Component A: Core Surveillance Illinois PRAMS Project Summary/Abstract The mission of the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is to protect the health and wellness of the people of Illinois through the prevention, health promotion, regulation, and control of disease and injury. The goal of the IDPH Illinois Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) core surveillance project is to reduce infant morbidity and mortality by improving maternal health through the collection of high-quality data used for research and data-driven program and policy development that promotes systems changes and adoption of healthful behaviors before pregnancy, prenatally, and after delivery. Illinois PRAMS provides the source of statewide epidemiologic surveillance data on the health and experiences of women with recent live births. Illinois PRAMS collects survey data following a standardized protocol that produces information on the behaviors and experiences of women with a recent live birth that is not otherwise available. Illinois PRAMS randomly samples women from vital records birth files and stratifies the sample to be representative of low birthweight births. The specific aims are: • To collect population-based data of high scientific quality on topics relating to pregnancy and early infancy; • To conduct data analyses to increase understanding of maternal behaviors and experiences before and during pregnancy and early infancy and their relationship to health outcomes; • To translate results from analyses into useable information for planning and evaluation of public health programs and policy; and • To build state capacity for collecting, analyzing, and translating data to address relevant maternal and infant health issues. The goal and specific aims of the Illinois PRAMS project help IDPH fulfill its mission. IDPH has been a funded PRAMS site since 1996.