Maternal and Child Health
The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) is committed to improving the health of women of childbearing age, adolescents, children, infants, and children with special health care needs. Located within the Maternal and Child Health Section (under the Community Health Improvement Division), our staff supports the development of family-centered, community-based, coordinated systems of care.
Maternal and Child Health (MCH) started as part of the Social Security Act (SSA) in 1935 and is one of the largest federal block grant programs. It focuses on maternal, infant, child and adolescent health including children with special health care needs. SSA was the origin of the federal government's pledge of support to states in improving the health of mothers and children throughout the nation. Since the original act, MCH has been changed several times to reflect the growing national interest in maternal and child health and well-being. One of the first changes occurred when MCH became a block grant program in 1981, resulting in a merge of seven categorical programs into a single block grant. Most recently MCH has asked states to prioritize their focus according to the needs of the state.
Priorities to support our vision reflect the specific needs identified through a state five-year needs assessment process. This process includes a team approach to including MCH stakeholders, especially families. Based on direction given by the federal Maternal & Child Health Bureau, Texas MCH has arranged these web pages according to age groups and related programs:
Women’s and Infant Health – Women of childbearing years (ages 18-44) and Infants (birth to 1 year of age) – see our programs and information about Healthy Texas Babies, Breastfeeding, Women’s and Maternal Health, Perinatal Depression, Parenting, Provider Resources, PRAMS, Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee, and related resources.
Child Health – Children 1 year to 12 years of age – see our programs and information about MedCARES, Project LAUNCH, Parenting, and related resources.
Adolescent Health – Youth 12 years to 25 years of age – see our programs and information about Texas Healthy Adolescent Initiative, our Rape Prevention and Education grant, information for Health Care Providers, Parents, Teens, Adolescent Resources, and other related resources.
Children with Special Health Care Needs (CSHCN) – Children birth to 21 years of age who have a medical issue that may impact their health – see our programs and information about Community Contractors, Transition, Medical Home, provider information, resources for contractors, and related resources.
Cross-Cutting/Life Course – Strategies and programs that affect multiple ages from birth to women – see our programs and information about tobacco cessation, obesity, infant mortality, and well visits.
An important partner in our work to improve maternal and child health is the Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs (AMCHP). AMCHP is a national resource, partner and advocate for DSHS MCH leaders and others working to improve the health of women, children, youth and families, including those with special health care needs.
For more information about Maternal and Child Health, or information regarding maternal and child health in Texas, please contact us at:
Texas Department of State Health Services
Title V Maternal & Child Health
PO Box 149347, Mail Code 1922
Austin, TX 78714-9347
(512) 776-7373: Phone
(512) 458-7658: Fax
TitleV@dshs.texas.gov
External links to other sites are intended to be informational and do not have the endorsement of the Texas Department of State Health Services. These external links may not be accessible to persons with disabilities.
Additional Resources
What's New
Maternal & Child Health - Flyer - April 2017
Maternal & Child Health - Flyer - April 2017
Title V MCH FY17 State Performance Measures
The DSHS Division for Family and Community Health Services hosted stakeholder webinars on February 4 and 5, 2016 to present the draft State Performance Measures considered for FY17. Click the links below to download the slides from the webinars and a one-pager with information on the draft State Performance Measures.
Texas Title V Block Grant Draft State Performance Measures Webinar Slides
Texas Title V Block Grant Draft State Performance Measures 1-pager
Title V MCH FY16 Performance Measures
The Office of Title V and Family Health hosted a stakeholder webinar on Wednesday, June 3, 2015 to announce the selection of the new National Performance Measures for FY16. The slides from that webinar are now available to view and download here: Title V FY16 Performance Measures.
Presentation: You may also review a copy of the Power Point presentation - Maternal Child Health (MCH) Title V 2015 Needs Assessment Findings Stakeholder Feedback Pertaining to Selection of National Performance Measures.
Opportunity to give feedback
Please go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/D5HFCZR to complete a brief survey. Your responses will inform the selection of the Title V National Performance Measures for the next five years (fiscal year 2016-2020).
Your participation is encouraged and we look forward to the discussion!
