Welcome to the MCH Innovations Database, is a searchable repository of “what’s working” in MCH (aka practice-based evidence) which includes effective practices and policies from the field that are positively impacting MCH populations. Practices are assessed along a continuum and receive a designation of Cutting-Edge, Emerging, Promising, or Best depending on their work’s demonstrated impact, among other criteria. Policies are assessed along four dimensions of Evidence, Equity, Relevance, and Impact and then given a designation of Evidence-Informed Policy Development, Policy Implementation, or Policy Evaluation.
For additional MCH specific evidence-based/informed strategies, check out the MCHbest Database which summarizes the science of what works from the peer-reviewed literature.
Promising Practice
Perinatal Continuum of Care Toolkit for Action
The Perinatal Continuum of Care Toolkit for Action is a facilitator guide that builds capacity of providers across sectors to understand and embrace their role in supporting perinatal mental health.
Read MoreCutting-Edge Practice
B’N Fit VIP
This project aims to expand youth access to culturally responsive after-school wellness programming by translating evidence-based in-person afterschool wellness programing to virtual and hybrid environments.
Read MorePromising Practice
Connections™ Program
The Connections™ Program provides infant and toddler diapers to promote improvement in key children’s health indicators such as immunizations, well child visits and developmental screening. The Connections™ Program is a collaborative effort with the mutual objectives of restoring immunization rates and improving the percentage of Tennessee children achieving EPSDT goals.
Read MorePolicy Development
Colorado Birth Equity Bill Package
To protect human rights and address discrimination, mistreatment, harm, poor outcomes, and inequities in outcomes during the perinatal period, Colorado passed the Colorado Birth Equity Bill Package in the 2021 session: 1) Protection of Pregnant People in the Perinatal Period, SB 193 established basic human rights standards in perinatal care for all people, including those who are incarcerated, 2) Maternal Health Providers, SB 194 aligned perinatal care data and systems for equity, and 3) Sunset Direct Entry Midwives, SB 101 continued the Direct-Entry Midwifery program.
Read MorePolicy Development
Non-Punitive Approach to Substance Use in Pregnancy
This policy was developed in New Mexico in response to the federal CARA amendment to the federal CAPTA law that stated all state child welfare agencies are required to ensure every baby born exposed to substances receives a Plan of Care and that the numbers of babies receiving Plans of Care are reported to the Federal Agency.
Read MoreCutting-Edge Practice
Perinatal Wellness Coach Pathways Program
The Perinatal Wellness Coach Certification Training is designed to expand the skills, knowledge, and capacity of community-based birth work providers to support historically excluded childbearing populations with actionable steps toward wellness as it relates to Reproductive Consciousness®️ and is designed to improve preconception, pregnancy, postpartum, parenting, and mental health.
Read MoreCutting-Edge Practice
Virtual training for Awake ABR services for non-audiology staff
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the FSM government restricted their borders to incoming passengers from airlines and vessels on March 2020. No one was allowed to enter for over a year and although some repatriation flights have been conducted, most restrictions are still in place. This extreme measure is needed because FSM does not have the resources, such as medical personnel and equipment, to cope with a COVID-19 outbreak. The arrival of COVID-19 has clearly created new challenges for the Title V/CYSHNCN and EHDI programs. The professionals who typically travel to the islands cannot provide resources and services. Telehealth support is needed so that children can receive Diagnostic Audiological Evaluations and other needed services and resources.
Read MoreBest Practice
Resilient Kern
Resilient Kern represents a system change model that evolved from serving only CYSHCN to a community-wide health equity initiative. As a broad-based coalition, Resilient Kern relies on a flat organizational approach that emphasizes care coordination principles and practices among equal partners, thus encouraging solution focused, collaborative approaches to problem solving to achieve lifelong health outcomes.
Read MorePromising Practice
Chicago Collaborative for Maternal Health QI Collaborative
The Chicago Collaborative for Maternal Health QI Collaborative developed, implemented, and evaluated a quality improvement initiative connecting high-risk prenatal patients to primary care after delivery and routine postpartum care.
Read MorePromising Practice
Hand in Hand
Hand in Hand supports the emotional well-being of children and the adults who care for them through five transformative caregiving and peer-support tools. Hand in Hand is continually focused on promoting the protective factors that address the root causes of disparities in child outcomes, and on supporting diverse communities to promote equity and justice.
Read MoreEmerging Practice
Gizmo Initiative
The Gizmo Initiative takes an upstream approach to support the mental health and wellness of youth through its book for youth (Gizmo's Pawesome Guide to Mental Health), accompanying elementary school curriculum and website of resources, activities, and materials for youth and adults, alike.
Read MoreBest Practice
Supporting Partnerships to Assure Ready Kids (SPARK) Kindergarten Readiness Program
SPARK (Supporting Partnerships to Assure Ready Kids) is a parent-focused home visiting program for families of three- and four-year-old children. SPARK cultivates school readiness by strengthening each child’s math, early literacy, and fine and gross motor skills, and social-emotional development; all services are provided in a culturally relevant manner. The program has been designed to identify the basic needs of families, as well as any developmental delays, specialized learning needs, and social-emotional issues. The school districts are partners in the program, collaborating with SPARK to provide smooth transitions into kindergarten and ensure the well-being of the families.
Read MoreThis project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number U01MC00001 Partnership for State Title V MCH Leadership Community Cooperative Agreement ($1,696,335). This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.