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Division of Reproductive Health: Activities: Maternal and Child Health
Epidemiology Program |
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Maternal and Child Health Epidemiology (MCH EPI) Program Description
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 35
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 the following years, the program has also
sponsored an annual national scientific conference, fellowships, and
training initiatives. |
Fifteenth Annual
Maternal and Child Health Epidemiology Conference: Call for
Abstracts |
The MCH EPI Program accomplishes its mission to promote and improve the
health and well-being of women, children, and families by building capacity
at the state, local, and tribal levels to effectively use and apply
epidemiologic research and scientific information to maternal and child
health programs and policies. This mission is accomplished at the local,
state, national, and international level by developing
MCH EPI leaders, promoting
peer exchange forums, supporting continued
education and training, and providing
fellowship opportunities.
MCH EPI’s many partners in this effort include organizations that
provide direct services or influence policy and practice guidelines,
state health departments, tribes, local universities, and
others.
Developing MCH EPI Leaders
MCH EPI has made a significant contribution to 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 improve the overall health of mothers,
children, and families. The purpose of the program includes the
following:
- Provide
direct assistance to public health agencies through assigning senior CDC MCH
epidemiologists and fellows.
- Promote analytic capabilities.
- Increase the ability to apply scientific and research
evidence at the agencies where the senior MCH epidemiologists are
assigned.
In 2009, 12 MCH epidemiologists and 7 MCH fellows sponsored
by the MCH EPI program have been assigned to 19 public health agencies.
CDC Sponsored MCH
Epidemiologists—FY 2009
Current Sponsored States: Alaska,
Delaware,
Georgia, Florida,
Hawaii, Illinois,
Iowa,
Kentucky,
Louisiana,
Massachusetts, Missouri,
Nebraska,
Ohio, Virginia,
Washington D.C., Wisconsin, Wyoming, and the
U.S.-Mexico Border.
Past Sponsored States: Alabama, California, Colorado, Indiana,
Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota,
Mississippi, New Jersey, New Mexico,
Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina,
Texas, Washington, and West Virginia.
MCHEPI
Publications, 2004 to present
Promoting
Peer Exchange Forums
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 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.
Supporting Continued Education and Training
In partnership with others, the MCH EPI Program supports diverse training
opportunities in epidemiology, biostatistics, program evaluation, and
scientific writing to improve the data and analytic skills of staff from
state and local public health agencies, including the following:
- Skills-building workshops targeting identified critical needs.
- Short-term MCH epidemiology courses for new staff.
- Graduate certificate training in MCH epidemiology using distance
technology.
- Year-long, team-based training on effectively using analyzed data
for public health action.
- Peer exchange and research collaboration through conferences,
Webcasts, and other mechanisms.
MCHB-HRSA/CDC Training: The Maternal
and Child Health Bureau at HRSA and CDC collaborate on multiple projects and
training in MCH epidemiology. This includes an MCH EPI short course and a
doctoral training program.
AMCHP*: The
Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs (AMCHP) represents state
public health leaders and others working to improve the health and well
being of women, children, youth and families, including those with special
health care needs. CDC partially funds MCH Epi Training Resource Guide, Matrixed Analytic Training
for Reproductive Infant and Child Health Services (MATRICHS), and the Annual Data Skill-Building
Training.
CityMatCH*: CityMatCH is a
freestanding national membership organization of city and county health
departments' maternal and child health (MCH) programs and leaders
representing urban communities in the United States. CityMatCH is partially
funded by CDC for their
Data Use Institute*
and Perinatal Periods of
Risk* initiative.
Fellowship
Opportunities
CSTE*: The Council of State and
Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) is a professional association of
public health epidemiologists in states and territories working together
to detect, prevent, and control conditions of public health
significance. CSTE and CDC
jointly sponsor an
applied epidemiology fellowship program.*
EIS: The
Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) is a unique 2-year, post-graduate
program of service and on-the-job training for health professionals
interested in the practice of epidemiology. Participants have the
opportunity to conduct epidemiologic investigations, research, and
public health surveillance in the MCH field.
ORISE: Oak Ridge
Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) provides opportunities for
postgraduates, students, and faculty to participate in current research
and development activities related to CDC’s critical missions.
Program participants are provided opportunities for hands-on
participation in research and development, and related technical
activities at the MCH EPI program.
GSIP:
The HRSA-sponsored Graduate Student Internship Program (GSIP) offers
paid internships in state and city health departments to graduate
students in public health by providing training in MCH epidemiology.
MCH Data Capacity Tools
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.
Reproductive Health ATLAS: This is a Web-based interactive
geographic information system (GIS) dedicated to reproductive health
issues such as infant mortality, fertility, and low birth weight. The
atlas provides viewers with access to a unique collection of geographic
datasets that describe reproductive health indicators.
Patient Flow Analysis (PFA) and WinPFA:
This software is a public domain computer application that helps to
analyze and measure the performance of individual clinics. The reports
assist the user in identifying problems in client flow, determining
personnel and space needs, and documenting personnel costs associated
with client visits.
Data Links and Related Resources
PRAMS: The
Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) is a surveillance project of
the CDC and state health departments. PRAMS collects state-specific,
population-based data on maternal attitudes and experiences prior to,
during, and immediately following pregnancy.
Investigating Troubling Trends: A Report of the AMCHP/CDC State Infant
Mortality Collaborative*
548KB PDF: A partnership between AMCHP, Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention and the National March of Dimes Birth Defects
Foundation, this 3-year project supported five multidisciplinary
state teams, as they investigated the infant mortality problem in their
jurisdictions and made plans to address it as they deemed feasible and
appropriate.
SLAITS:
The State and Local Area Integrated Telephone Survey (SLAITS) collects
important health care data at state and local levels.
NCHS: As the leading
statistics agency, the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS)
compiles statistical information to guide actions and policies to
improve the people's health.
Peristats (http://www.marchofdimes.com/peristats/): This
online source for perinatal statistics, developed by the March of Dimes
Perinatal Data Center, provides free access to maternal and infant
health-related data at the U.S.-, state-, county-, and city-level, and
was developed to ensure that health professionals, researchers, medical
librarians, policymakers, students, and the media have easy access to
this information. Data provided by NCHS are updated throughout the year,
and useful for multiple tasks, including fact-finding, health
assessments, grant writing, policy development, lectures and
presentations.
MCH Library at Georgetown
University*: The library offers a variety of electronic
resources, including the MCH Alert, knowledge paths, databases, and
other materials developed for health professionals, policymakers, and
families. The MCH Library is located at the National Center for
Education in Maternal and Child Health at Georgetown University.
For more information about the MCH EPI program, please e-mail
MCHEP@cdc.gov.
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Links to non-Federal organizations found at this site are provided solely as a service to our users. These links do not constitute an endorsement of these organizations or their programs by CDC or the Federal Government, and none should be inferred. The CDC is not responsible for the content of the individual organization Web pages found at these links.
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Page last reviewed: 5/15/09
Page last modified: 5/15/09
Content source:
Division of Reproductive Health,
National Center for Chronic
Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
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