CityMatCH offers this summary of current MCH resource material related to topics highlighted in the Winter 2005 - Spring 2006 Edition of CityLights, "Seeing It Through." Documents can be obtained by contacting the source directly or visiting identified websites. This summary is not intended to be exhaustive but rather to supplement to the learning opportunities within CityLights, and to spark further knowledge.

I. Infant Mortality

A. Selected Organizations

1. The National March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation (MOD)

The mission of the March of Dimes is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality. We carry out this mission through research, community services, education and advocacy to save babies' lives. March of Dimes researchers, volunteers, educators, outreach workers and advocates work together to give all babies a fighting chance against the threats to their health: prematurity, birth defects, low birthweight.  http://www.marchofdimes.com/

2. The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG)

ACOG is a private, voluntary, nonprofit membership organization with over 49,000 members, ACOG works primarily in four areas: serving as a strong advocate for quality health care for women; maintaining the highest standards of clinical practice and continuing education for its members; promoting patient education and stimulating patient understanding of and involvement in medical care; and increasing awareness among its members and the public of the changing issues facing women's health care. http://www.acog.org/

3. The National Fetal and Infant Mortality Review (NFIMR)

NFIMR is a resource center within ACOG that provides information and advice about implementing the fetal and infant mortality review process. Information is available on a wide variety of topics and issues pertinent to the review process. Topics include confidentiality, liability, data collection, home interview techniques, coalition building, taking recommendations to action, coordinating with other local mortality reviews and using local FIMR information for regional/state assessment and planning. Referrals to technical consultants are available.  www.acog.org/goto/nfimr

4. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

CDC addresses Infant Mortality through research and initiatives. http://www.cdc.gov/   The Division of Reproductive Health: Infant Health is primary source of information on infant health,prevention of infant mortality, SIDS and SUID. http://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/MaternalInfantHealth/InfantHealth.htm

5. National Healthy Start Association (NHSA)

The National Healthy Start Association was formally established in the spring of 1998 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization for the purpose of promoting community-based maternal and child health and the reduction of infant mortality, low birthweight and racial disparities in perinatal outcomes.  http://www.healthystartassoc.org/

B. Highlights from the Literature

1. Eliminate Disparities in Infant Mortality (Fact Sheet from CDC)

Includes the following sections as an introduction: What is the Burden of Infant Mortality; Examples of Important Disparities; What is the Goal; Promising Strategies; What can Healthcare Providers do to Help Reduce Infant Mortality Rates; and, What can Communities and Individuals do to Help Reduce Infant Mortality Rates?  http://www.cdc.gov/omh/AMH/factsheets/infant.htm

2. Fact Sheet: Preventing Infant Mortality http://www.hhs.gov/news/factsheet/infant.html

C. Other Related Websites

1. Knowledge Path on Infant Mortality from the MCH Library

Infant Mortality is a knowledge path topical area located at http://www.mchlibrary.info/KnowledgePaths/kp_infmort.html
The MCH Library of the National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health at Georgetown University is a virtual guide to MCH information. The Library offers a combination of MCH information compiled by library staff and pathways to the best MCH information available on other Web sites, from organizations, and in libraries. The online "Knowledge Path" on maternal and child health-related topics contain selections of recent, high quality resources and tools for staying abreast of new developments and conducting further research. Components of a knowledge path include links to Web sites, electronic publications, databases, and discussion groups, and citations for journal articles and other print resources. http://www.mchlibrary.info/KnowledgePaths/

D. Selected Data

1. March of Dimes Peristats:

Developed by the March of Dimes Perinatal Data Center, the PeriStats website provides free access to US, state, county, and city maternal & infant health data. March of Dimes plans to include the recent CityMatCH-sponsored PPOR Data found in the recent CityLights on its Peristats website.  http://www.marchofdimes.com/peristats/

2. Health, United States, 2005 (with Chartbook on Trends in the Health of Americans)

Health, United States is an annual report on trends in health statistics. Produced by the National Center for Health Statistics at CDC, the 2005 report consists of two main sections: A chartbook containing text and figures that illustrates major trends in the health of Americans; and a trend tables section that contains 156 detailed data tables. The two main components are supplemented by an executive summary, a highlights section, an extensive appendix and reference section, and an index. Available online at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/hus.htm

3. CDC Maternal Health Data:

 

