Healthy People/Government Objectives

Governmental Objectives:

Healthy People 2010 (16-1 through 16-23) provides a list of the government’s objectives regarding maternal and child health. The objectives highlight major maternal health issues that need to be addressed, such as: fetal and infant death rates, low birth weights, maternal illnesses and complications due to pregnancy, and substance abuse during pregnancy.

Political Influences:

Maternal and Child Health Bureau:
-plans to provide national leadership for maternal and child health, promote an environment that supports maternal and child health, eliminate health barriers and disparities, improve the health infrastructure and systems of care, and assure quality of care.
-programs administered by MCHB include Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant, Universal Newborn Hearing Screening, and Abstinence Education Program

UNICEF:
-promotes the improvement in maternal health by working with the United Nations Population Fund, the World Health Organization, and policy makers to provide quality emergency obstetric care and information to local communities about prenatal care.

Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs:
-works to strengthen national policy and increase resources for maternal and child health programs.
-supports full funding of the MCH Block Grant and other federally funded program (WIC, healthy start, etc) to improve maternal and child health.

American Pregnancy Association (APA):

-“A national health organization committed to promoting reproductive and pregnancy wellness through education, research, advocacy, and community awareness.” This organization advocates women’s health by lobbying legislature, businesses, and other organizations to promote maternal health issues.

National Advocates for Pregnant Women (NAPW):

-“encompasses litigation, litigation support and legal advocacy; local and national organizing; public policy development, public education and outreach.” One of their goals is to help local community organizations and activists network with national organizations and policy work. They engage “in local and national organizing and public education efforts among the diverse communities that are stakeholders in the issue,” including women and policy makers.