Parent's Resource Guide
A new, updated, more portable version of the guide is now available to order, for free, to those who qualify. Downloadable versions can be found below. A Parent’s Guide to Raising Healthy, Happy Children is available from DSHS, as per HB 1240 enacted by the 81st Legislative Session. The resource guide provides information relating to the development, health, and safety of a child from birth to five. This developmental resource guide is only available free of charge to prenatal care providers, including hospitals, birthing centers, physicians, nurse midwives, and midwives, who provide prenatal care or deliver an infant of a pregnant woman enrolled in Medicaid. The resource guide should only be distributed by
providers to Medicaid-enrolled women receiving the above mentioned services,
the father of the infant, or another adult caregiver.
The resource is available for ordering through http://txchildren.org/parenting-guide/. Orders must be placed in a bulk amount to exceed 100 in order to receive the guides free of charge and orders may be placed for up to a one-year supply. To ensure prompt processing of your order, please include in the additional information box, “For HB 1240.”
Or, you can download the guide in .pdf format here:
For a reference to the language as cited in the Health and Safety Code, Section 161.501-161.502, click the following link: http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/HS/htm/HS.161.htm#161.501
Please contact us at titlev@dshs.texas.gov, or (512) 776-7373 for more information.
Information for Parents of Newborns
During the 2011 legislative session, an amendment was made requiring the addition of pertussis information to the Information for Parents of Newborns pamphlet distributed by providers. DSHS has added the required pertussis information to the pamphlet. The related bill text, HB3336, can be located here.
Resources for Child Care Providers
Online Training Modules
Looking for free training?! Texas Agrilife offers FREE online courses on a variety of topics ranging from safe sleep to nutrition to breastfeeding. While the courses are targeted for child care professionals, they are relevant for all types of caregivers – parents, teachers, health care professionals. If you are looking for continuing education credit, certificates can be printed at the completion of the course for a small fee. Some courses are multilingual - available in Spanish and Vietnamese.
You can check out all the courses here: https://extensiononline.tamu.edu/courses/child_care.php
Food, Fun and Games: Healthy Activities for Children in Child Care
In child care, teaching opportunities abound! This new booklet is targeted to child care facilities and provides examples of low to no-cost activities that incorporate the concept of nutrition and physical activity into daily routines.
The booklet is available to order in English through the Texas Department of State Health Services' Literature and Inquiry and Order Entry site by calling the HHS Warehouse at (512) 250-7162 for assistance.
The stock number is:
# 1-182
Or, you can download the booklet in .pdf format here:
For questions or comments about the fact sheet, please contact us at 512-776-7373, or email titlev@dshs.texas.gov
Safe Sleep For Babies
The Department of State Health Services and the Department of Family & Protective Services have partnered to provide parents and health care professionals with a “Safe Sleep Checklist” and public service announcement. The checklist is downloadable and can be printed out for any parent who wants to check their baby’s sleep environment for safety. Providers may also want to provide this checklist to new parents, expecting parents or keep copies in their waiting room.
Please contact us at titlev@dshs.texas.gov, or (512) 776-7373 for more information.
Safe Sleep for Babies: Safe Sleep Checklist
(41Kb, PDF, Viewing Information)
Safer Sleep for Babies: Precautions for All Parents and Infants
(977Kb, PDF, Viewing Information)
Safe Sleep for Babies Fact Sheet
Creating a safe sleep environment by placing infants on their backs to sleep reduces the chance of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). This new fact sheet has been developed in collaboration with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, to increase awareness and educate caregivers on Safe Sleep.
For questions or comments about the fact sheet, please contact us at titlev@dshs.texas.gov or (512) 776-7373.
You may order it by calling the HHS Warehouse at (512) 250-7162 for assistance.
You can find more information about Safe Sleep at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD): http://www.nichd.nih.gov/sids/
You can get the fact sheet in .pdf format by downloading it from here:
Safe Sleep for Babies: A Community Training
The Department of State Health Services and the Department of Family & Protective Services have partnered to develop a tool for talking with parents, grandparents and caregivers about the best practices for safe infant sleep. This tool is a training manual designed to be used by service providers of all types. The manual is formatted in a train-the-trainer style with frequently asked questions, tips about presenting information to parents and caregivers and parent handouts. Topics covered include myths and facts about safe sleep, crib safety and how to talk with grandparents, day cares and babysitters about safe sleep. Anyone providing services to parents and caregivers are encouraged to use these materials in conjunction with local resources (such as crib distribution, fan distribution or breastfeeding support). Materials may be used in a workshop or classroom type setting or portions may be taken for use in an office or home visit as needed.
