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CDC believes that it is important to have a system to track birth
defects to see when and where they happen. CDC uses different systems to
look for changes and then tells the public about these trends. We base
our research studies, for example causes of certain birth defects, on
what we learn from tracking. In addition, our systems guide how we plan
and evaluate ways to prevent birth defects.
CDC is driven by our vision—to promote optimal health and development
for all children. More specifically, we work to prevent or reduce the
adverse consequences of birth defects. We have several major systems
that track birth defects in the United States. CDC also partners with
other groups in the U.S. and the world to share information and to work
on projects that will help prevent birth defects throughout the world.
• The Metropolitan Atlanta Congenital Defects Program (MACDP)
CDC has been tracking birth defects closely for over 40 years.
Established in 1967, MACDP is a population-based surveillance system for
birth defects that was established in 1967 by the CDC, Emory University,
and the Georgia Mental Health Institute
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• State Birth Defects
Surveillance Systems
CDC guides and fund states to set up and improve their systems to
track birth defects.
•
National Birth Defects Prevention Network (NBDPN)
CDC supports the mission of the National Birth Defects Prevention
Network (NBDPN). The mission of the NBDPN is to establish and
maintain a national network of state and population-based programs
for birth defects.
• International
Clearinghouse for Birth Defects Monitoring Systems (ICBDMS)
CDC supports and collaborates with the ICBDMS as a way to gain knowledge
and expertise on birth defects information worldwide and to further our
goals and those of the international community.
• The Health and Environment Linked for Information Exchange
(HELIX-Atlanta)
CDC supports and collaborates with the Health and Environment Linked for
Information Exchange (HELIX-Atlanta). HELIX is a local level project of
environmental public health tracking. The HELIX-Atlanta birth defect
team works to develop strategies to be used in environmental public
health tracking by state birth defects programs
Date:
January 03, 2008
Content source: National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental
Disabilities
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