Decrease preterm and low birthweight infants

Provide evidence-based labor support education for nurses in birthing facilities.

Rescheduled trainings to Winter 2021 due to COIVD restrictions within the hospital setting for in person training.

Provide Lamaze childbirth education.

Completed Lamaze Childbirth Education training to 8 participants from six different hospitals. 2 – Camden Clark, 2 – Greenbrier Valley, 1 each from Grant Memorial, Princeton, St. Josephs and Thomas Memorial.

Promote childbirth education for first-time mothers statewide.

Completed two “Spinning Babies” courses in June with 25 people attending each session.

Conduct best practice updates for maternity care providers on the recommendations of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists and the Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine.

Rescheduled Grand rounds on Implicit Bias in Racial and Impoverished Families to late 2021 due to COVID training restrictions.

Provided fetal monitor instruction to St Mary’s hospital to three attendees from two hospitals with a new online format. The three attendees will advance to instructor trainers within the State.

Increase dental care specifically during pregnancy

Continue oral health surveillance of perinatal population through the Basic Screening Survey (BSS) to inform program and policy development.

The Oral Health Program is continuing to have monthly calls with the CDC for updates and guidance. The Oral Health Program is working with the West Virginia University School of Dentistry (WVU SoD) to develop a pediatric residency program and continuing education opportunities for current oral health workforce and non-dental providers who work with the pediatric and perinatal populations. The continuing education will include pediatric and perinatal best practice. Education on these topics should increase the number of pregnant women who are referred for dental care during pregnancy and increase the number of pregnant women receiving dental services. The Oral Health Program will monitor claims data through the CMS 416 quarterly report.

Establish a data sharing agreement with Medicaid and CHIP to monitor pregnant women use of available dental services.

As of January 1, 2021, all adults including the perinatal population have access to comprehensive oral health services. Until now, West Virginia had an emergency only benefit for adults. Lack of adult oral health services in pregnant women results in premature delivery, low birth weight, gingival issues, as well as several other issues for mother and baby. Oral health may be considered an important part of prenatal care, given that poor oral health during pregnancy can lead to poor health outcomes for the mother and baby. We have a current agreement in place with Medicaid and CHIP to monitor pregnant women use of available dental services.

Decrease smoking specifically among pregnant women and decrease smoke exposure among children in the household.

COVID impacted the use of CO monitors in the home for SCRIPT when home visiting programs transitioned from in person visits to virtual.  Smoking cessation questions continued to be asked and the five A’s utilized with each client.  Referrals were made based upon the woman’s request for referrals. 

Over the next year home visiting programs as programs transition to a hybrid model of home visiting of both in person and virtual based upon the initial assessment triage process, the use of CO monitors in the home will be reinstated.  Home visiting programs will develop a tiered incentive approach with women based upon the goals established for smoking cessation.  The intent is to utilize multiple smoking cessation strategies and tiered incentives to increase the number of clients quitting or reducing smoking.

Due to COVID restrictions on in person training through the National Parents as Teachers Center, one potential trainer’s certification was delayed.  All in person trainings were cancelled.  All trainings through the National Center had to be transitioned to a virtual platform.  Due to the intensity and content of the training, it was several months before a virtual training became available.  The new trainer finalized her last section of training certification was completed in late June 2021. 

Offer evidence-based training to maternity care providers to promote tobacco cessation during each prenatal visit.

COVID impacted the use of CO monitors in the home for SCRIPT when home visiting programs transitioned from in person visits to virtual.  Smoking cessation questions continued to be asked and the five A’s utilized with each client.  Referrals were made based upon the woman’s request for referrals. 

Over the next year home visiting programs as programs transition to a hybrid model of home visiting of both in person and virtual based upon the initial assessment triage process, the use of CO monitors in the home will be reinstated.  Home visiting programs will develop a tiered incentive approach with women based upon the goals established for smoking cessation.  The intent is to utilize multiple smoking cessation strategies and tiered incentives to increase the number of clients quitting or reducing smoking.

Due to COVID restrictions on in person training through the National Parents as Teachers Center, one potential trainer’s certification was delayed.  All in person trainings were cancelled.  All trainings through the National Center had to be transitioned to a virtual platform.  Due to the intensity and content of the training, it was several months before a virtual training became available.  The new trainer finalized her last section of training certification was completed in late June 2021. 

