Search Results: MCHLine

Annotation: This online resource from the American Academy of Pediatrics for state Title V programs and their partners describes strategies to improve systems of services for children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN) and their families. It presents vignettes from Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Louisiana, Rhode Island, Utah, and Wyoming that highlight peer-to-peer learning and cross-sector partnerships. Featured activities include engaging families and young adults with lived experience, developing electronic referral systems, and integrating national standards for systems of care into needs assessment processes. The resource also discusses provider toolkits for developmental screening, Medicaid payment incentives for health care transition services, and the use of telehealth for care coordination in rural and frontier areas.

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Keywords: Arizona, Child health, Children with special health care needs, Colorado, Developmental screening, Intersectoral collaboration, Iowa, Louisiana, Partnerships, Program coordination, Rhode Island, State initiatives, Title V programs, Utah Wyoming, Youth, Youth in transition programs

Annotation: These case studies provide information about the processes that five states underwent to strengthen their Medicaid dental benefits for adults—from emergency-only to comprehensive benefits. The states are Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Utah, and Virginia. The case studies discuss each state’s challenges, strategies, and successes. And each case study includes lessons to strengthen access to oral health care for families with low incomes, people with disabilities, and residents of rural communities.

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Keywords: Health insurance, Kansas, Low income groups, Maine, Maryland, Medicaid, Oral health, Rural population, Special health care needs, State programs, Utah, Virginia

Annotation: This report provides an evaluation of the Utah Oral Health Program, Adolescent Oral Health Campaign for 2022–2023. Goals of the campaign were to increase adolescents' use of the oral health care system; increase the proportion of adolescents from families with low incomes who had a preventive dental visit; reduce the proportion of adolescents with active, untreated tooth decay; and reduce adolescents' use of smokeless tobacco products. The report provides an overview of the program and describes evaluation methods, presents key findings and outcomes, presents post-test questions measuring adolescents' intent and post-test qualitative questions, and discusses evaluation limitations.

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Keywords: Adolescent health, Dental caries, Health care utilization, Low income groups, Oral health, Prevention, Program evaluation, Smokeless tobacco, State programs, Utah

Annotation: This recorded webinar from August 16, 2022, features AMCHP's Equity, Epidemiology, and Evaluation team providing a comprehensive framework for implementing evidence-based changes in telehealth programs with an explicit focus on equity throughout the evaluation process. The presentation systematically explores the CDC Evaluation Framework and Standards—covering utility, feasibility, propriety, and accuracy standards—while incorporating concrete examples through a detailed Utah case study that demonstrates practical application of these principles. The content balances theoretical foundations with actionable implementation strategies, integrating quality improvement methodologies to help participants learn both how to design evaluations that center equity and how to effectively translate evaluation findings into meaningful program changes. The session concludes with an extensive question and answer period that addresses specific challenges faced by participants in applying equity-centered evaluation approaches to their telehealth initiatives.

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Keywords: Epidemiology, Telemedicine, Race, Program evaluation, Communication, Quality assurance, Utah

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 March 24, 2022 recording features presentations from Dr. Karl White, Director of the National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management (NCHAM), and Dr. Jessica Messersmith, Professor of Communicative Sciences and Disorders at the University of South Dakota, examining post-COVID advancements in tele-audiology technology and implementation. White and colleague Hoffman outline NCHAM's comprehensive tele-audiology support systems, including planning tools, training programs, and technical assistance provided via Zoom, while Messersmith details specialized applications for pediatric diagnosis utilizing a hub-and-spoke service model where central facilities with specialized expertise support satellite locations staffed by technicians. The presentation covers practical considerations for site selection and setup, including necessary equipment and software specifications, while frankly addressing rural healthcare barriers in South Dakota such as poverty, geographic isolation, and workforce shortages of qualified audiologists. The recording concludes by highlighting available training resources for healthcare providers seeking to establish or expand tele-audiology services in underserved communities.

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Keywords: Telemedicine, Deafness, Developmental screening, Children with special health care needs, Youth with special health care needs, Infant health, Infants with special health care needs, South Dakota, Utah

Annotation: [This issue of the Commonwealth Fund's "Transforming Care" focuses on regional partnerships that aim to bolster access to maternity care in rural communities. Included are descriptions of regional model programs aimed at expanding the maternity workforce in rural areas, ramping up maternity telemedicine programs; and creating perinatal collaboratives and provider networks.

