Maternal and Child Health Measurement Research Network (MCH-MRN 3.0)

About MCH MRN 3.0

"The absence of measurement is not equivalent to the absence of importance."

MCH MRN Proposal, 2019

"The greatest value of a picture is when it forces us to notice what we never expected to see."

John W. Tukey, Exploratory Data Analysis, 1977

"Far better an approximate answer to the right question, which is often vague, than the exact answer to the wrong question, which can always be made precise."

John W. Tukey, Annals of Mathematical Statistics 33, 1962

The Maternal and Child Health Measurement Research Network (MCH-MRN 3.0) aims to establish a sustainable, interdisciplinary Network of MCH measurement experts and collaborating research entities to serve as a multi-site platform for advancing practice and understanding. It seeks to create a portfolio of work that contributes, engages, and advances the field by developing a research agenda, and moving it forward from the current agenda. It will continue its role as part of the national infrastructure to stimulate novel collaborations, catalyze the production of new knowledge and support opportunities for newly accessible improvements as a result of the Network’s work to advance measurement methodologies.

The MCH-MRN 3.0 provides an opportunity for enhanced measurement that includes the capacity see new opportunities for measurement that allow us to observe the unseen harms and benefits of our policies and practices, and in doing so to stimulate improvements in outcomes for MCH populations.

MCH-MRN 3.0 aims to build and extend on the work of the current MCH-MRN, and continue its role as part of the national infrastructure in metric improvements through the following:

Increase the quality of options available for MCH Measurement
Develop, prioritize and Assess MCH measures for use in specified populations and contexts, using our infrastructure to support and advocate their thoughtful implementation
Renew, revise and disseminate research agenda for MCH Measurement
Identify Opportunities for and promote translation of our findings into policies and practices for the benefit of the health and equity of MCH populations

This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant 1-U3DMC327550100 (MCH-Measurement Research Network).
The information, content and/or conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.