Minnesota Agencies

The advisory committee shall:

• review and report on the health care needs of mothers and children throughout the state of Minnesota;
• review and report on the type, frequency, and impact of maternal and child health care services provided to mothers and children under existing maternal and child health care programs, including programs administered by the commissioner of health;
• establish, review, and report to the commissioner a list of program guidelines and criteria which the advisory committee considers essential to providing an effective maternal and child health care program to low-income populations and high-risk persons and fulfilling the purposes defined in section 145.88;
• make recommendations to the commissioner for the use of other federal and state funds available to meet maternal and child health needs;
• make recommendations to the commissioner of health on priorities for funding the following maternal and child health services: prenatal, delivery, and postpartum care; comprehensive health care for children, especially from birth through five years of age; adolescent health services; family planning services; preventive dental care; special services for chronically ill and disabled children; and any other services that promote the health of mothers and children; and
• establish in consultation with the commissioner statewide outcomes that will improve the health status of mothers and children.

The Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Advisory Task Force was created by the Minnesota Legislature in 1982 to advise the Commissioner of Health on the health care services/needs of maternal and child health populations in Minnesota, on the use of funds for maternal and child health and children with special health needs administered through MDH, and the priorities and goals for maternal and child health activities.

The Maternal and Child Health Advisory Task Force was reviewed by the Legislative Commission on Planning and Fiscal Policy (LCPFP) in 2013 as part of their biennial duty required by Minn. Stat. 3.885 Subd. 11. The LCPFP's 2013 Recommendations called for keeping the task force.

Legislation passed in 2015 gave the task force clearance to "conduct a review of current methods of data collection on stillbirths, prenatal protocols to prevent stillbirths, available supports for families who have experienced a stillbirth, and any other information related to stillbirths that the task force deems appropriate" (Laws of Minn. 2025, chap. 42, sec. 4).

The Maternal and Child Health Advisory Task Force does not expire.

In 2025, the Legislature changed the group's name to the Maternal and Child Health Advisory Committee (Laws of Minn. 2025, 1st Sp. Sess., chap. 3, art. 1, sec. 77).

The committee consists of 15 members who will provide equal representation from:

• professionals with expertise in maternal and child health services;
• representatives of community health boards as defined in Minn. Stat. 145A.02, subd. 5; and
• consumer representatives interested in the health of mothers and children.

No members shall be employees of the Minnesota Department of Health.