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Keywords: Arkansas, Maternal health, Maternal health care, Missouri, Model programs, New Mexico, Rural health, Utah

Annotation: This report from AMCHP discusses how Title V Maternal and Child Health (MCH) programs can develop diverse partnerships to improve health outcomes and address social determinants of health. It presents several case studies demonstrating successful collaboration strategies, including: Arkansas's partnership with African American fraternities (Brothers United) to promote safe sleep practices and reduce infant mortality disparities; Utah's adaptation of the national MotherToBaby program to provide pregnancy and breastfeeding information in rural areas; Mississippi's collaboration with faith-based organizations to provide dental services through a mobile unit; and South Dakota's Park Prescription initiative that partners with healthcare providers to promote physical activity in state parks. Each case study illustrates different partnership strategies: intentional collaboration with community partners, leveraging national initiatives for local impact, integrating programming within faith-based communities, and aligning efforts across government and health systems to address health disparities and improve access to care for underserved populations.

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Keywords: Title V programs, Federal MCH programs, Block grants, Case studies, Infant mortality, Race, Collaboration, Community based programs, Mississippi, South Dakota, Arkansas, Utah

Annotation: This webinar highlights two innovative telehealth programs developed to address mental health and substance use disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic. The first presentation by Dr. Rachel Whitman describes Rhode Island's 24/7 buprenorphine hotline, which provides telephone-based treatment for opioid use disorder without requiring video capability, making it accessible to vulnerable populations with limited technology access. The second presentation by Dr. Gwen Latendresse showcases Utah's project to implement universal electronic screening for perinatal depression in rural public health districts and provide telehealth group therapy sessions for women with mild to moderate symptoms. Both speakers emphasize how the pandemic accelerated telehealth adoption while simultaneously creating greater barriers to care access. They address equity concerns, highlighting the importance of audio-only options to reach marginalized populations, and discuss program outcomes, future goals, and lessons learned about expanding telehealth for behavioral health treatment.

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Keywords: Rhode Island, Utah, Telemedicine, Pregnant women, Postpartum women, Mental health, Substance abuse, Covid-19 (suggested keyword), Case studies, Infant health, Washington, New Mexico, Iowa, Arkansas, South Carolina, Northern Mariana Islands, Native Americans

Annotation: This annual statistical summary provides information on the health, education, safety, and economic security of children in Utah. The introduction includes general demographic information about the state and presents a long-range view of what factors contribute to a family's well-being. Analytical essays are included for each category of data reviewed and the statistics are presented in tables by county with state totals. This publication continues "Key Facts," which was published between 1990 and 1994.

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Keywords: Adolescents, Child safety, Children, Data, Demographics, Education, Family economics, Health status, Socioeconomic factors, Utah

Annotation: This report presents findings from a statewide oral health screening of 2,000 students in first through fourth grades in 47 elementary schools to measure the extent of untreated tooth decay, caries experience, prevalence of dental sealants, and need for oral health care. Additional topics include dental insurance coverage, time since last dental visit, unmet needs, and disparities in care. The report also contains a comparison of Utah’s oral health status with national goals, the study methodology, information about access to care by race and ethnicity, program resources, a list of participating schools, and the parent questionnaire.

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Keywords: Access to health care, Comparative analysis, Dental caries, Dental insurance, Disparities in health care, Health status, Oral health, Prevalence, School age children, State surveys, Utah

Annotation: This collaborative webinar between the Children's Safety Network and the HRSA Traumatic Brain Injury Technical Assistance Center (TBI TAC) provides an overview of the burden of TBI among young children ages, 0-4, the work of the HRSA Traumatic Brain Injury Program, and efforts to mitigate the impact of TBI on this population. It discusses the Utah Medical Home Portal, highlights from the state's training on TBI in 0-4 year olds, and research in the area.

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Keywords: Brain damage, Brain injuries, Child safety, Children with special health care needs, Data, Infants, Injury prevention, Trauma, Utah, Young children

Annotation: These proceedings document a national policy summit held on June 13-14, 2012, in Richmond, Virginia, to convene leaders involved in identifying and supporting youth with traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the juvenile justice system. The purpose of the summit was to share information, resources, and effective screening and intervention strategies to improve TBI services within states and move toward achieving a consistent national approach to screening and intervention. Contents include a participant list; background information about brain injury; the summit agenda; state project overviews including current status and identification and screening procedures; information from small group discussions on evaluation and screening, education and outreach, and treatment and intervention; and information from peer group discussions on policy implications. Recommendations for policy and future study are included. [Funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau]

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Keywords: Adolescents, Head injuries, Minnesota, National initiatives, Nebraska, Program improvement, Public development, Screening, Service coordination, State programs, Texas, Utah, Virginia

Annotation: This issue brief provides recommendations for planning, developing, implementing, and evaluating comprehensive critical congenital heart disease (CCHD) programs. The brief highlights efforts in Indiana, Michigan, New Jersey, and Utah to establish collaboration between programs, particularly newborn screening and birth defects programs, to effectively implement CCHD screening and follow-up. Topics include key elements of the state approaches, data considerations, and program challenges and successes. The role of the Title V MCH Services Block Grant is discussed.