Please contact us at titlev@dshs.texas.gov, or (512) 776-7373 for more information.
You can get the community training guide in .pdf format by downloading it here:
Texas Infant Sleep Study
The Texas Infant Sleep Study (TISS) is a population-based sample survey that is representative of mothers of infants 2 through 11 months of age who were born in Texas. It was developed to provide baseline data on infant sleep practices, including sleep position, sleep surface, and bed-sharing. This fact sheet has been developed as a result of the survey, to inform providers, caretakers, and agencies working with families about current infant sleep practices.
You can get the fact sheet in .pdf format by downloading it from here:
Umbilical Cord Blood Banking and Donation Brochure
During the 2007 regular legislative session, legislators passed HB 709 which requires that a physician or other person permitted by law to attend a pregnant woman during gestation or at delivery of an infant shall provide the woman with the brochure before the third trimester of the woman’s pregnancy or as soon as reasonably feasible.
Please contact us at titlev@dshs.texas.gov, or (512) 776-7373 for more information.
You may order it by calling the HHS Warehouse at (512) 250-7162 or by visiting their website at: https://hhsc.pinnaclecart.com/dshs/
The stock numbers are:
#6-73 - English
#6-73A - Spanish
You can get this brochure in .pdf format by downloading it from here:
Participating Cord Blood Hospitals and Banks
CHIP Perinatal Information
Title V and CHIP Perinatal
Title V prenatal contractors may provide prenatal care and bill Title V for a maximum of the first two prenatal care visits for women who are in the process of applying for and enrolling in the CHIP Perinatal Program application process. See Section III, Chapter 1 - Reimbursement for additional guidance on billing Title V for the initial prenatal visits. Policy Manual - FY 17 Title V MCH
To find Title V-funded contractors providing prenatal care, go to the Title V MCH Fee-for-Service Clinic Locator
Current Information regarding CHIP Perinatal is located on the HHSC web page at the following address: https://chipmedicaid.org/en/CHIP-Perinatal
Children's health insurance helps keep kids growing
Texas families with uninsured children may be eligible for health insurance through Children's Medicaid and CHIP (Children's Health Insurance Program). For more information and to apply, visit the CHIP Website.
Raise Awareness of National Suicide Prevention
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a national, 24-hour, and toll-free suicide prevention service available to all those in suicidal crisis who are seeking help. Individuals seeking help can dial 1-800-273-TALK (8255). They will be routed to the closest possible provider of mental health and suicide prevention services.
The network is comprised of over 100 individual crisis centers across the country creating a nationwide coverage area. It is administered through the Mental Health Association of New York City, an organization with experience in crisis, information, and referral hotline management.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline grant is one component of the National Suicide Prevention Initiative (NSPI), a multi-project effort to reduce suicide led by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Center for Mental Health Services.
Contact National Suicide Prevention online
Frequently Asked Questions
Here you can locate answers to many frequently asked questions regarding the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Find out more.
Requirements: Information for Parents of Newborn Children
This law, effective September 1, 2005, requires physicians, certified nurse midwives, direct entry midwives, hospitals and birthing centers that provide prenatal care to a pregnant woman during gestation or at delivery to provide the woman with information on immunization, newborn screening, postpartum depression and shaken baby syndrome.
These brochures can now be either downloaded from the Parents of Newborn Children webpage in English or Spanish or ordered from the HHS Warehouse at (512) 250-7162. The stock numbers are: #1-316, English and #1-316a, Spanish.
This information can also be found on page 1-60 of the Policy Manual.
For more information about the Office of Title V and Family Health, or information regarding maternal and child health in Texas, please email titlev@dshs.texas.gov
Texas Department of State Health Services
Office of Title V & Family Health
PO Box 149347, Mail Code 1922
Austin, TX 78756
Phone: (512) 776-7373
Fax: (512) 458-7658