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Strengthen the Evidence for Maternal and Child Health Programs

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Items in this list may be obtained from the sources cited. Contact information reflects the most current data about the source that has been provided to the MCH Digital Library.


Displaying records 1 through 20 (112 total).

Western Pennsylvania Caring Foundation. n.d.. Public/private partnerships: A working model for children's health care. Pittsburgh, PA: Western Pennsylvania Caring Foundation, 1 video (VHS 1/2 inch).

Annotation: This videotape describes the Caring Program for Children and the Children's Health Insurance Program (Blue Cross/Blue Shield's BlueCHIP program) in Pennsylvania. It depicts the health care needs of children living in poverty and children of the uninsured working poor who do not qualify for Medicaid assistance, and explains the unique funding of this collaborative program. Appearances by Fred Rogers of "Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood" and by local medical and government officials underscore the need for this type of program, the reasons for its success, and the ways that public and private resources can join together to help ensure access to primary health care for children. The videotape concludes with a television clip describing the program on NBC's "America Close Up." [Funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau]

Keywords: Access to health care, Audiovisual materials, Child health, Corporate programs, Insurance, Local MCH programs, Medical assistance, Pennsylvania, Primary care, Public private partnerships, Videotapes

Irwin HP, Pellegrini SG, Fei R. n.d.. A study of the process, effectiveness, and costs of the EPSDT program in southeastern Pennsylvania: Interim report. Philadelphia, PA: Philadelphia Health Management Corporation, 126 pp. (Hiscock Collection; no. 105)

Annotation: This interim report covers the first nine months of a two-year study of data collected by the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT) program in southeastern Pennsylvania, dealing primarily with a description of a large secondary data set. It describes the program, eligibles and clients, and providers. Also included are a project abstract, a review of some of the relevant literature on other studies of EPSDT projects, and the research design.

Keywords: EPSDT, Pennsylvania, Reports, State programs

Community Catalyst, Carequest Institute for Oral Health, and Families USA. [2025]. Federal Medicaid cuts threaten state dental benefits: Lessons from 6 states. Boston, MA: Community Catalyst, 3 pp.

Annotation: This brief offers lessons from six states on how federal Medicaid cuts result in reductions in access to oral health care for people with low incomes. Examples are provided about how cuts have restricted access to care, shifted costs from one part of the health care system to others (e.g, hospital emergency departments), and led oral health professionals to leave the Medicaid network. Information is presented on how cuts have affected California, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Oregon, and Pennsylvania.

Keywords: Access to health care, California, Costs, Low income groups, Maryland, Massachusetts, Medicaid, Missouri, Oral health, Oregon, Pennsylvania, State information

Culler C. 2025. School dental services and Medicaid billing in Pennsylvania. Wynnewood, PA: Pennsylvania Coalition for Oral Health, 52 pp.

Annotation: This report presents findings from the Expanding School Dental Services and Medicaid Billing in Pennsylvania project. The project aims to assess the scope of oral health care provided in public schools in the state, identify barriers to implementation and sustainability, support schools in serving as access points for preventive oral health care, and advocate for policy changes that would allow Medicaid reimbursement for oral health care delivered in schools.

Keywords: Access to health care, Medicaid, Oral health, Pennsylvania, Prevention, Public policy, Reimbursement, School health programs, State information

Pennsylvania Department of Health, Division of School Health. 2024. Pennsylvania school health procedures: School dental health program (rev. ed.). Harrisburg, PA: Pennsylvania Department of Health, Division of School Health, 51 pp.

Annotation: These guidelines are intended to help school administrators, dentists, dental hygienists, and nurses implement individual school-based oral health programs that are part of Pennsylvania’s overarching school oral health program. The guidelines provide directions for staffing, documenting, and evaluating programs. Topics include Pennsylvania’s overarching program; school-based oral health programs; the mandated school-based oral health program, which represents the minimum oral health services that students in specified grades must receive; dental hygiene care programs; oral emergencies; fluoride guidelines; and referrals and follow-up.

Keywords: Oral health, Pennsylvania, School age children, School health, State programs

Espinosa S, Gilburg ML, McDonald M . 2024. Postpartum Maternal Health Collaborative Convening. New York, NY: Milbank Memorial Fund, 9 pp.