4. CDC Infant Health Data

5. HRSA Geospacial Data Warehouse Infant Mortality Suppression Table

http://datawarehouse.hrsa.gov/IMSuppressionTable.htm

6. Child Trends Data Bank     

Infant, Child, and Teen Mortality Data http://www.childtrendsdatabank.org/indicators/63ChildMortality.cfm

II. Medicaid

A. Selected Organizations

1. Medicaid "Home Page"

This index page links you to information on the Medicaid program. Each link represents a topic. Topic links are grouped by category. Each topic contains from 1 to 20 pages of information. The first page of each topic starts with an Overview. At the bottom of every page, downloads and lists of related links offer you more information.  http://www.cms.hhs.gov/home/medicaid.asp

2. The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

The Foundation provides the following summary: "The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation is a non-profit, private operating foundation focusing on the major health care issues facing the nation. The Foundation is an independent voice and source of facts and analysis for policymakers, the media, the health care community, and the general public.

KFF develops and runs its own research and communications programs, often in partnership with outside organizations. The Foundation contracts with a wide range of outside individuals and organizations through its programs. Through policy research and communications programs, the Foundation works to provide reliable information in a health system in which the issues are increasingly complex and the nation faces difficult challenges and choices. The Foundation is not associated with Kaiser Permanente or Kaiser Industries." http://www.kff.org/

-- Within this website, readers may find the following webs:

  • Medicaid Policy Changes in the Federal Budget Reconciliation Law: The Foundation's Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured has collected resources related to the Medicaid policy changes in the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 signed into law in February. http://www.kff.org/medicaid/reconciliation.cfm
  • The Medicaid Resource Book: This reference book describes four pivotal aspects of how the Medicaid program operates -- who it covers, what it covers, how it is financed, and how it is administered. It was written to assist the public and policymakers in understanding the structure and operation of the Medicaid program.

    • http://www.kff.org/medicaid/2236-index.cfm

    2. Childrens’ Defense Fund (CDF)

    The mission of CDF is to Leave No Child Behind and to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start, and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities.

    CDF provides a voice for the children of America and focuses on the needs of poor and minority children and those with disabilities. CDF's research, public education campaigns, budget and policy advocacy, and coalition building have contributed to millions of children gaining immunizations; health care; child care; Head Start; a right to education; adoptions; a chance to escape poverty; and protections in our child welfare, mental health, and juvenile justice systems. CDF is a private, nonprofit organization supported by foundation and corporate grants and individual donations. http://www.childrensdefense.org/

    B. Highlights from the Literature

    1. Deficit Reduction Act of 2005: Implications for Medicaid

    http://www.aucd.org/medicaid/docs/kaiser_medicaid_uninsured.pdf

    2. Report from Family Voices: "Changes to Medicaid: The Deficit Reduction Act (DRA)"

    http://www.familyvoices.org/Policy/DRA.pdf

    3. Report from the Center for Children and Poverty: "The Deficit Reduction Act: "A Review of Key Medicaid Provisions Affecting Children and Families"

    http://jonesd.ihcrp.georgetown.edu/%7ejonesd3/reconbrief013006.pdf

    C. Related Websites

    1. National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health (NCEMCH) Knowledge Path: Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) Services, July 2003

    The Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) program provides comprehensive health services for infants, children, and adolescents enrolled in Medicaid.

    http://www.mchlibrary.info/KnowledgePaths/kp_EPSDT.html

    III. Preconception Health

    A. Selected Organizations
    1. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD) NCBDDD promotes the health of babies, children, and adults, and enhance the potential for full, productive living. Their work includes identifying the causes of birth defects, For more information, visit the website at http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/
    B. Highlights from the Literature

    1. CDC Releases "Recommendations to Improve Preconception Health and Health Care --- United States"

    The Recommendations for Preconception Health and Health Care were published on April 21, 2006, with a website to disseminate the recommendations and other relevant material launched at the same time. To access and download the recommendations, visit the MMWR website http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/ - go to Recommendations and Reports on the left side panel of the website. Or go directly to the report at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5506a1.htm

    This report provides recommendations to improve both preconception health and care. The goal of these recommendations is to improve the health of women and couples, before conception of a first or subsequent pregnancy. Since the early 1990s, guidelines have recommended preconception care, and reviews of previous studies have assessed the evidence for interventions and documented the evidence for specific interventions.

