Skip Navigation

Strengthen the Evidence for Maternal and Child Health Programs

Sign up for MCHalert eNewsletter

Search Results: MCHLine

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 (135 total).

Kansagra S, Baggett J, Williams K. 2025. Levers for preventing chronic disease that intersect with key MAHA report theses . Arlington, VA: Association of State and Territorial Health Officials,

Annotation: This blog post from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) explores public health actions that align with the preliminary report from the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission. It focuses on key themes from the report, including increased consumption of ultra-processed foods, physical inactivity, and environmental exposures. The post discusses evidence-based strategies at the state and federal level to support nutrition, promote physical activity, and reduce exposure to environmental contaminants such as radon, PFAS, and lead.

Keywords: Environmental health, Federal initiatives, Nutrition, Physical activity, Public health

U.S. Department of Agriculture . 2023. Child Nutrition Programs . Washington, DC: Economic Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, (Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture)

Annotation: This web page describes the child nutrition programs provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help ensure that children receive nutritious meals and snacks that promote their health and educational readiness. The site describes how the pandemic affected USDA child food programs and provides links to annual reports that summarize the food and nutrition assistance program landscape. Information on the following child nutrition programs is included: National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Child and Adult Care Food Program, Summer Food Service Program, and After School Snacks and Meals.

Keywords: Child health, Federal programs, Food insecurity, Nutrition and Food, Prevention, Public assistance, School based programs

Let's Go. 2022. Let's go!. Portland, ME: Barbara Bush Children's Hospital at Maine Medical Center,

Annotation: This website describes Maine's childhood obesity prevention program to increase physical activity and healthy eating for children from birth to age 18 through policy and environmental change. The program strives to reinforce the importance of healthy eating and physical activity by reaching families where they live, learn, work, and play. Contents include toolkits for early childhood, K-5, middle and high school, and health care and work place programs. Resources for parents and Spanish translated materials are also provided.

Keywords: Adolescents, Children, Environmental influences, Families, Health policy, Maine, Nutrition, Obesity, Physical activity, Prevention programs, Public private partnerships, Spanish language materials, State initiatives

Center for Science in the Public Interest. 2022. Healthy school meals for all: A toolkit for advocates. Washington DC: Center for Science in the Public Interest, 19 pp.

Annotation: This toolkit provides information and resources to help advocates to improve the quality of school meals. It discusses the history of school meals; school meals today; the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, and lawsuits over a 2018 U.S. Department of Agriculture rule that weakened sodium, whole grain, and flavored milk standards for school meals. Also discussed are the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the importance of school meals, the Center for Science in the Public Interest's vision for school meals, and what advocates can do to help realize this vision. Fact sheets on key priorities are included, along with information on state and local model legislation and policy, messaging guidance, and sample communication materials.

Keywords: Advocacy, Legislation, Nutrition, Public policy, School age children, School health

White House. 2022. Biden-Harris Administration national strategy on hunger, nutrition, and health = White House national strategy on hunger, nutrition, and health. Washington, DC: White House, 44 pp.

Annotation: This report presents a national strategy on hunger, nutrition, and health, including oral health, and provides information about ending hunger and increasing healthy eating and physical activity to reduce the incidence of diet-related diseases. It details five pillars of the national strategy: (1) improve food access and affordability, (2) integrate nutrition and health, (3) empower everyone to make and have access to healthy choices, (4) support physical activity for all, and (5) enhance nutrition and food security research, including the interplay between nutrition, oral disease, and overall health.

Keywords: Hunger, Nutrition, Oral health, Physical activity, Public policy

Meek JY, Noble L. 2022. Policy statement: Breastfeeding and the use of human milk. Itasca, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics,

Annotation: This updated policy statement addresses infant feeding from a public health perspective, promoting breastfeeding for optimal health and nutrition. Topics covered include epidemiology, health equity, exclusive breastfeeding, and duration of breastfeeding, as well as contraindications and special circumstances that may make breastfeeding difficult. A companion technical report provides the evidence and basis for the recommendations.

Keywords: Breastfeeding, Infant feeding, Infant nutrition, Policy , Public health

Maternal and Child Health Bureau. 2020. Resources for addressing nutrition in the Title V five-year needs assessments: For state MCH Title V programs. Rockville, MD: Maternal and Child Health Bureau, 2 pp.

Maternal and Child Health Bureau. 2020. Incorporating nutrition in the Title V five-year needs assessments: For public health nutritionists. Rockville, MD: Maternal and Child Health Bureau, 2 pp.