Annotation: This report summarizes key findings from the U.S. Health and Human Services Department's Postpartum Maternal Health Collaborative Expert Evidence Convening held in April 2024. The document synthesizes insights from four expert panels focused on reducing postpartum mortality, covering mental health and substance use disorder, community and social drivers of health, clinical care, and state-level policy opportunities. The report identifies seven key themes for state policy action, including enabling better care transitions with technology and patient-specific planning, providing resources before screening for social needs, ensuring cross-sector collaboration, incorporating community engagement, supporting quality improvement initiatives, implementing patient-centered care approaches, and investing in data infrastructure. Panel discussions revealed strategies such as implementing non-punitive child welfare policies, reimbursing integrated healthcare and telehealth services, extending postpartum coverage, bundling care incentives, and addressing systems barriers including access limitations, provider competency gaps, and cultural barriers that impact maternal health outcomes.RetryClaude can make mistakes. Please double-check responses.

Keywords: Collaboration, Conference proceedings, Indiana, Maternal health, Mental health, Models, Pennsylvania, Postpartum care, Quality improvement, State initiatives

Pennsylvania Department of Health. 2023. Pennsylvania oral health basic screening survey: 2021-2022 oral health basic screening survey of third-graders. Harrisburg, PA: Pennsylvania Department of Health, 28 pp.

Annotation: This report provides information about the oral health status of children in third grade in Pennsylvania. Information is from the 2021–2022 Oral Health Basic Screening Survey of Third-Graders. Topics include the benefits of oral health, the survey method, screening procedures used for the survey, data, key terms, results, and future directions.

Keywords: Data, Dental caries, Dental sealants, Health screeenings, Oral health, Pennsylvania, Prevention, School health, School-age children, State programs, Surveys, state informaiton

2022. State Harm Reduction Strategies: Improving Outcomes for Reproductive-Aged Women Who Use Substances. [Washington, DC]: Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs; [Washington, DC]: National Association of State and Alcohol Drug Abuse Directors ,

Annotation: This website presents a comprehensive overview of state harm reduction strategies aimed at improving outcomes for reproductive-aged women who use substances, developed as a collaborative project between AMCHP and NASADAD (National Association of State and Alcohol Drug Abuse Directors). The site outlines the critical context of substance use disorders (SUDs) in the United States, noting that women comprise 40% of individuals with SUDs and are most vulnerable during their reproductive years. It explains harm reduction approaches, which include practices like naloxone distribution, SBIRT (Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment), medication-assisted treatment, and syringe services programs. The website addresses COVID-19's impact on harm reduction services and provides an extensive glossary of relevant terms and acronyms. It also includes state-by-state profiles highlighting successful collaborations between state Maternal and Child Health programs and alcohol and drug abuse agencies, with particular attention to evidence-based practices and replicable strategies for future implementation.

Keywords: MCH programs, Title V programs, Mental health, Substance abusing mothers, Substance abusing pregnant women, Substance abuse prevention programs, Alabama, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Iowa, Nevada, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont

Pennsylvania Department of Health, Oral Health Program. 2020. Pennsylvania oral health plan 2020-2030. Harrisburg, PA: Pennsylvania Department of Health, 39 pp.

Annotation: This report is intended to serve as a blueprint for how efforts, resources, and interests can be combined to strengthen Pennsylvania’s capacity to prevent oral diseases and help achieve a lifetime of good oral health and overall health. The plan outlines three main priority areas: access, prevention, and education; workforce; and infrastructure improvement. Background information on oral health in America and in Pennsylvania is also included.

Keywords: Access to health care, Health education, Oral disease, Pennsylvania, Prevention, State planning

Ashburn, M et al. 2019. Opioids in the dental practice (rev.). Harrisburg, PA: Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; in partnership with the Pennsylvania Dental Association, 6 pp. (Prescribing guidelines for Pennsyvania)

Annotation: These guidelines for prescribing opiods in dental practices in Pennsylvania, which update guidelines published in 2014, address the use of opioids for the treatment of oral pain. The guidelines are intended to help oral health professionals improve patient outcomes. Topics include recommendations for treatment of acute, subacute, and post-operative pain and treatment of chronic pain.

