MCH functions framework: a guide to the role of government in maternal and child health in the 21st century.
OBJECTIVE
At the close of the 20th century, the government's role in maternal and child health is in a state of transition. What is needed is a framework defining roles and responsibilities and guidance on how to operationalize these functions. This article presents the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Functions Framework and discusses its value as an advocacy, planning, evaluation, and educational tool.


METHODS
The Johns Hopkins Child and Adolescent Health Policy Center developed the Framework in collaboration with leading public health organizations. The process entailed formulating a conceptual approach and facilitating consensus among the relevant organizations.


RESULTS
The Framework consists of three main components: (a) a list of ten essential public health services to promote maternal and child health, (b) an outline detailing program functions specific to MCH that apply to all levels of government and to all MCH populations, and (c) selected examples of local, state, and federal activities for implementing MCH program functions.


CONCLUSIONS
The MCH Functions Framework can be used in advocacy, policy development, program planning, organizational assessment, education, and training. To date, it has been used by several state and local MCH agencies and in MCH education and training programs.
Dievler
A
A
Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA. ADIEVLER@SPH.JHU.EDU
Grason
H A
HA
Guyer
B
B
D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008429:Maternal Welfare; D008430:Maternal-Child Health Centers / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000592:standards*; D011247:Pregnancy; D014481:United States