The goal of maternal and child health is to improve the health of women and children by meeting the comprehensive physical, psychological, and social needs of these populations.  At the national level, the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) strives to encourage a culture where children are wanted and born with optimal health, receive quality care, and are nurtured lovingly and sensitively as they mature.  The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) has identified a priority health need to improve pregnancy outcomes, especially infant mortality, fetal deaths, and low birth weight, and decrease disparities in access to prenatal care.  The Marion County Helath Department (MCHD) also has initiatives and programs to improve maternal and child health, examples include: Indianapolis Healthy Babies implemented to reduce infant mortality, especially among the African American population; and Indianapolis Healthy Start to improve maternal and child health from pregnancy through two years of age.