The programs within the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Section strive to improve the health status of children and youth, women, and their families. The MCH Section provides a focal point for influencing the efforts of a broad range of agencies and programs committed to this goal. The Section supports their efforts by providing administrative, technical, and program assistance to Community Health Boards, Tribal Governments, schools, voluntary organizations, private health care providers, as well as providing information and referral to parents to promote healthy adolescents. MCH programs continue to give particular attention to their relationships with Minnesota’s local public health system and are involved in a number of collaborative activities to strengthen and enhance this relationship.
The overall role of the MCH Section within Minnesota’s health care delivery environment is:
- to assess the health needs of mothers, children, and their families;
- to use that information to advocate effectively on their behalf in the development of policies concerning organizational and operational issues of health systems;
- to advocate for programs and funding streams that have the potential to improve their health; and
- to administer and oversee grants that promote and improve the health of women, children, youth, and families.
In addition, MCH focuses on quality assurance of public sector health services, assurance of targeted outreach and service coordination for hard-to-reach and high-risk populations, and community health promotion.
