The Sheppard-Towner Act of 1921 was the first major piece of federal legislation passed in the United States to focus on infant and maternal health. Following its implementation, the U.S. infant mortality rate dropped significantly. A central factor leading to passage of the Act was a body of research conducted by the U.S. Children's Bureau. This research—largely conducted by early social workers—included detailed field studies, analyses of national and state trends in child and maternal health, and cross-national comparisons. This article discusses how the research led to the development of the Act, analyzes the relative importance of the research in the legislative debate, and remarks upon the lessons that this history offers for social workers today.
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