Issue brief highlights the importance of Maine’s Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) and identifies policy recommendations in the face of federal staffing and funding cuts.
AUGUSTA, MAINE – The Maine Permanent Commission on the Status of Women (MePCSW) released an issue brief about a key source of maternal and child health data in Maine – the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS). The future of PRAMS is uncertain with federal staffing and funding cuts threatening to disrupt a survey that has been administered in Maine since 1987.
The issue brief, “Keep Maine Families Healthy by Supporting Continued Access to Data about Maternal and Child Health,” describes how PRAMS data is used in Maine to drive policy changes, assess programs, inform the public, and investigate issues facing families across the state. For example, PRAMS data have been used to assess progress towards the Maine CDC’s Maternal Child Health Program’s Title V goals, including increasing safe sleep practices. In 2017, Maine had the highest rate of infant deaths in New England and sleep-related deaths, which are largely preventable, were the third leading cause of infant deaths. Since Maine’s Safe Sleep Campaign in 2019, PRAMS shows more Maine birthing parents are reporting safe sleep practices.
MePCSW – an independent, government-appointed commission housed at the Department of the Secretary of State – relies on publicly available data sets like PRAMS when communicating with lawmakers about the life outcomes of Maine women and girls.
“The Maine Permanent Commission on the Status of Women is an important resource for lawmakers and the public about the emerging issues facing Maine women and families,” said Secretary of State Shenna Bellows. “As the federal government destroys longstanding practices of collecting and publishing important data and statistics, it’s more important than ever that states step up to protect public access to vital information.”
Recommendations at the end of the issue brief offer action steps for policy makers who want to continue the important work of PRAMS in Maine. These recommendations include appropriating funds to cover the PRAMS program in the event federal funding is not renewed.
“PRAMS is a vital source of knowledge about maternal and child health that helps to inform and assess other programs and health services across the state,” said Elinor Higgins, executive director for the MePCSW. “The Maine Permanent Commission on the Status of Women invites policy makers to learn more about PRAMS, to sustain the PRAMS program, and to continue improving our systems so they better serve all Maine residents.”
The MePCSW is comprised on 19 commission members representing a variety of fields, backgrounds, and state geographies. Per statute, nine commission members are appointed by the Governor, five by the President of the Senate and five by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
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