. Activity analysis V: Equilibrium conditions in the general linear programming model. Minneapolis, MN: [University of Minnesota, School of Public Health], Systems Development Project, 10 pp. (Quantods series no.: 3-5 (13))

Larsen B. n.d.. Quantitative methods of evaluation: Verification and accuracy analysis. Minneapolis, MN: [University of Minnesota, School of Public Health], Systems Development Project, 13 pp. (Quantods series no.: 3-7 (14))

Johns Hopkins University, School of Hygiene and Public Health, Department of Health Policy and Management. n.d.. Child Health and Illness Profile: Adolescent Edition—[Program description packet]. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University, Department of Health Policy and Management, 44 pp.

Annotation: This information packet describes an integrated framework for a comprehensive self-report measure of adolescent health appropriate for 11 to 17 year olds who can read English on at least a fifth grade level. The six domains of health, and subdomains that make up each, are briefly described. The other enclosure provides sample questions from each of the 20 subdomains and from the demographics section. Copies of four articles about this program are also included. [Funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau]

Keywords: Adolescent health, Child health, Measures, Questionnaires, Self evaluation

National Quality Measures Clearinghouse. n.d.. Tutorials on quality measures. Rockville, MD: National Quality Measures Clearinghouse, multiple items.

Annotation: These tutorials provide an introduction to the field of quality measurement and how best to use resources available from the National Quality Measures Clearinghouse. Topics include quality care measures related to health care delivery and to population health; desired attributes, uses, selection, and validity of clinical quality measures; and finding care-coordination measures.

Keywords: Health care delivery, Measures, Public health, Quality assurance, Service coordination, Training

Maternal and Child Health Bureau. n.d.. Discretionary grant performance measures. Rockville, MD: Maternal and Child Health Bureau, 215 pp.

Annotation: This document for recipients of the federal Maternal and Child Health Bureau's Discretionary Grant Program contains instructions and forms for submitting performance measure data. Contents include information about the goals, definitions, benchmark and grantee data sources, and significance for each measure by domain; instructions and forms for collecting budget and expenditure data and project abstract and summary data; and forms for tracking project performance and outcome measures.

Keywords: Data collection, Federal grants, Forms, MCH programs, MCH research, MCH training, Measures, Outcome and process assessment, Program evaluation, Program improvement, Program planning, Progress reports

Handler A, Johnson K, Farrell N. 2026. The role of the Title V MCH Services Block Grant in improving maternal and infant health. Chicago, IL: University of Illinois , 43 pp.

Annotation: This report examines the role of the Title V Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Services Block Grant in addressing the maternal and infant health crisis and related racial and ethnic disparities in the United States. It analyzes fiscal investments for pregnant women and infants across 59 states and territories, comparing federal and non-federal funding ratios and the extent of state matching contributions. The document includes a substantial discussion of methodology and findings linking state funding levels to maternal and infant mortality rates. Recommendations for federal and state-level policy changes are provided, such as designating specific funding percentages for the pregnant and infant population and adopting a maternal and infant health performance measure bundle. Appendices include substantial tables detailing state-specific funding percentages and mortality data.

Keywords: Data, Funding, Infant health, Infant mortality, Maternal health, Maternal mortality, Measures, Policy, Policy development, Social Security, Title V, State MCH programs, Statistics, Title V programs

National Network of Perinatal Quality Collaboratives; National Institute for Children's Health Quality . 2025 . A framework for measuring hospital and other site implementation of a perinatal quality collaborative quality improvement initiative. Boston, MA: National Network of Perinatal Quality Collaboratives, 16 pp.

Annotation: This white paper presents a framework for state Perinatal Quality Collaboratives to measure how effectively hospitals and other healthcare sites implement quality improvement initiatives. It details the application of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement Assessment Scale for Collaboratives, a five-point linear scale designed to track progress from initial planning to outstanding sustainable results. The document provides guidance on adapting the assessment scale template for specific projects and addresses implementation challenges related to data burden and hospital capacity. Appendices feature case studies and implementation results from state programs in Tennessee, Wisconsin, and Iowa, including examples of visual dashboards and narrative reporting tools

Keywords: Health facilities, Hospitals, Measures, Perinatal care, Quality Improvement

National Network of Perinatal Quality Collaboratives; National Institute for Children's Health Quality . 2025 . A framework for measuring hospital participation in a perinatal quality collaborative quality improvement initiative. Boston, MA: National Network of Perinatal Quality Collaboratives, 7 pp.