    CDC has developed these recommendations based on a review of published research and the opinions of specialists from the CDC/ATSDR Preconception Care Work Group and the Select Panel on Preconception Care. The 10 recommendations in this report are based on preconception health care for the U.S. population and are aimed at achieving four goals to 1) improve the knowledge and attitudes and behaviors of men and women related to preconception health; 2) assure that all women of childbearing age in the United States receive preconception care services (i.e., evidence-based risk screening, health promotion, and interventions) that will enable them to enter pregnancy in optimal health; 3) reduce risks indicated by a previous adverse pregnancy outcome through interventions during the interconception period, which can prevent or minimize health problems for a mother and her future children; and 4) reduce the disparities in adverse pregnancy outcomes.

    On the website, located at www.cdc.gov/ncbddd  you will find related materials including:

  • At-A-Glance
  • The CDC Press release
  • Questions and answers for providers and for the public
  • Table of contents of the Journal supplement
  • Key messages
  • Summary of the recommendations
  • The Summit book and a user-friendly summit agenda and abstracts
  • Select panel agenda and members

    • Use the link below to locate slide presentations from the summit currently found on the March of Dimes website and to find other information about preconception care: http://www.marchofdimes.com/pnhec/173.asp

    2. March of Dimes Offers Free Online Preconception Curriculum

    The March of Dimes preconception curriculum is designed for physicians who provide health care to women who can become pregnant. http://www.marchofdimes.com/professionals/14429_1483.asp

    For more information about the curriculum, contact:
    Office of the Medical Director
    March of Dimes
    1275 Mamaroneck Avenue
    White Plains, NY 10605
    Phone: (914) 997-4649
    e-mail: medicaldirector@marchofdimes.com

    3. ASTHO: Preconception Care Fact Sheet

    A Preconception Care Fact Sheet addresses the need to promote women's health before conception and presents the many opportunities that exist for states to improve women's and children's overall health. The fact sheet, produced by the Association of State and Territorial Health Officers with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, provides examples of preconception interventions and strategies states may consider to reduce infant and maternal mortalityand morbidity and improve women's overall health. A list of resources is also provided. The fact sheet is available at http://www.astho.org/pubs/FactSheet-PreconceptionCare-FINAL.pdf  (Source: NFIMR Listserv March 8 2006)

    C. Additional Related Websites:  

    1. American Academy of Family Physicians --
    2002 Comprehensive preconception health care checklist

    http://www.aafp.org/afp/20020615/2507.html

    2. Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs (AMCHP) --
    Women’s and Perinatal Health

    http://www.amchp.org/policy/women-CDCpreconrecom.htm

    3. National Association of City and County Health Officials (NACCHO) –

    Local Health Departments and Preconception Care
    http://www.naccho.org/topics/hpdp/birthdefects/PCC.cfm

    4. National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health (NCEMCH) Knowledge Path: Preconception and Pregnancy

    http://www.mchlibrary.info/KnowledgePaths/kp_pregnancy.html

    IV. SIDS/SUID

    A. Selected Organizations

    1. The National Sudden and Unexpected Infant/Child Death and Pregnancy Loss Resource Center

    The National Sudden and Unexpected Infant/Child Death and Pregnancy Loss Resource Center provides information services and technical assistance on sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and related topics. National Sudden and Unexpected Infant/Child Death and Pregnancy Loss Resource Center is supported by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Through information-sharing strategies, the National Sudden and Unexpected Infant/Child Death and Pregnancy Loss Resource Center promotes understanding of SIDS and provide comfort to those affected. Collaborations with the National SIDS & Infant Death Program Support Center, the National Center for Cultural Competence and the National SIDS & Infant Death Project IMPACT enable all these programs to provide educational materials, resources, technical assistance, publications, services for bereavement support and risk reduction, as well as helping to improve services to underserved populations.

