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Through research, advocacy, and policy development, our activities on maternal and child health care issues strive to promote the access of health care for all women of reproductive age and children in Connecticut. Maternal and child health encompasses a wide range of human services and medical care, from teenage pregnancy prevention to smoking cessation programs for pregnant women to breast cancer screening to infant development programs.

Many maternal and child health programs work on the premise that a strong and self sufficient family is a necessary foundation for healthy physical and mental well-being. We work in collaboration with community groups and coalitions, as well as public and private agencies and health care providers with a goal towards ensuring that every woman and child in this state has access to quality preventive and primary health care. Our work carries us into preventive care for men and women, both young and old.

Our focus is on health care access and reducing disparities in both outcomes and access. To some extent, health care access is well-covered by the work of advocacy organizations including Heath Care for All, The Connecticut Women's Health Campaign and, on a national level, Families USA. CAHS links health care access and coverage to family economic stability and overall well-being. CAHS stresses the importance of access to quality and comprehensive preventative, acute and chronic health care as a component of family economic well-being.

Currently, we are evaluating a statewide Urban Health Coalition to identify and research access and disparities issues in cities, and mobilize professional and grassroots suppport to overcome problems.