Annotation: This white paper presents a flexible measurement framework for state Perinatal Quality Collaboratives to assess and track hospital engagement in quality improvement initiatives aimed at improving health outcomes for mothers and newborns. It details four primary domains for measuring participation: enrollment, meeting attendance, data submission, and the implementation of specific structural or process change. The document provides specific recommendations for using these measures to evaluate outreach efforts, recognize hospital achievements, and satisfy federal reporting requirements from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services,,. Supplemental tables feature a comprehensive list of suggested and notable participation measures, including examples of data use agreements, team role designations, and strategies for sharing data with community partners

Keywords: Data collection, Hospitals, Measures, Quality Improvement

Russ S. 2025. Life Course History: Interview with Christopher Forrest . Los Angeles, CA: UCLA Center for Healthier Children, Families and Communities, (Life Course History)

Annotation: This blog post features an interview with Dr. Christopher Forrest regarding the life course health development framework and the need for a conceptual shift from disease-oriented research toward a longitudinal science of health. It identifies the development of standardized metrics and a common lexicon as essential for measuring how health attributes are acquired and shaped from birth through adulthood. The document examines the potential for collaborative research networks and distributed data systems to overcome barriers created by disease-oriented funding and partitioned medical specialties. Discussion includes strategies for the Maternal and Child Health Life Course Research Network to advance interdisciplinary education and advocacy for a dedicated federal health development office. [Funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau].

Keywords: Barriers, Child health, Collaboration, History, Life course, Maternal health, Measures, Metrics, Research, Social determinants of health, Standards

Technical Assistance and Analytic Support for the Medicaid and CHIP Quality Measurement and Improvement Program. 2024. Overview of the dental and oral health service measures in the 2024 child core set. Baltimore, MD: U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 4 pp.

Annotation: This report provide information on dental and oral health service measures in the 2024 Child Core Set. The report offers background information on the Child Core Set and includes the following information about the 2024 set: measures steward, description, age, denominator, numerator, continuous enrollment allowable gap, anchor date, exclusions, data source, and codes needed to calculate the measure. This information is provided for the following measures: oral evaluation, dental services; topical fluoride for children; and sealant receipt on first molar. Additional information on the three measures is included.

Keywords: Child health, Dental sealants, Fluoride, Measures, Medical evaluation, Oral health

Collins SR et al. 2024. State scorecard on women’s health and reproductive care. New York, NY: Commonwealth Fund,

Annotation: This scorecard examines women's health and reproductive care across all U.S. states, analyzing performance through 32 measures organized into three dimensions: health outcomes; health care quality and prevention; and coverage, access, and affordability. It reveals significant regional and racial disparities in health system performance, with northeastern states generally performing better than southeastern and southwestern states. Key findings include: Massachusetts, Vermont, and Rhode Island ranking highest overall while Mississippi, Texas, and Nevada rank lowest; maternal mortality rates being highest in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Louisiana, with rates disproportionately affecting Black and American Indian/Alaska Native women; mental health conditions representing the leading cause of preventable pregnancy-related deaths; women in states without Medicaid expansion facing higher uninsured rates and more frequently skipping care due to cost; and abortion restrictions potentially limiting future access to maternity care providers. The report highlights how state policy choices impact women's health, noting that southeastern states with abortion restrictions generally have fewer maternity care providers, higher maternal mortality, and lower screening rates.

Keywords: , Barriers, Health disparities, Health services, Maternal health, Maternal mortality, Measures, Statistical data, Women's health

Handler A, Sayah L, Nuyen K; Community Access, Systems Equity, and Education Committee (CASE) of the Illinois Maternal Health Task Force . 2024. Ensuring high quality postpartum care in the period covered by Illinois’ postpartum Medicaid extension . , 14 pp.

Annotation: This report presents recommendations for ensuring high-quality postpartum care during the full 12-month period covered by Illinois' Postpartum Medicaid Extension. It outlines the content of care delineated in the Illinois Medicaid contract for Managed Care Organizations, focusing on requirements for the extended postpartum period. The authors propose a comprehensive Postpartum Performance Measurement Dataset that would require MCOs to report on specific measures for the postpartum population, providing a clearer picture of care delivery through 12 months postpartum. They also recommend expanding the Women's Health section of the HealthChoice Illinois report cards and creating a separate Maternal Health section to help pregnant and postpartum people choose the best health plans. The report emphasizes the importance of monitoring MCOs and provider performance to ensure accountability for delivering high-quality care to postpartum persons, particularly given Illinois' maternal health crisis with rising rates of maternal morbidity and mortality inequities.

