Search Results: MCHLine

Annotation: This strategic framework for Montana presents the vision statement and core values and beliefs of the Montana Oral Health Network. Also discussed are strategic directions for the network; goals and objectives; prioritizing and sequencing implementation of strategies; monitoring progress and setbacks; and evaluation. Goals include achieving a cohesive and active oral health network of stakeholders, ensuring that oral health professionals and other health professionals understand and employ innovative and integrated care approaches, ensuring that Montanans understand the importance of oral health and use their knowledge to improve their oral health; and improving the provision of oral health care to those who are underserved.

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Keywords: Access to health care, Health education, Health education, Low income groups, Montana, Oral health, Prevention, Program evaluation, Service integration, State information

Annotation: This chartbook provides information on facilitators of and barriers to integrating oral health into primary care for pregnant women and children in Montana. It provides information on fluoride varnish application; fluoride varnish billing; dental hygienist, therapist, and assistant scopes of practice; teledentistry; community water fluoridation; state strengths related to allowable activities for dental hygienists; and opportunities. [Funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau]

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Keywords: Access to health care, Community health centers, Fluoride, Montana, Oral health, Pregnant women, Primary care, Service integration, State information

Annotation: This report presents the results of the Levels of Care Assessment Tool (LOCATe) implemented in Montana in 2021 to assess maternal and neonatal care capabilities in birthing facilities and support strategies to improve risk-appropriate care. LOCATe aligns with guidelines from the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the American Academy of Pediatricsto match hospital capabilities with patient risk. The report summarizes Montana's LOCATe results, with 96% of birthing facilities participating. Key findings include: 80% of facilities assessed at Level I or II for neonatal care; 68% assessed at Level I or lower for maternal care; facilities had discrepancies between self-reported and assessed levels; 44% lacked maternal transport plans; and protocols existed for maternal emergencies but drills were lacking. The report provides five recommendations to improve risk-appropriate care: 1) Develop perinatal regionalization through stakeholder coordination; 2) Cultivate relationships between facilities through education and learning collaboratives; 3) Establish maternal transport plans and agreements; 4) Enhance care through evidence-based practices and statewide safety bundles; 5) Measure impact through data and review committees.

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Keywords: Gestational age, High risk pregnancy, Montana , Perinatal care, Reproductive health, Risk appropriate care, Rural health, State initiatives, Statistical data

Annotation: This report presents findings from a statewide survey and interviews on patient experiences of maternity care in Montana as part of a broader maternal health system needs assessment. It measures experiences of respectful care and autonomy in decision-making using two patient-informed, valid, and reliable scales - the Mothers on Respect Index and the Mothers Autonomy in Decision Making Scale. While most participants reported high levels of respectful care, about a third experienced low-to-moderate levels. Patients with social risk factors, such as food insecurity, housing instability, and social isolation, reported lower levels of respectful care and autonomy compared to those without these risk factors. The report provides recommendations for healthcare systems, providers, and community organizations to strengthen practices that support respectful, person-centered care. These include using the assessment tools to inform quality improvement, engaging in provider education on bias and shared decision-making, and building patient support networks.

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Keywords: Maternal health, Montana, Needs assessment, Patient care, Rural health, Service delivery systems, State surveys

Annotation: This videorecording documents a multi-state roundtable discussion on telehealth applications for individuals with hearing impairments, drawing participation from 31 states and territories. The presenters—McVicar (Utah), Stone (Massachusetts), Kirschner (Montana), Culpepper (Georgia), and Messersmith (South Dakota)—share diverse perspectives on teleaudiology implementation within Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) programs, including universal newborn screening initiatives. Their presentations highlight both successes and persistent challenges: while telehealth expands access to specialized audiological services, barriers remain including geographic isolation, transportation costs, equipment accessibility, parental hesitation to engage with public health systems, and technical limitations for certain procedures like cochlear implant testing. The interactive format allowed participants to pose questions directly to presenters, and concluded with the sharing of a comprehensive resource website to support ongoing telehealth advancement for hearing-impaired populations across diverse regional contexts.

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Keywords: Telemedicine, Deafness, Developmental screening, Children with special health care needs, Youth with special health care needs, Utah, Massachusetts, Montana, Family support services, Georgia, South Dakota, Staff development

Annotation: This data brief provides information about health care for pregnant women and new mothers in Montana during the period 2017–2019. It explains what the Montana Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) is, discusses the importance of oral health care for this population, and presents fast facts. In addition, it provides statistical information related to teeth cleanings during pregnancy and to PRAMS indicators.

