The 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.
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.
Oral Health: consultation and technical assistance to professionals and community partners.
Research and Planning Unit: The Research and Planning Unit works to systematically collect, analyze, interpret and report epidemiological and health systems data and coordinate planning and evaluation activities within the MCH Bureau. Ongoing activities within the Research and Planning Unit provide decision makers with information necessary to carry out assessment, assurance, and policy development activities to improve the health and well being of MCH populations. Current programs include Birth Defects, Perinatal Regionalizaton and FIMR.
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.
Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Services: food programs, Farmer's Market Nutrition Program, breastfeeding education and counseling.
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:
- BabyNet
- Camp Burnt Gin
- Health & Environmental Issues for Children Under Six
- SCBIBS - Black Infants Better Survival
- SCAN - For Maternal and Child Health data
- South Carolina Epilepsy Act-168