Keywords: Chronic pain, Guidelines, Narcotics, Oral health, Pain, Pain relieving drugs, Pennsylvania, State information

Murphy, C., Cohen, S., Lambiaso, B., Chavez, S. . 2018. Early childhood data in action: Stories from the field. Boston, MA: National Institute for Children's Health Quality; Washington, DC: Center for the Study of Social Policy, 37 pp.

Annotation: This document provides case studies on how communities are using their early childhood data to tailor more effective interventions and yield better results. The case studies include: (1) Indianola, MS: organizing the community around the collective goal of having children ready to learn when entering kindergarten; (2) Ventura, CA: improving the quality of early childhood services, focusing on the overall family experience and engaging a consultant to help work with neighborhood partners to achieve data-driven change; and (3) Philadelphia, PA: informing critical public policy decisions by using data to decide which neighborhoods would get new pre-kindergarten slots under a new funding stream.

Keywords: California, Data, Early childhood education, Local programs, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Program improvement, Young children

Boynes S, Davis L, Adams G, Mills M, Deutchman M. 2017. MORE Care: Narrowing the rural interprofessional oral health care gap. Westborough, MA: DentaQuest Institute, 35 pp., exec. summ. (10 pp.)

Annotation: This paper provides information about initiating interprofessional networks that integrate and coordinate person-centered oral health care in rural communities. Topics include oral health as a national issue with rural implications, interprofessional practice and the oral-systemic health connection, creating networks and a learning collaborative, state offices of rural health and medicaloral expanded care initiation, and challenges and opportunities for innovation. Examples from Colorado, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina are included.

Keywords: Collaboration, Colorado, Community based services, Health care delivery, Information systems, Oral health, Oral health care, Pennsylvania, Program coordination, Provider networks, Rural environment, Rural health, Rural population, Service integration, South Carolina, State initiatives, Systems development, Technology, Work force

Martin AB, Probst JC, Jones KM. 2017. Improving rural oral health: Six states’ response to the United States Department of Health and Human Services oral health strategic framework. Columbia, SC: South Carolina Rural Health Research Center, 15 pp. (Findings brief)

Annotation: This brief explores how six states (Colorado, Iowa, New Mexico, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina) have responded to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Oral Health Strategic Framework. For each state, a summary of how the state is improving access to oral health care and advancing oral health interprofessional practice is provided.

Keywords: Access to health care, Colorado, Iowa, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oral health, Pennsylvania, Service Integration, South Carolina, State programs

Chazin S, Mahadevan R. 2014. Care at birth and beyond: Analysis of high-volume Medicaid pediatric and obstetric practices. Hamilton, NJ: Center for Health Care Strategies, 47 pp.

Annotation: This report examines the characteristics, quality of care, and quality improvement activities of Medicaid-contracted pediatric and obstetric practices in the fee-for-service or primary care case management delivery systems in Iowa, Arkansas, and Pennsylvania. Although drawn from the experiences of just three states, the study findings presented in the report suggest opportunities for quality improvement in Medicaid pediatric and obstetric care in states across the country. Measures reported by states and pediatric preventive care scores (compared to national averages) are displayed in exhibit tables, and key data findings from individual states are presented as spotlights.

Keywords: Arkansas, Case management, Comparative analysis, Iowa, Measure, Medicaid, Obstetrical care, Pediatrics, Pennsylvania, Program improvement, Quality assurance, Service delivery systems, State initiatives, data

Simons D, Hendricks T, Lipper J, Pires SA. 2014. Intensive care coordination using high-quality wraparound for children with serious behavioral health needs: State and community profiles. Hamilton, NJ: Center for Health Care Strategies, 61 pp.

Annotation: This document profiles the various ways that U.S. states and communities are structuring, implementing, and evaluating intensive care coordination (ICC) using the wraparound approach for children and youth with significant mental health conditions. The document defines wraparound as a structured approach to service planning and care coordination for individuals with complex needs that is built on a system of care and adheres to specified procedures. Contents include the evidence base for wraparound and information on established, evolving, and emerging ICC/wraparound programs.

