The State Systems Development Initiative (SSDI) was launched in 1993 by the federal Health Resources and Services Administration to complement the Title V Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Block Grant Program and to combine the efforts of State MCH and Children with Special Health Care Needs (CSHCN) programs.

SSDI continues to focus grant resources on the Title V MCH Block Grant Health Systems Capacity Indicator (HSCI) #9(A): The ability of States to ensure that the Maternal and Child Health program and Title V agency (MSDH) have access to policy- and program-relevant information and data. This is accomplished by implementing data linkages, providing epidemiological and statistical support for MCH programs, and the administration of health surveys and ongoing needs assessment.

Program Goals

The goal of this project is to improve Mississippi's data capacity, assuring that critical issues in maternal and child health are identified and addressed through program and policy decisions.

The SSDI's data improvement efforts:

• Establish and/or enhance data linkage between birth records and other surveillance or MCH program-specific files.
• Enhance access to data derived from MCH population-based surveys to inform program decisions and address health disparities.
• Enhance data collection, reporting capacity, evaluation, and needs assessment activities, especially related to health disparities.
• Adopt or develop life course performance metrics that will assist in measuring the progress of MCH programs in incorporating life course principles into systems of care for targeted MCH populations.

Resources

• Mississippi's SSDI Grant HRSA More information about the SSDI Grant from the federal Health Resources and Services Administration