The purpose of State Systems Development Initiative (SSDI) is to improve maternal and child health (MCH) outcomes by increasing capacity to collect, analyze, and use reliable data for state Title V policy and program development. SSDI funds support expansion of data linkages of key MCH datasets for analysis; improved access to and analysis of health equity data; and translation of data into action at the state level. The SSDI program assures foundational MCH data capacity support for the Title V MCH Block Grant program.
SSDI provides the flexibility to shift focus, including addressing MCH data capacity needs during an emergency and as emerging issues or threats arise, such as COVID-19. Data are central to reporting on the Title V MCH Block Grant assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation efforts, in the Title V MCH Block Grant Application/Annual Report.
The goals of the SSDI program are: 1) Strengthen capacity to collect, analyze, and use reliable data for the Title V MCH Block Grant to assure data-driven programming; 2) Strengthen access to, and linkage of, key MCH datasets to inform MCH Block Grant programming and policy development, and assure and strengthen information exchange and data interoperability; 3) Enhance the development, integration, and tracking of health equity and social determinants of health (SDoH) metrics to inform Title V programming; 4) Develop and enhance capacity for timely MCH data collection, analysis, reporting, and visualization to inform rapid state program and policy action related to emergencies and emerging issues/threats, such as COVID-19.
