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Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health Division

MCAH Overview

The Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health Division (MCAH) is one of three divisions within the Center for Family Health under the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). MCAH supports the vision of the Center for Family Health by implementing strategies to improve health, support the development of children and adolescents, and foster well-being and equity across the reproductive life course. The division oversees programs that serve California's diverse populations, as well as specialized collection and analysis of data related to reproductive health, pregnancy, child health, equity, and more.

MCAH also works with Local Health Jurisdictions and Community-Based Organizations throughout the state. This collaboration is crucial for promoting policy, systems, and environmental change that ensures easy access to healthy choices for California's families. 

 

Programs and Services

MCAH is funded by the Title V Maternal and Child Health Block Grant. 

Maternal Health strives to ensure every woman in California can experience a healthy pregnancy and delivery. Our programs encourage ongoing education, self-sufficiency, healthy life choices, and mental and physical wellness during pregnancy. These programs include:

Child Health strives to improve the cognitive, physical and emotional development of all children. Regular developmental surveillance and screening (as recommended by Bright Futures) will identify those children needing early intervention services; provision of services as early as possible will improve their developmental outcomes.

Adolescent Health provides a range of services aimed at addressing the health of young people. These programs include:

Watch our Stories:
Storytelling brings public programs to life, and MCAH stories show our programs' positive effects on women, children, families and communities. See what some MCAH program participants have to say about the impact these MCAH programs have had on their livesā€”and their families' futures:

Data and Surveillance

Using current statistics and surveillance data, MCAH continuously assesses the health and well-being of California's infants, children and families to identify priority issues, evaluate the impact of its programs and inform program design. MCAH data is shared with partners and stakeholders via a variety of formats, including a comprehensive website, scientific presentations, in-depth reports and data briefs on topics such as maternal depression. Reporting on and planning for priority issues, evaluation and program design are part of a statewide needs assessment completed every five years for the Title V Maternal and Child Health Block Grant. Some of the individual surveillance efforts include:

Statewide Operations

From our hub in Sacramento, MCAH work is being done on behalf of and in support of families through counties, cities and community-based organizations that provide direct services at the local level. MCAH funds and administers programs in all local health jurisdictions to ensure targeted populations can access needed services in their communities. In addition, MCAH provides statewide support beyond funding and administration, to include technical assistance, education and outreach resources, training and much more.

Major Funding Sources and Administration

  • Federal Title V MCH Block Grant
  • General Fund
  • Federal Title XIX Medicaid reimbursements
  • California Personal Responsibility Education Program (CA PREP) Federal Grant
  • Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Program Federal Grant
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Preventing Maternal Deaths Federal Grant
  • American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act Funding for Home Visiting

Division Organization

 MCAH Organization Chart (PDF)

Contact Information

Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health Division
PO Box 997420, MS 8300
Sacramento, CA  95899-7420
(916) 650-0300
E-mail: mchinet@cdph.ca.gov

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