Our History & Why Local MCH
Tracing our journey from 1988 to today, and why local maternal and child health leadership is essential for urban communities.
Our Story
CityMatCH was initiated in 1988 as a special project of the Boston Department of Health and Hospitals with the goal of improving the organization and delivery of services to urban families and children.
Initial project activities focused on creating an information base about what major health departments across the United States were doing to address shared urban MCH challenges, including:
- Increasing racial disparities in infant mortality
- Inadequate access to prenatal care
- Substance abuse during pregnancy
- Interpersonal violence
Under the leadership of urban MCH program directors in cities across the country, the CityMatCH project evolved into a national organization in 1991. Dr. Magda Peck, the founder of CityMatCH, established a vision for collaboration and shared learning among urban MCH leaders that continues to guide the organization today.
For over 20 years, CityMatCH has been strategically positioned at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and functions as the Division of Child Health Policy within the Department of Pediatrics at UNMC.
Timeline Highlights
Founded as a special project of the Boston Department of Health and Hospitals
Evolved into a national organization led by urban MCH program directors
Established at the University of Nebraska Medical Center
Launched CityLeaders training program to develop MCH leadership
Network of over 160 member representatives from urban health departments across the nation
Our Core Philosophy
"CityMatCH is grounded in the philosophy that all children and families deserve to be healthy and achieve their optimal growth and development in the physical, intellectual, social, emotional, and spiritual aspects of their lives."
The responsibility for assuring this is shared by each individual and their family, the community, and government at the federal, state, and local levels.
Children and families in urban areas have unique needs and deserve special attention. These needs must be effectively addressed in order for all children, and ultimately our society, to achieve full potential.
Local public health agencies are a critical component of the collaborative effort that is needed to improve the health of children and families in urban areas.
Our Mission
Strengthen public health leaders and organizations to promote equity and improve the health of urban women, families, and communities.
Our Vision
A world where ALL women, children, and families achieve their full potential with a just and unhindered path to health and wellbeing.
Our Commitment
CityMatCH actively opposes racism in Maternal and Child Health by promoting and leading national, political, economic, social, and structural change to achieve a just society.
Why Local MCH Matters
Local health departments' Maternal and Child Health (MCH) programs are uniquely positioned within urban communities to help tackle some of the most pressing issues that hinder the path to full-potential.
Local MCH can play an integral role in convening the right people, organizations, and institutions to make change happen at the local level.
Local Knowledge
Local MCH programs have deep understanding of their communities' unique needs, resources, and cultural context, enabling them to develop targeted and effective approaches to health issues.
Community Connections
They foster vital relationships with community organizations, healthcare providers, schools, and other stakeholders to build collaborative solutions for complex health challenges.
Data-Driven Approaches
Local MCH programs collect and analyze community-specific data to identify health disparities, direct resources where they're most needed, and evaluate the impact of interventions.
Our Vision for Local MCH Leaders
Leaders for Social Justice
Steering discussions that stretch the boundaries of traditional MCH and bring together public health, community members and non-traditional partners to tackle health inequities at the local level.
Leaders in Using Scientific Evidence
Using data and community input to make decisions, evaluate their work, and broadly disseminate their successes.
A Strong Network of Public Health Leaders
Where seasoned public health professionals mentor emerging MCH leaders, where the MCH workforce is well-trained and implements evidence-based public health practices.
Catalysts for Systems Change
Identifying and addressing the underlying social, economic, and structural factors that impact maternal and child health outcomes in urban communities.
"Our members understand that in order to turn the tide we must be more enduring than injustice itself."
CityMatCH
The National Organization of Urban MCH Leaders
Get Involved with Local MCH
Join CityMatCH
CityMatCH membership is FREE and is extended to all Maternal and Child Health (MCH) programs and leaders in city or county health departments having jurisdiction over one or more urban areas with populations of 100,000 or larger.
Become a MemberJoin an Action Group
CityMatCH Action Groups give you an opportunity to inform and assist in CityMatCH's work and time to network with your peers across the country. Being a part of an Action Group is a minimal time commitment (usually 1-2 calls/quarter).
Explore Action Groups