Lorenzo SB, Wilhite BC. 2016. Overweight and obesity in kids and teens: Family resource brief (2nd ed., upd.). Washington, DC: National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health, 1 p.

U.S. Department of Education. 2016. Healthy students, promising futures: State and local action steps and practices to improve school-based health. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Education, 16 pp.

Annotation: This toolkit contains information that details five high impact opportunities for states and local school districts to support communities through collaboration between the education and health sectors, highlighting best practices and key research in both areas. Contents include resources, programs, and services offered by non-governmental organizations.

Keywords: Case management, Collaboration, Communities, Community action, Educational reform, Eligibility, Health care reform, Health education, Health insurance, Health services delivery, Hospitals, Medicaid managed care, Needs assessment, Nutrition, Physical activity, Public private partnerships, Reimbursement, Role, School districts, State government, Students

National Institute for Health Care Management Foundation. 2016. Preventing childhood obesity in Michigan's classrooms: A collaboration between Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and statewide partners. Washington, DC: National Institute for Health Care Management Foundation, 4 pp. (Fact sheet)

Annotation: This fact sheet describes Building Healthy Communities, a school-based prevention program in Michigan to help children adopt healthy habits at a young age by providing access to healthy food, health education, physical education, and physical activity. Contents include a description of the program's development and implementation process, outcomes, and next steps. Topics include partnering organization efforts to pool funding, resources, and expertise to engage elementary schools and expand to middle and high schools throughout the state.

Keywords: Adolescents, Behavior modification, Children, Collaboration, Curriculum, Elementary schools, Health behavior, Health promotion, High schools, Michigan, Middle schools, Nutrition education, Nutrition services, Obesity, Outcome and process assessment, Physical activity, Physical education, Prevention programs, Program descriptions, Public private partnerships, School health education, School health programs, State programs, Statewide planning

American Academy of Pediatrics. 2016. Friends of Children Healthy People 2020 Grant Program for Chapters: Poverty and child health–Goals, outcomes, and future plans. [Elk Grove Village, IL]: American Academy of Pediatrics, 21 pp.

Annotation: This compendium of program summaries describes the approaches of American Academy of Pediatrics' state chapters to develop and implement programs focused on poverty and child health in California, New York City, Oklahoma, and Vermont. Topics include developing and using innovative technologies to address food insecurity, pediatricians promoting food security, ensuring the delivery of health and developmental screening services to young children who are homeless, supporting adolescent parents and their children, and accessing summer meal programs. Each summary includes information about program collaboration, evaluation and measurement, outcomes, barriers and lessons learned, and future plans.

Keywords: Access to health care, Adolescent health, Adolescent parents, Child health, Collaboration, Community action, Community based services, Developmental screening, Food, Health screening, Healthy People 2020, Homeless persons, Low income groups, Model programs, Nutrition, Poverty, Program descriptions, Public private partnerships

Minnesota Oral Health Project. 2015–. Crush Cavities!. Minneapolis, MN: Minnesota Oral Health Project, multiple items.

Annotation: This website includes resources designed to help primary care health professionals and others understand the etiology of dental caries and caregivers’ role in preventing caries in infants, children, and adolescents from birth to age 21. Contents include a fluoride-application training course for clinics and supplemental materials, a book for children about toothbrushing, fluoride varnish printed materials, and a fluoride varnish video for caregivers. The resources are available in English and some are available in the following non-English languages: Cambodian, French, Karen, Hmong, Oromo, Portuguese, Russian, Somali, Spanish, and Vietnamese. Find the list of languages across the top of the landing page.

Keywords: Advocacy, Community based services, Fluorides, Health promotion, Infants, Local initiatives, Low income groups, Low literacy materials, Minnesota, Multimedia, Non English language materials, Nutrition, Oral health, Oral health care, Outreach, Preventive health services, Primary care, Public awareness campaigns, Public service announcements, Spanish language materials, Young children

Center for Social Inclusion. 2015. Removing barriers to breastfeeding: A structural race analysis of First Food. New York, NY: Center for Social Inclusion, 18 pp.

Annotation: This report outlines the barriers to breastfeeding that communities of color face, along with policy and practice recommendations to address racial inequity in First Food. The report highlights structural barriers that women face during pregnancy, at the hospital, and in their first weeks and months at home after the baby is born—including access to Baby-Friendly hospitals and certified lactation consultants.

