Back to Activities

The Maternal and Child Health Epidemiology (MCH EPI) Program is a collaborative effort between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Health Resources and Services Administration. Since 1987, MCH EPI has assigned more than 30 senior CDC epidemiologists focused on MCH EPI capacity building and applied research to 18 states, and 5 other public health agencies and organizations (including Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, CityMatCH, Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board, and the Indian Health Services). In subsequent years, the program has also sponsored an annual national scientific conference, fellowships, and training initiatives.

The MCH EPI Program’s mission is to promote and improve the health and well-being of women, children, and families by building MCH epidemiology and data capacity at the state, local, and tribal levels to effectively use and apply epidemiologic research and scientific information to inform public health action. This mission is accomplished at the local, state, national, and international level by developing MCH EPI leaders, promoting and supporting MCH EPI research, offering fellowships, promoting peer exchange to the field, and providing training and education. MCH EPI’s many partners in this effort include the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) at HRSA, the Association of MCH Programs (AMCHP),* CityMatCH,* the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE),* March of Dimes* (http://www.marchofdimes.com/), and others.

Develop MCH EPI Leaders

MCH EPI has made significant impact in epidemiologic research and applied science in the field. The use of applied research and the activities targeting capacity building in MCH epidemiology has allowed states and localities to move forward in improving the overall health of mothers, children, and families. The purpose is to not only provide direct assistance to public health agencies through the assigning of senior CDC MCH epidemiologists and fellows, but to promote the analytic capability and increase the ability to apply scientific and research evidence of  the agencies where the senior MCH epidemiologists are assigned.

In fiscal year 2008, 19 state public health agencies have 12 MCH epidemiologists or 8 MCH fellows sponsored by the MCH EPI program.

CDC Sponsored MCH Epidemiologists—FY 2008

Current Sponsored States: Alaska, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Washington, Washington D.C., and the U.S.-Mexico Border.

Past Sponsored States: Alabama, California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, and West Virginia.

Reproductive Health in the United States-Mexico Border Region
The Border Maternal and Child Health Initiative (Border MACH) initiative, based in the MCH Epidemiology Program, supports binational teams of public health program directors, policy experts and epidemiologists to better use epidemiologic data to address MCH priorities in their communities. The initiative focuses on building teams in the paired U.S.-Mexico sister cities that lie along the 2,000-mile border, where most of the border population resides. Border MACH is a collaborative effort between CDC, United States and Mexican health institutions, and CityMatCH offering training and technical assistance to enhance data use skills and sustain effective binational and cross-institutional partnerships to improve the health of women, infants, children, and families in the region.

• United States—Mexico Border Health (HRSA)
• United States—Mexico Border Health Commission*
• United States—Mexico Border Health Association*

MCH EPI Assessment and Monitoring Tool for MCH EPI and Data Capacity
The MCH EPI and Data Capacity Assessment Tool (Excel 46KB) was developed to be used in concert with the annual report and annual site visit in reviewing and assessing an agency's past activities and planning for an agency's future. The tool's specific purpose is to track a state agency's MCH EPI and Data capacity and activities over time to facilitate assessment, discussion, and planning about an agency's growth in capability.

MCH Field-Based Assignees/Fellows Publications List, 2004 to Present  (Doc 82KB)

Peer Exchange

MCH EPI Conference: The annual conference brings together more than 500 MCH professionals to present research, share experiences, enhance knowledge, and discuss emerging MCH topics. The results are improved MCH research activities in the field, data use, networking, increased mentoring opportunities, and informed policymaking. Archived sessions from previous MCH EPI conferences are available for review.

MCH EPI Grand Rounds: Nearly every month CDC's Division of Reproductive Health hosts an interactive Web cast* that focuses on research relevant to practicing MCH epidemiologists. Previous topics this year included, "Vaccines Before, During, and After Pregnancy—A Review of New and 'Old' Recommendations"; "Declines in Low Birth Weight and Preterm Birth among Infants Born to HIV-Infected Mothers, PSD Cohort, 1989–2004"; "Instrumental Variables Regression and Other Statistical Techniques to Identify Causal Effects in Observational Datasets"; "Health Care Costs Attributable to Prenatal Smoking: Past and Current Research"; and "Emerging Infectious Diseases: Challenges to the Study, Prophylaxis, and Treatment of Pregnant Women"; “Exploring Opportunities for Research and Surveillance in Sickle Cell Disease”; “Follow Up of Extremely Low Birth Weight Infants and the Impact on Infant Mortality”; and “Body Mass Index (BMI) Surveillance of Ohio 3rd Grade Students, 2004–2005.”

MCH EPI Listserv: Consists of almost 400 scientists and program directors, and provides quick peer exchange and technical assistance on "hot topics" and informs participants of upcoming events and opportunities. To be added to the MCH EPI Listserv, please e-mail us at MCHEPI@cdc.gov.

DataSpeak: Sponsored by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau at the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), DataSpeak is a series of web conferences that feature special topics related to Maternal and Child Health (MCH) data, including research on children with special health care needs (CSHCN). Each event features one or more speakers who are considered experts in their field. Visit the archived events for streamed archives of past DataSpeak programs.