Posts Tagged ‘Maternal and Child Health Block Grant’

Raising Arizona Babies

September 19th, 2011

Do you know someone who’s pregnant and needs help finding low-cost prenatal care? Someone looking for post-partum depression resources; help with breastfeeding; low-cost dental care; or the nearest WIC clinic?  One great resource that can help is our Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Hotline.  The Hotline (1-800-833-4642) is a statewide service funded by our Title V Maternal and Child Health Block Grant and it helps thousands of callers every year with a variety of maternal and child health issues- like the importance of folic acid- and providing lots of referrals for a variety of community resources. 

The Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Hotline also supports AHCCCS’s Baby Arizona program.  Baby Arizona is a faster, simpler way of getting prenatal care before a pregnant woman’s AHCCCS application process is complete. Prenatal care providers across the state agree to see pregnant women while their eligibility is being determined. Once a women goes to the Baby Arizona provider she chooses, the provider helps her apply and pre-enroll her in a health plan. That way, women begin prenatal care at no cost while their eligibility is still being processed.  It’s a great way to facilitate early entry into prenatal care- increasing the likelihood of a healthy birth outcome.  By the way, when a pregnant woman applies for AHCCCS she’s considered a family of 2 (or more if there are multiples)- meaning that she’s not in the “childless adult” category- and wouldn’t be subject to the enrollment freeze for childless adults.

Title V Needs Assessment Complete!

August 4th, 2010

 

This week our team completed and turned in our 2010 MCH Needs Assessment for the Title V Maternal & Child Health Block Grant (about $7M/year).  The federal Title V program requires us conduct a comprehensive needs assessments every 5 years that identifies state maternal and child health needs and prioritizes them for strategic planning. While needs assessment is always part of an ongoing planning cycle, the 5 year needs assessment is an opportunity to formally examine trends and issues, review progress and set priorities for the next 5 years.

 

The statewide needs assessment identifies the need for: 1) preventive and primary care services for pregnant women, women of reproductive age and infants up to age one year; 2) preventive and primary care services for children; and 3) family-centered, community-based services for CSHCN and their families.  Thanks to all of you in our Bureau of Women’s & Children’s Health and the Office of Children with Special Health Care Needs for your hard work on this important planning document. Well done.