Keywords: Children, Colorado, Community programs, Coordination planning, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mental health, Michigan, Nebraska, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Patient care, Pennsylvania, Program coordination, Rhode Island, Service coordination, State programs, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Youth

Foster L. 2014. How are CHIPRA quality demonstration states testing the Children's Electronic Health Record Format?. Rockville, MD: U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 7 pp. (National evaluation of the CHIPRA Quality Demonstration Grant Program: Evaluation highlight no. 10)

Annotation: This document is the 10th in a series that presents findings from the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 (CHIPRA) Quality Demonstration Grant Program. It focuses on the roles of two states -- North Carolina and Pennsylvania --to test the Children's Electronic Health Record (EHR) Format (the Format) to improve the quality of health care for children enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP. Contents include key messages, background, findings, conclusion, and implications. Topics include how well the Format's requirements support the provision of primary care to children and how readily the requirements can be incorporated into existing EHRs.

Keywords: Children, Children's Health Insurance Program, Demonstration programs, Medicaid, Medical records, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Program improvement, Quality assurance, State programs

National Institute for Health Care Management Foundation. 2013. Preventing bullying in schools through partnerships (upd. ed.). Washington, DC: National Institute for Health Care Management Foundation, 2 pp. (Promising practices: Women, children, and adolescents)

Matone M, Curtis C, Chesnokova A, Yun K, Kreider A, Curtis M, Rubin D. 2013. Evaluation of maternal and child home visitation programs: Lessons from Pennsylvania. Philadelphia, PA: PolicyLab, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 15 pp. (Evidence to action)

Annotation: This policy brief highlights key concepts to guide state and local maternal and child home visitation program administrators as they make decisions about ongoing or planned program evaluation, as well as strategies for addressing some of the challenges tied to real-world program evaluation. Topics include an overview of public health program evaluation, a short description of what was learned from PolicyLab's evaluation of the Pennsylvania Nurse-Family Partnership program, and a discussion of how the findings can be meaningful for the broader home-visitation community. Contents include data sources for quasi-experimental evaluation.

Keywords: Case studies, Child health, Evaluation methods, Home visiting, Maternal health, Pennsylvania, Program evaluation

Ferry GA, Ireys HT, Foster L, Devers KJ, Smith L. 2013. How are CHIPRA demonstration states approaching practice-level quality measurement and what are they learning?. Rockville, MD: U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 6 pp. (National evaluation of the CHIPRA Quality Demonstration Grant Program: Evaluation highlight no. 1)

Annotation: This report discusses early accomplishments, challenges, and lessons learned from four states (Maine, Massachusetts, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania) that are pursuing practice-level quality measurements aimed at improving child health care under the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 (CHIPRA) Quality Demonstration Grant Program. The report describes the states’ efforts to select meaningful measures, adapt health plan and state-level measures for practice-level reporting, and use technology to collect measurement data.

Keywords: Children's Health Insurance Program, Data collection, Demonstration programs, Maine, Massachusetts, Measures, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Program evaluation, Quality assurance, State programs

Schultz D, Reynolds KA, Sontag-Padilla LM, Lovejoy SL, Firth R, Pincus HA. 2013. Transforming systems for parental depression and early childhood developmental delays: Findings and lessons learned from the Helping Families Raise Healthy Children Initiative. [Santa Monica, CA]: Rand Corporation, 166 pp.

Annotation: This report describes the results of an evaluation of the Helping Families Raise Healthy Children Initiative of the Allegheny County Medical and Child Health Care Collaborative, an initiative to implement improvements to the local system of maternal and child health care. Report contents include an introduction to the initiative and its focus on maternal depression in low-income populations, system challenges, and a review of the need for a cross-system response in Allegheny County. Additional chapters discuss the methods for studying the initiative's framework, implementation, strategies, and evaluation; results and assessments on services, systems, and individuals; a discussion of lessons learned and limitations; as well as conclusions, recommendations, and next steps. Appendices include assessments, tools, outcome measure linkages, and reference studies.

Keywords: Case studies, Families, Family child relations, Health services delivery, Maternal mental health, Pennsylvania, Postpartum depression, Program evaluation, Screening

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The MCH Library is one of six special collections at Georgetown University, the nation's oldest Jesuit institution of higher education. The library is supported through foundation, private, university, state, and federal funding. This information or content and conclusions are those of the authors and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by Georgetown University or the U.S. Government. Note: web pages whose development was supported by federal government grants are being reviewed to comply with applicable Executive Orders.