Offer evidence-based cessation curriculums to pregnant women via home visitation services.

COVID impacted the use of CO monitors in the home for SCRIPT when home visiting programs transitioned from in person visits to virtual.  Smoking cessation questions continued to be asked and the five A’s utilized with each client.  Referrals were made based upon the woman’s request for referrals. 

Over the next year home visiting programs as programs transition to a hybrid model of home visiting of both in person and virtual based upon the initial assessment triage process, the use of CO monitors in the home will be reinstated.  Home visiting programs will develop a tiered incentive approach with women based upon the goals established for smoking cessation.  The intent is to utilize multiple smoking cessation strategies and tiered incentives to increase the number of clients quitting or reducing smoking.

Due to COVID restrictions on in person training through the National Parents as Teachers Center, one potential trainer’s certification was delayed.  All in person trainings were cancelled.  All trainings through the National Center had to be transitioned to a virtual platform.  Due to the intensity and content of the training, it was several months before a virtual training became available.  The new trainer finalized her last section of training certification was completed in late June 2021. 

Continue to seek out innovative evidence-based strategies to support women in quitting tobacco products before, during and after pregnancy.

Provided training and intervention programs to 107 obstetrical and pediatric providers (physicians, nurse midwives, nurses and nurse practitioners) to reduce smoking before, during, and after pregnancy. 

Facilitated training for obstetrical and pediatric tobacco cessation champions. Partnered with ACOG and AAP WV Chapters to develop a strategic planning report in consultation with project provider champions.

Identified, trained, and supported pediatric health care providers on best practice smoking /vaping cessation interventions to address second and third hand smoke exposure. A Pediatric Toolkit was shared. Digital files as well as hard copies will be provided  to all pediatric practices.

Promoted a consistent and unified message about cessation of smoking in pregnancy. Contacted 123 OB/GYN providers and 143 pediatric and family practice practitioners in southern WV counties regarding the Help2Quit program.

Completed “Turning the Tables on Tobacco” presentation to pediatric providers, including residents from Cabell Huntington Hospital and CAMC Women and Children’s on December 4, 2020 to 66 participants. Distributed 2,071 patient education materials to Obstetrical and pediatric providers on tobacco cessation.

Collaborated with WV AAP and Our Babies Safe and Sound to get safe sleep materials to all the pediatric provider practices in the state, and the “this side up” onesie (infant t-shirt) campaign around National Safe Sleep month (October). The onesies were distributed to all the delivering hospitals along with “Clean Air Zone” information postcard for parents.  Per TFFAC Quitline info is to be included as well. 

“Turning the Tables on Tobacco” presentation made to pediatric providers, including residents from Cabell Huntington Hospital and CAMC Women and Children’s on December 4, 2020, 66 participants 2,071 patient education materials were provided to Obstetrical and pediatric providers on tobacco cessation.

Collaboration between WV AAP and Our Babies Safe and Sound to get safe sleep materials to all the pediatric provider practices in the state, and the “this side up” onesie (infant t-shirt) campaign around National Safe Sleep month (October). The onesies will be distributed to all the delivering hospitals along with “Clean Air Zone” information postcard for parents.  Per TFFAC Quitline info is to be included as well. 

Follow-up with maternity care providers after receipt of evidence-based training to assess increase of tobacco cessation with pregnant women.

Completed scheduled virtual meetings were completed with the Tobacco Free Families Advisory Council with recorded minutes and updates from key partners on statistics and activities related to maternal smoking and 2nd hand exposure.

Address substance use in pregnancy and in youth/teens

Use RFTS RLA to educate providers on accurate and complete submission of the PRSI form.

Finalized the web based PRSI system in early 2021 and internal OMCFH office entry of PRSI forms started.  The online implementation phase with providers was moved to summer/fall 2021 to ensure all providers received the appropriate training needed within offices for PRSI accuracy.  A combined virtual and in person training plan has been developed for OB providers and RFTS, including use of the web based system by a select group of OB providers.

Support transition from paper PRSI form to electronic data collection system.

Trained RCCs trained in the use of the on-line data system. Established an effective communication process between RFTS, the PRSI epidemiologist and Local Data Solutions.

Inform providers of compliance rate in submission of PRSI forms.

The epidemiologist assigned to the Maternal Risk Screening program will develop reports to inform providers of their number of submissions and error rates.