Keywords: Illinois, Measures, Medicaid, Models, Postpartum care, Pregnant women, Quality Assurance, State Initiatives

Congressional Research Service. 2024. Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant: Overview and issues for Congress. Washington, DC: Congressional Research Services, 57 pp.

Annotation: This report provides an overview of the Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant program authorized under Title V of the Social Security Act. The report describes the program's three main components: State MCH Block Grants (the largest component, providing formula grants to states and territories), Special Projects of Regional and National Significance (SPRANS), and Community Integrated Service Systems (CISS). It details the program's history, funding mechanisms, services provided, populations served, and reporting requirements. The report outlines how states use these funds to address the unique needs of pregnant women, infants, children, and children with special health care needs through direct health care services, enabling services, and public health services and systems. It also examines recent funding trends, highlighting shifts in allocations among the three components and changes in state expenditure patterns following the COVID-19 pandemic. The document concludes with policy considerations for Congress regarding funding allocation formulas, program coordination, and oversight accountability.

Keywords: Block grants, Data, Funding, Initiatives, Legislation, Maternal health, Maternal morbidity, Maternal mortality, Measures, Medicaid, Prevention, Title V programs

United States of Care. 2024. United State's of Care vision for postpartum care. , 39 pp.

Annotation: This report outlines United States of Care's comprehensive framework for the postpartum care of all women, regardless of insurance coverage. Grounded in community engagement, literature reviews, and discussions with maternal health thought leaders, the vision integrates diverse insights to establish the essential components of healthcare for new mothers. It specifies that women should receive personalized care tailored to their needs, including ongoing provider visits, interdisciplinary care teams, and data-informed care; comprehensive, whole-person care addressing all aspects of well-being, including social needs, mental health, substance use, and access to services like home visiting and contraception; and understandable, easy-to-navigate care, such as community supports and postpartum care plans. The document provides an overview of the current landscape, evidence-based guidance, and bright spot programs and policies for each postpartum care component, as well as the health benefits and return on investment.

Keywords: Community participation, Guidelines, Health planning, Measures, Medicaid, Models, Outreach, Policy, Postpartum care, State initiatives

United Health Foundation, American Public Health Association. 2023. America's health rankings: Health of women and children report. Minnetonka, MN: United Health Foundation, Varies (Health of women and children report published annually since 2016 )

Annotation: This annual report applies a model of health to rank states across multiple measures related to the health and well-being of women of reproductive age, infants, and children. The 2023 report highlights several trends in mortality among women of reproductive age and children, including rising rates of maternal mortality, drug deaths among women and injury deaths among women and children. The 2023 report also highlights several changes that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, including a a drop in the percentage of 3- and 4-year-olds enrolled in early childhood education and decrease in the prevalence of electronic vapor product use among high- school students.

Keywords: Access to health care, Child health, Environmental influences, Health behavior, Health care disparities, Health disparities, Health status, Infant health, Measures, Public policy, Racial factors, Trends, Women's health

Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors. 2023. MCH Title V national performance measure for oral health (2nd ed.). Reno, NV: Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors, 6 pp.

Annotation: This summary discusses changes to the Title V Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant application, needs assessment, and reporting process and resulting opportunities to promote oral health in states. It describes the national performance measure on oral health, a national outcome measure for oral health, and recommended strategies for action. State performance measures are also discussed.

Keywords: Block grants, Community action, Measures, Needs assessment, Oral health, Outcome and process assessment, Program improvement, Quality assurance, Title V programs

Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (AIM). 2023. Safe reduction of primary cesarean birth patient safety bundle. Washington, DC: Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (AIM) ,

Annotation: This patient safety bundle was revised in 2023 to incorporate respectful care concepts, revise existing elements, include new elements related to evidence-informed practices, and update data collection plans. The bundle provides actionable steps to support labor and care processes that can be adapted to a variety of facilities and resource levels to improve quality of care and safely reduce cesarean births. Implementation details and resources, a data collection plan, an evidence-informed "change package," and learning modules are included on the website. Some materials are available in English, Spanish, and French.

Keywords: Cesarean section, Childbirth, Data collection, Measures, Obstetrical care, Prevention, Protocols, Quality improvement, Resources for professionals, Safety, Vaginal birth
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The MCH Library is one of six special collections at Georgetown University, the nation's oldest Jesuit institution of higher education. The library is supported through foundation, private, university, state, and federal funding. This information or content and conclusions are those of the authors and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by Georgetown University or the U.S. Government. Note: web pages whose development was supported by federal government grants are being reviewed to comply with applicable Executive Orders.