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Keywords: Access to health care, Health care delivery, Infant health, Montana, Oral health, Pregnant women, State information, Statistical data

Annotation: This report presents an analysis of severe maternal morbidity (SMM) among Montana residents who delivered in Montana hospitals from 2016-2018, using hospital discharge data. SMM refers to life-threatening obstetric complications that lead to significant short-term or long-term consequences. The report uses the CDC's ICD-10 based definition to identify SMM cases and rates. Key findings include: an overall SMM rate of 110.5 per 10,000 delivery hospitalizations; blood transfusion as the most common SMM indicator followed by hysterectomy and acute renal failure; and increased risk of SMM associated with Medicaid coverage, younger (<20 years) and older (≥35 years) age, residence in very rural counties, and American Indian/Alaska Native race. In particular, American Indian/Alaska Native individuals had triple the risk of SMM compared to white individuals, and those in the most rural counties had nearly double the risk compared to those in small metropolitan counties. The report discusses the intersecting racial and geographic disparities and provides recommendations to alleviate SMM through focused, culturally-sensitive, rurally-tailored care and prevention efforts in partnership with impacted communities. It also examines SMM in the context of severe hypertension and hemorrhage to inform state maternal safety initiatives.

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Keywords: Data, Maternal morbidity, Montana, Obstetric labor complications, Rural health, State initiatives

Annotation: This report provides an overview of oral diseases and risk factors in Montana. It includes information about the prevalence of tooth decay, tooth loss, and oral cancer in the state. Also discussed are risk and protective factors related to oral disease, the oral health workforce, access to and use of oral health care, community-based dental clinics, and oral-health-related emergency department visits. Recommendations for improving oral health in Montana are included.

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Keywords: Access to health care, Dental caries, Health care utilization, Montana, Oral health, State materials

Annotation: This video recording aims to explore comprehensive telehealth applications in maternal and child healthcare, particularly focusing on four key telehealth modalities and their potential to enhance care delivery. The content examines how various states have implemented telehealth solutions for both provider training and improving behavioral health services for maternal and child populations. Through comparative analysis of traditional care versus telehealth approaches and discussion of adoption factors, the presentation demonstrates practical strategies for state and territorial health agencies to effectively leverage telehealth technology in improving behavioral health outcomes for mothers and children.

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Keywords: Telemedicine, Substance abuse, Maternal health, Infant health, Mental health, Staff development, Case studies, Substance abusing mothers, Montana, Connecticut, New Hampshire, South Carolina,

Annotation: This issue brief highlights the successes, challenges, and lessons learned from the CDC's Learn the Signs. Act Early. (LTSAE) state systems grant program spanning eight years (2011-2019). Administered by the Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs in partnership with the Association of University Centers on Disabilities, the program funded 34 states to strengthen early identification and coordination of services for children with autism spectrum disorder and developmental disabilities. The document outlines three key impact areas: formalizing developmental monitoring as a priority, activating stakeholders and strengthening partnerships, and increasing awareness among caregivers and providers. Through state-specific case studies and survey data from grantees, the brief demonstrates how even modest funding ($10,000-$20,000 per state) led to sustainable system improvements, innovative cross-sector collaborations, and enhanced capacity to monitor development and connect families to early intervention services. The brief also addresses implementation challenges and emphasizes the critical role of relationship-building and family engagement in sustaining these efforts beyond the grant period.

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Keywords: Title V programs, Autism, State CHSCN programs, Grants, Case studies, Nebraska, Mississippi, Virginia, Montana, Oklahoma, California, New Mexico, Massachusetts

Annotation: This Affordable Care Act (ACA) toolkit provides resources related to outreach, eligibility, and enrollment; training tools for navigators, field offices, and other policy workers; and other documents regarding the implementation of the Affordable Care Act in Montana. It is intended primarily for internal use by the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services.

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Keywords: Access to care, Enrollment, Montana, Outreach, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, State initiatives

Annotation: This document describes a statewide initiative to address the physical well-being and language development domains of school readiness by providing oral health education and outreach to young children and their families residing in Montana communities. Topics include results from a community-based survey to assess parents' perceptions, attitudes, and opinions about oral health. Additional topics include how the results are being used, what parents and caregivers can do to ensure good oral health for children, tips on toothbrushing, and a list of Montana resources.

