//2017//

In September of 2017, the islands experienced two category five hurricanes.  The widespread loss of electricity, communication and the destruction of homes, businesses, and service providers sites lead to a change in normal operating procedures for the Department of Health and its programs.  The Department took services into the neighborhoods, preschools, churches, parking lots, and playgrounds to reach the more vulnerable populations.  The health vans were deployed and employees went out in available vehicles to reach families current and new.

Logistics were coordinated and special assistance was given by the US Military and US Department of Health personnel to provided needed services in our communities; such as immunization and mental health counselling. In addition, with the help of our new and current partners of the Department of Health; Nurse Family Partnership, VI Partners for Families, WIC, Princess Cruises, Fathom (provider of baby supplies) and the Department of Tourism, along with FEMA the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood program and other programs in the Department of Health were able to serve over one thousand plus families in the territory to include those with children with special needs.  The program did everything feasible to assist families with care coordination, case management and off-island services.  MCH also engaged in discussions with other Title V agencies to facilitate the relocation of infants to the US.

Activities and partnerships continued with various community partners such as VI UCEDD, DD  Council, Act Early Committee, and the Infants and Toddlers Interagency Council.  National collaborations also continued with partners such as Shriners, Mt. Sinaii, University of Miami, University of Vermont, and the American Academy of Pediatrics. Shriners conducted their annual visit in each District in 2017 proving orthopedic services to many children in need.  The program continues to have ongoing discussions with Mt. Sinaii to establish a satellite site in the USVI for pediatric environmental health. Partnerships with LEND institutions in Vermont and Miami to support professional development as well as to build the system of care respectively.

The AAP conducted a site visit last July as a part of a Technical Assistance request to build and strengthen a system of care for children with special health care needs.  Specific goals of this TA request included: 1) Developing a comprehensive and coordinated plan for improving the system of care for children with special health care needs within their medical home, 2) Identifying a system best suited to provide services for unmet health care needs in the United States Virgin Islands, and 3) Coordinating services and supports to meet the needs of the families served.

The Maternal and Child Health and Children with Special Health Care Needs (MCH&CSHCN), Program continues to provide services for the population of children ages birth to 21. This year, to provide services to children born to Zika positive mothers, MCH served as a host and key collaborative partner along with the Department of Health’s Epidemiology unit, the Center for Disease Control (CDC), local pediatricians in the territory, provided specialty pediatric services to ensure that the babies received the necessary screenings.  The Health Brigade was held on March 19th-24th 2018 at the MCH & CSHCN clinics on both St. Thomas and St. Croix.

Services such as pediatric neurology, audiology, ophthalmology and developmental specialty were provided. The Program served a total of 92 children throughout the territory (St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John). The Brigade initiated a new climate for services in the territory for the pediatric population and promoted a collaboration between pediatricians in the territory. It allowed them to work together to ensure the children and families affected by zika received services with a collaborative and holistic approach.  MCH staff was intricately involved in every aspect of the operation from the initial registration to the exit interviews. 

//2016//

MCH Partnered with the University of the Virgin Islands University Center in Excellence on Developmental Disabilities as a part of their Learn the Signs Act Early Committee to improve the early identification of children with autism and other developmental disabilities so that children and families can get the services and support they need as soon as possible.

Shriners Hospital conducted their annual visit to provide orthopaedic services to our children,  MCH continues to facilitate and host this event in both districts.

Hearing services received a boost with a series of outreach events coordinated in conjunction with the Starkey Foundation.  Free hearing screenings were organized through initial community-based screens which culminated in a weekend long event to provide fittings, hearing aids, and counseling for attendees.

The Universal Newborn Hearing Screening and Intervention team conducted a site visit with New Jersey Department of Health to review best practices for program policies, procedures, assessments, referrals, data collection, parent engagement and family support activities.

//2015//
The program utilized a plan for youth and adolescents with special health care needs transitioning to adulthood.  The plan is based on the GOT Transition model which facilitates the integration of service systems to address the health issues of this population.  Public health nurses ensured appropriate referrals for all adolescent and young adult clients to the appropriate agencies for health/school/work transition.

The plan supports skill-building opportunities for youth and their families.  It supports their involvement as decision makers in their health care, education and employment.

There was some improvement in transition activities related to increasing family /youth advocacy and connecting families/youth with information regarding community / university resources for educational and vocational planning.

Collaboration and coordination continued with several agencies to assure effective transition -  Departments of Education, Vocational Education; Department of Human Services, Vocational Rehabilitation; Department of Labor, Job Training and Placement; Community Health and 330 Centers; community based organizations, i.e. V.I. Resource Center for the Disabled, University of the Virgin Islands Center for Excellence on Developmental Disabilities, Virgin Islands Assistive Technology Foundation, Inc., Family Voices, V.I. Center for Independent Living, and V.I. Family Information Network on Disabilities.

Currently, transition planning with families is provided by public health nurses.  Established transition planning checklists from the GOT Transition model are utilized. Additional training in GOT Transition Model as it continues to evolve will be provided to meet the needs of this population.