Establishing Public-Private Partnerships for Maternal and Child Health
Established in 1935 under Title V of the Social Security Act, the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Services Block Grant is one of the largest federal block grant programs and a critical source of flexible funding for public health. Commonly referred to as Title V, the MCH block grant is used to support core MCH public health functions in states, assess needs, and identify and address gaps in services.
Pediatric Medical Homes: The What and Why of It All
The “medical home” encompasses the places, people, and processes involved in providing comprehensive primary care services. Medical homes replace episodic patient care with a holistic approach fostering ongoing physician-patient relationships, systematic care coordination, and addressing the “whole person.” They also must deliver physician-directed patient care that is accessible, family-centered, comprehensive, continuous, coordinated, compassionate, and culturally effective.
Health Information Technology: Increasing Quality and Access within Safety Net Providers
Health foundations are uniquely positioned to help safety net providers reach their full health information technology potential, and by providing various means of support, foundations can help to bridge competitive tensions that often derail cooperation.
Infant Mortality: Racial and Regional Disparities
Infant mortality is an important measure of maternal and child health status, as well as a broader indicator of a society’s health and well-being. In the United States infant mortality rates have held stubbornly at about 7 percent for the last 10 years. This statistic, however, masks significant racial and regional disparities.
Strengthening Government Public Health Agencies
Health funders at the national, state, and local levels have made substantial commitments to improve the functionality of the public health system. Using a variety of approaches, they seek to develop the capabilities, services, and competencies that enhance public health practice.
Bridging, Building, and Beyond: Acceptance Speech of the 2008 Terrance Keenan Leadership Award
The following remarks are excerpted from Terri Langston’s acceptance speech for the Terrance Keenan Leadership Award delivered on February 28, 2008, at the GIH Annual Meeting on Health Philanthropy.
Serving Our Veterans: Filling the Gaps in Military Mental Health
Stories of devastation on the evening news depict families struggling to cope with the health and mental health problems of their loved ones who have served in the military. For too many, help is not coming quickly enough.