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Keywords: Community based services, Families, Health education, Montana, Oral health, Outreach, School readiness, Statewide planning, Surveys, Young children

Annotation: This report provides information about the Montana ACA [Affordable Care Act] Home Visiting Program. The report provides background on home visiting in the state and discusses the inventory of information and data available for a needs assessment, gaps in available data, state capacity to compile data and anticipated obstacles, barriers to and opportunities for coordination of home visiting needs assessments with other needs assessments, the state approach to conducting a needs assessment, and the anticipated need for technical assistance. A statement of intent is also included.

Keywords: Home visiting, Montana, Needs assessment, Program coordination, State programs, Statistical data, Technical assistance

Annotation: This report provides information about the 2010 Montana maternal and child health (MCH) needs assessment. Topics include the process for conducting the needs assessment, partnership building and collaboration efforts, strengths and needs of the MCH population and desired outcomes, MCH program capacity by pyramid levels, selection of state priority needs, and federal and state outcome measures.

Keywords: Child health, Collaboration, Montana, Needs assessment, Outcome evaluation, State surveys, Women's health

Annotation: This document is designed to help oral health professionals implement recommendations for treating tobacco use and dependence. Topics include perceived barriers to tobacco use treatment; a brief intervention; medications, coding, billing, and reimbursement; patient-education materials; and organizational resources.

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Keywords: Clinical coding, Disease prevention, Intervention, Model programs, Montana, Oral health, Prevention programs, Resources for professionals, State programs, Tobacco use

Annotation: This final report provides information about the Follow the Child project, which integrates foster children in Missoula County, Montana, into existing public health systems for preventive health care, including home visits, and and sets up consultations with foster parents and social workers. Contents include a description of the purpose of the project, goals and objectives, methodology, evaluation, results and outcomes, publications and products, dissemination and utilization of results, future plans and follow-up. [Funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau]

Keywords: Child health, Final reports, Foster care, Foster children, Foster parents, Health care systems, Montana, Prevention, Service Integration

Annotation: These resources, which are designed for health professionals, oral health professionals, and families provide information and training related to oral health during the perinatal period and in early childhood. Topics include Montana's Access to Baby and Child Dentistry program, the goals of which are to establish a dental home and provide preventive services to children at highest risk for oral disease; caries risk assessment; fluoride (fluoridation map, prescription guidelines, water testing, fluoride-varnish application) and perinatal and infant oral health (PowerPoint presentation and clinical guidelines). Training slides and a calendar are included.

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Keywords: Fluorides, Montana, Oral health, Perinatal health, Program descriptions, State programs, Training materials, Young children

Annotation: This report describes the efforts Montana has made to address the rate of children's utilization of oral health services in the state and makes recommendations on actions that the state can take to increase these rates. Contents include background on the evaluation process; the scope of the review; an introduction to the state's oral health services for children; and review descriptions, concerns, and recommendations and responses.

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Keywords: Access to health care, Children, EPSDT, Health care utilization, Montana, Oral health, Oral health care, State surveys

Annotation: This final report summarizes Montana's efforts to improve and stabilize the state oral health system, assess children's oral health needs, and ensure a comprehensive system of oral health care with funding from the State Oral Health Collaborative Systems grant program for the period September 1, 2003, to August 31, 2007. Project accomplishments and challenges pertaining to the Montana dental summits, Oral Health Alliance, and oral health plan are discussed. Additional topics include the Early Head Start and Head Start oral health forum, legislative activities, the School Oral Health Assessment Report of Findings, the Make Your Smile Count screening project, initiating and sustaining a medical and dental collaborative, an oral health media campaign, the Miles for Healthy Smiles program, a school-based fluoride mouthrinse program, Basic Screening Surveys, a survey of dental hygienists and dental assistants, and Give Kids a Smile Day. [Funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau]

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Keywords: Children, Final reports, Montana, Needs assessment, Oral health, Oral health care, Program descriptions, State programs, Systems development

Annotation: This brief examines home visiting as a strategy employed by state health agencies to deliver public health interventions aimed at improving birth outcomes. It provides an overview of home visiting programs; a discussion of goals, target populations, common service components, outcomes, and financing of state level programs; and examples of programs from four states and one territory. Additional topics include benefits and costs and program challenges. Resources and references conclude the brief. [Funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau]

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Keywords: Case studies, Early intervention, Georgia, Home care services, Home visiting, MCH research, Maine, Montana, Oklahoma, Postpartum care, Pregnancy counseling, Pregnancy outcomes, Prenatal care, Public health services, Puerto Rico, State MCH programs