    Contact: National Sudden and Unexpected Infant/Child Death and Pregnancy Loss Resource Center
    Georgetown University
    2115 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Suite 601
    Washington, DC 20007
    202-687-7466
    866-866-7437 (toll free)
    sids@circlesolutions.com (e-mail)
    www.sidscenter.org (Web site)

    2. CJ Foundation for SIDS

    The CJ Foundation for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is a nationwide voluntary health organization dedicated to recognizing the special needs of the SIDS community through funding SIDS research and support services. The Foundation hopes to increase public awareness of SIDS and to contribute to a future in which no parent is faced with the tragedy of losing a loved one to SIDS. www.cjsids.com/

    3. Healthy Child Care America

    The goals of this program which is supported by HRSA’s Maternal and Child Health Bureau and the Child Care Bureau, are to:

    • Educate child care providers about evidence-based health and safety practices.
    • Strengthen partnerships between health professionals and early childhood professionals.
    • Support the healthy development and school readiness of children in child care.
    • Educate pediatricians and child health professionals about their role in promoting quality early education and child care.  http://www.healthychildcare.org/

    4. First Candle:

    First Candle/SIDS Alliance is designed to provide help to parents and caregivers, whether one is seeking information on ways to help their baby survive and thrive or has experienced the death of an infant to SUID, SIDS, Stillbirth or other causes of infant death, this website is billed as "your gateway to support." For more information or to access grief counselors 24 hours a day, seven days a week, call (800) 221-7437.  http://www.sidsalliance.org/

    B. Highlights from the Literature

    1. The Changing Concept of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome:Diagnostic Coding Shifts, Controversies Regarding the Sleeping Environment, and New Variables to Consider in Reducing Risk -- Task Force on Sudden Infant Death Syndrome 116 (5): 1245 -- AAP Policy

    Press release on the policy statement released by the American Academy of Pedatrics late in 2005. http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/pediatrics;116/5/1245%20

    2. SIDS: Inportant Information for Parents (Fact Sheets)

    This fact sheet alerts parents and caregivers to the Academy's recommendation that most healthy infants should be placed on their backs to sleep:

    http://www.aap.org/bst/showdetl.cfm?&DID=15&Product_ID=1854

    3. Safe Sleep for your Baby Around the Clock: Birth to 12 Months

    http://dev.circlesolutions.com/sids/Downloads/S07.pdf

    4. American Academy of Pediatrics News Release on Changes to SIDS

    AAP news release: "The Changing Concept of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome: Diagnostic Coding Shifts, Controversies Regarding the Sleep Environment, and New Variables to Consider in Reducing Risk" given Monday, October 10, 2005. http://www.aap.org/ncepr/sids.htm

    5. AAP Revised SIDS Risk Reduction Recommendations

    Despite major decreases in the incidence of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) over the past decade, SIDS is still responsible for more infant deaths beyond the newborn period in the US than any other cause of death during infancy. In a late 2005 updated policy statement, the AAP provided recommendations to reduce the risk of SIDS. See http://www.aap.org/ncepr/revisedsids.pdf

    C. Other Related Websites

    1. SIDS: "Back to Sleep" Campaign

    The Back to Sleep campaign is named after its recommendation to place healthy babies on their backs to sleep. Placing babies on their backs to sleep reduces the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), also known as "crib death." This campaign has been successful in promoting infant back sleeping to parents, family members, child care providers, health professionals, and all other caregivers of infants. (Sponsored by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the Maternal and Child Health Bureau, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the SIDS Alliance, and the Association of SIDS and Infant Mortality Programs) http://www.nichd.nih.gov/sids/sids.cfm

    2. CDC Efforts around Investigation of Sudden Unexplained Infant Deaths

    CDC launched an initiative in 2004 to improve the investigation and reporting of SUID, in collaboration with other federal agencies and organizations representing medical examiners, coroners, death scene investigators, emergency medical personnel, law enforcement officials, forensic nurses, SIDS researchers, infant death review experts, and parents who have experienced a death of an infant. In March, 2006 the CDC released the revised "Sudden, Unexplained Infant Death Investigation (SUIDI) Reporting Form" for state and local use in infant death scene investigations. The SUIDI Reporting Form replaces the Investigation Report Form that accompanied the 1996 Guidelines for the Death Scene Investigation of Sudden, Unexplained Infant Death. http://www.cdc.gov/SIDS/SUID.htm

    In collaboration with a steering committee and a team of national experts, CDC developed a comprehensive training curriculum and materials for infant death scene investigations. CDC will use these materials to train investigators and death certifiers in how to consistently collect data at the death scene and accurately report their findings on the death certificate. CDC will conduct five regional Train-the-Trainer Academies over the next 2 years.