Maternal and Child HealthThe Bureau of Maternal and Child Health strives to assure the health and well being of children, our most valuable resource. The Bureau provides leadership in protecting children and youth, including those with special health care needs, and in strengthening families so that all can be helped to reach their full potential. The Bureau consists of five divisions that together offer services and programs for pregnant women, mothers, infants, children and youth, children with special health care needs, and families.

Women and Children's Services: family planning, maternity care, family support services, newborn screening, postpartum/newborn home visits, lead screening, sudden infant death syndrome follow-up, Medical Home Partnerships, child health services.

Children with Special Health Care Needs: rehabilitative services, early intervention (BabyNet), newborn hearing screening (First Sound), Medical Home Partnerships, Supplemental Security Income/Disabled Children Program, genetic diseases testing and counseling.

Perinatal Systems: consultation and technical assistance to providers and communities, development of programs and monitoring of data to assure risk-appropriate care for pregnant women and their babies, improve birth outcomes, and lower rates of fetal, infant and maternal deaths. Also, provides the Care Line, toll-free information and referral service for women and families.

Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Services: food programs, Farmer's Market Nutrition Program, breastfeeding education and counseling.

Oral Health: consultation and technical assistance to professionals and community partners.

MCH Block Grant: The current MCH Block Grant can be viewed at the National MCH website. After you link with the site, view the SC grant by clicking on State Narratives for the narrative and Search TVIS for the data. MCH Block Grant planning begins in March of each year with a final grant submitted by June 15. You may submit input concerning the grant to Brenda Martin (martinby@dhec.sc.gov).

Additional Maternal and Child Health Links:

First Steps                 Maternal and Child Health Bureau                  Reach Out and Read