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Keywords: Barriers, Collaboration, Congenital abnormalities, Congenital heart defects, Indiana, Michigan, Neonatal screening, New Jersey, State programs, Title V programs, Utah

Annotation: This report provides a baseline comparison of coverage and costs to consumers in separate Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) plans and benchmark plans in select states; describes how coverage and costs might change in 2014; and describes how access to care by CHIP children compares to other children nationwide. Examples are provided from five states: Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, New York, and Utah.

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Keywords: Access to health care, Children, Children's Health Insurance Program, Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, New York, Utah, Case studies, Families, Health care financing, State programs

Annotation: This report describes a 2006-2011 project in Utah to engage Spanish-speaking families with children with special health care needs in family advocacy and support groups to provide families with the knowledge and skills to obtain appropriate health care for their children. Report contents include a description of the program, goals and objectives, methodology, results and outcomes, a list of publications and products developed during the project, a summary of the dissemination and utilization of results, and a brief section on program sustainability. The program annotation and abstract conclude the report. [Funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau]

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Keywords: Children with special health care needs, Final reports, Health care utilization, Hispanic Americans, State programs, Utah

Annotation: This report presents the findings from a diagnostic assessment of the enrollment and retention systems of eight states that participate in the Robert Wood Johnson Foundations Maximizing Enrollment for Kids Program, a national program aimed to help states increase enrollment and retention of eligible children in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program and to promote promising practices among states. The eight states are Alabama, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New York, Utah, Virginia, and Wisconsin. The paper is organized by the four main areas of states' work and presents strengths, challenges, and opportunities in each area: (1) process improvement and paperwork reduction; (2) data analysis and integration; (3) leadership and agency capacity, coordination, and culture; and (4) consumer, community partner, and stakeholder engagement.

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Keywords: Alabama, Child health, Children's Health Insurance Program, Eligibility, Enrollment, Illinois, Louisiana, Low income groups, Massachusetts, Medicaid, New York, Retention, State programs, Uninsured persons, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin

Annotation: This analysis examines patterns of oral-heath-care seeking in emergency departments (EDs). The authors look at ED claims data in seven states—Arizona, Florida, Iowa, Maryland, Utah, Vermont, and Wisconsin—to understand between- and within-state differences in ED use. Topics include state differences in the types of oral conditions that lead individuals to seek care in EDs, differences in rural vs. urban areas, and differences in patterns of oral-health-care seeking in EDs associated with state Medicaid policy.

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Keywords: Wisconsin, Access to health care, Arizona, Children, Data, Emergency room data, Florida, Health services delivery, Hospital emergency services, Iowa, Maryland, Oral health, State surveys, Utah, Vermont

Annotation: This report investigates how Action for Healthy Kids teams are working to help diverse communities communicate with one another and appreciate cultural differences for the ultimate purpose of helping schools help students in the areas of nutrition and physical fitness. The report profiles the progress of Action for Healthy Kids teams in Utah, New York and New Jersey, South Carolina, and Idaho.

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Keywords: Academic achievement, Blacks, Child health, Community programs, Cultural sensitivity, Families, Hispanic Americans, Idaho:, Low income groups, New Jersey, New York, Nutrition, Obesity, Physical activity, Poverty, Prevention, Rural population, Schools, South Carolina, Utah

Annotation: This report examines five states' experiences related to the delivery of services that support young children's social and emotional development. These five states (California, Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, and Utah) participated in the second Assuring Better Child Health and Development Consortium, which provided the states with an opportunity to develop and test strategies for improving the delivery of developmental services to young children at risk for or with social or emotional developmental delays, especially those in need of preventive or early intervention services. The report examines the states' experiences from three perspectives: (1) by the numbers (i.e., measuring system performance), (2) by objective, and (3) by a summary of lessons learned. An executive summary and a conclusion are included. The report includes two appendices: profiles of state projects and a summary of selected evaluation results by state. Statistical information is presented in tables and figures. Endnotes are included, as well.

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Keywords: California, Early childhood development, Early intervention, Emotional development, Health services delivery, High risk children, Illinois, Iowa, Mental health, Minnesota, Prevention, Social skills, State programs, Utah, Young children