Keywords: Barriers, Breastfeeding, Case Studies, Environmental influences, Ethnic groups, Infant health, Mothers, Nutrition, Policy development, Public policy

Braff-Guajardo E, Hecht K. 2015. Kids and drinking water: A glass half full or half empty?. Washington, DC: Grantmakers In Health, 3 pp. (Views from the field)

Annotation: This paper discusses the importance of children drinking water. Topics include information about the importance of water consumption in preventing chronic disease; obstacles to ensuring that students have access to clean, safe drinking water in schools; drinking water challenges in communities; and opportunities for funders to increase children’s access to and consumption of free, safe drinking water. Improving access, prioritizing education, funding data collection and research, promoting multisectoral partnerships, and advocating for supportive policies are also discussed. In addition, the paper presents a policy framework to support healthy development in children by investing in accessible, safe drinking water.

Keywords: Advocacy, Child health, Child safety, Community role, Environmental health, Environmental pollution, Financing, Fluid intake, Health promotion, Low income groups, Minority groups, Nutrition, Policy development, Public private partnerships, School role, Water

Association of State Public Health Nutritionists Maternal and Child Health Council. 2014. ASPHN story bank. Johnstown, PA: Association of State Public Health Nutritionists, 5 items.

Annotation: This resource focuses on state agency efforts to promote good nutrition in the maternal and child health population. Contents are listed by topic and by state. Topics include: nutrition standards; salad bars in schools; organizational change with multiple agencies; leadership; farm to institution; healthy beverages; home visiting programs; and healthy communities. [Funded in part by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau]

Keywords: Breastfeeding, Child care, Child health, Collaboration, Health promotion, Home visiting, Infant health, Maternal health, Nutrition, Organizational change, Program improvement, Public health nutritionists, State MCH programs, Strategic planning, Systems development, Training

Association of State Public Health Nutritionists. 2014. The role of nutrition in infant mortality: A public health perspective. Johnstown, PA: Association of State Public Health Nutritionists, 11 pp. (An ASPHN brief. Winter 2013.)

Annotation: This brief summarizes the impact of nutrition on infant mortality and identifies areas where nutrition interventions can make a difference in reducing infant mortality. The brief also describes the role that public health nutritionists play in preventing infant mortality. [Funded in part by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau]

Keywords: Infant mortality, Nutrition, Prevention services, Public health nutritionists

Smith S, Ekono M, Robbins T. 2014. State policies through a two-generation lens: Strengthening the collective impact of policies that affect the life course of young children and their parents. New York, NY: National Center for Children in Poverty, 8 pp.

Annotation: This document focuses on state policies that have a collective impact on families and young children. The document describes the strength of collective policy support for children and their parents in states and how states can assess policies that collectively influence the strength of two-generation supports for families with young children. Topics include early care and education, health and nutrition, and parenting and family economic supports. Recommendations are included.

Keywords: Child care, Early childhood education, Families, Family support services, Health policy, Nutrition policy, Parents, Policy analysis, Public policy, Young children

National Policy and Legal Analysis Network. 2014. Model legislation requiring a safety warning for sugar-sweetened beverages. Oakland, CA: ChangeLab Solutions, 33 pp., plus appendix (14 pp.).

Annotation: This document provides model legislation for states implementing a policy requiring a safety warning on sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) containers and packaging. Contents include model legislation to assist states seeking to increase consumer awareness about the health risks of consuming SSBs and to help them to make informed choices. An accompanying set of evidence-based facts that support the legislation is also available.

Keywords: Consumer education, Food labeling, Health behaviors, Health policy, Nutrition, Policy development, Public awareness campaigns, Public policy, Regulations, State legislation, Sugar

Harvard School of Public Health Prevention Research Center. 2014. Keep it flowing: A practical guide to school drinking water planning, maintenance and repair. Boston, MA: Harvard School of Public Health Prevention Research Center, 30 pp.

Annotation: This guide addresses the need for drinking water in schools and outlines steps for providing adequate numbers of drinking fountains and tap water dispensers in school buildings. The content is organized to mirror typical school organizational structure, providing information about policy and oversight for state and tribal agencies and information focused on implementation and maintenance for schools. Topics include access to free and safe drinking water within a convenient distance of any location on school grounds; factors that impact whether water is safe to drink and appealing to students, teachers, and staff; and campaigns and policies designed to increase student water consumption.

Keywords: Facility design and construction, Fluid intake, Nutrition, Oral health, Policy development, Public health infrastructure, Safety, School age children, Schools, Water

    Next Page »

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.