Prevention activities

• We advocate for prevention and wellness initiatives.
• Preventing prematurity is our current national campaign.
• Areas of focus also include newborn screening and immunizations.

What federal agencies are involved in premature birth activities?

Prematurity-related research is being conducted under the auspices of multiple federal agencies, including the very active Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development at the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

How can I learn what conditions newborns are screened for in my state?

Two key resources are the National Newborn Screening and Genetics Resource Center and the March of Dimes. You can easily compare state programs on our Peristats website.

What is the history of government programs for women and children?

Title V of the Social Security Act, was signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1935.  Title V, or the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Services program, pledged support to states to provide services that would protect the "health of our nation's mothers and children."