St. Louis Maternal, Child and Family Health Coalition

VISION STATEMENT

The Vision of the MCFHC is that all women and children in the St. Louis community are healthy.

MISSION STATEMENT

The Mission of the Maternal, Child and Family Health Coalition is to improve birth outcomes, promote healthy families, and build healthy communities by uniting and mobilizing the St. Louis Region.

Members participate in the MCFHC because far more can be accomplished collectively than alone. The MCFHC plays a meaningful role in setting the maternal, child and family health agenda. The MCFH Coalition's programs are action oriented and promote measurable progress.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

The Maternal, Child and Family Health Coalition (MCFHC) celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2009. Founded in 1999 under the leadership of the March of Dimes, the MCFHC’s first priorities were to address health care access and utilization for low-income women and children, the rising infant mortality rate, and to establish a sustainable infrastructure.

The first investments in the MCFHC came from the Deaconess Foundation and the Sisters of Mercy. Later the MCFHC was successful in securing a Community Organization Grant and a Healthy Start Grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration. In 2005 the Healthy Start Grant was renewed for another 4 years.

In 2004 the MCFHC was incorporated and later received designation from the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c) 3, tax exempt charity.

With over 600 individuals representing over 200 agencies and consumer groups, the MCFHC provides a vehicle for systematically examining and addressing issues related to health care for women and children, in the context of family. The MCFHC has the support of the St. Louis City, County and State Departments of Health, and consists of health care systems, private, public and religious organizations and other coalitions concerned with maternal and child health.

The function of the coalition is to promote and share best practice strategies and to increase coordination and communication between community agencies, other coalitions and health care systems. Through this effort the community can provide better programs and services, particularly for at-risk, low income women and infants in the St. Louis area.

The MCFHC is a membership organization. Members join and participate because the MCFHC plays a meaningful role in setting the maternal, child and family health agenda. The MCFHC’s programs are action-oriented and promote measurable progress.

THE MCFHC VALUES

The St. Louis region should have quality, evidence-based health services, delivered by qualified providers who are accountable to the consumer.
All families have the equal right to barrier free access that supports health and wellness.
We value advocacy that includes education, policy development, and empowerment as a means of supporting the health and well-being of all families.
We focus resources on programs with the potential to address disparate health outcomes.

Collaborative partnerships are essential to improving the health and well being of families.

ANNUAL REPORTS

IRS 990 RETURNS