State Maternal Mortality Report Uses Data to Steer Change
The Illinois Department of Public Health released a Maternal Morbidity and Mortality Report that might serve as model of sorts for other states. The report identifies statewide trends in maternal deaths and provides recommendations to help prevent maternal mortality. The report is the culmination of more than a year of work by two committees to gain a better understanding of the causes of maternal mortality and develop recommendations to prevent maternal deaths. It includes five case examples and structures the recommendations in specific areas of focus for action: hospitals, health care providers, health insurance plans, managed care organizations, state government, and women and their families.

U.S. Fertility Rates Drop
A data brief from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Trends in Fertility and Mother's Age at First Birth Among Rural and Metropolitan Counties: United States, 2007–2017, shows declines across rural and metropolitan counties and across races.

Developmental Tracker App Released in English & Spanish
The Milestone Tracker app, developed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's "Learn the Signs. Act Early." program, is now available in English and Spanish. The app, which has been culturally adapted for Spanish speaking parents of young children ages 2 months through 5 years, provides a fun and easy way for parents to track their child's early developmental milestones.

Supporting Mental Health Essential for Healthy Schools
A report from Child Trends finds that educators, students, and state-level policymakers view supporting mental health and cultivating interpersonal relationships as critical but overlooked elements to building healthy schools, and makes a case for investments in mental health and relationship-building initiatives.

Health Systems Transformation in MCH

ACA Outreach and Enrollment Info for Title V Programs
With enrollment set to open Nov. 1 for the Affordable Care Act's health insurance marketplace, AMCHP produced a fact sheet about informational resources and suggested steps for maternal and child health (MCH) leaders to support outreach and enrollment in their states and communities, and to help improve access to care and coverage for MCH populations.

Parents Need Insurance Coverage Too
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace open enrollment begins Nov. 1, and this flyer – produced by AMCHP and the American Academy of Pediatrics – describes the importance of insurance coverage for parents/caregivers and explains ACA open enrollment season, as well as other ways that parents can get coverage.

Child & Adolescent Health

Chosen Name Use Linked to Reduced Depressive Symptoms, Suicidal Ideation, and Suicidal Behavior Among Transgender Youth
The study, published in the Journal of Adolescent Health, concludes that for transgender youth who choose a name different from the one given at birth, use of their chosen name in multiple contexts affirms their gender identity and reduces mental health risks.

Disability Impacts All of Us
The Disability and Health Branch of the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities released a data-based infographic about the individual and community impact of disability in the United States, including the role of health cares systems.

Case Studies Show Early Childhood Data in Action
The National Center for Children's Health Quality released a set of Early Childhood Data in Action case studies, which show how three communities are leveraging data as catalysts for early childhood improvement.